The Case for Bricking Coverage in Cyber Insurance

Texas business owners — let’s talk about something you may not have on your radar yet: “bricking” attacks, and how the right cyber insurance can save your skin (and your devices).

What in the world is “bricking”?

In the world of cyber risk, bricking isn’t just a funny word — it refers to a nasty type of attack that renders your hardware totally inoperable. Imagine your server, laptop, tablet, or IoT device going from “business as usual” to “useless lump of metal and plastic” in one fell swoop. That’s a “brick.”

Unlike a data theft or software hack (which might be reversible with backups or patches), a bricking attack corrupts firmware or embedded software so badly that even though the hardware parts still look fine, the device is (for all intents and purposes) ruined.

That means you can’t just “restore from backup” — often it’s full replacement. And that’s expensive. In Central Texas, where small and mid-size enterprises lean heavily on specialized hardware (think HVAC control, smart metering, medical devices, POS terminals, etc.), that cost and operational disruption can be catastrophic.

Why standard policies may fall short

Your usual cyber liability or property insurance policy might turn a blind eye to this risk. Why?

• Those policies typically assume physical damage — but with a bricking attack, the physical hardware might look untouched.
• They might exclude coverage for cyber-induced hardware failure.
• Even when some coverage is offered, it’s often limited by sublimits, waiting periods, or narrow definitions of which devices or attack vectors are covered.
• Sometimes insurers only cover mass bricking events (i.e. large-scale attacks affecting multiple devices), or apply limits per device — which leaves you on the hook for many replacements.

So, if you haven’t specifically asked whether “bricking coverage” is included or available as an add-on, chances are you’re exposed.

What does bricking coverage typically cover?

When properly structured, bricking (or “hardware corruption”) coverage may include:

• Full replacement cost for hardware that can’t be revived or repaired
• Labor and installation costs for swapping out the damaged hardware
• Disposal fees or safe decommissioning of the “bricked” device
• Sometimes related cleanup or forensics (depending on your policy)

Naturally, the devil is in the details — whether the device is truly irreparable, what “attack triggers” are acceptable, and which devices qualify (servers? IoT? POS? control systems?).

Smart strategies when evaluating cyber insurance in the Hill Country

So how do you make sure your policy really has your back — not just in theory, but in practice? Here are some best practices:

1. Review your cyber + property policies side-by-side
   Don’t let them operate in silos. Ask: does your property policy cover damage to hardware? Does your cyber policy exclude it? You want coverage that works together without gaps.
2. Inventory your critical hardware
   Make a list of devices that are essential and/or costly to replace — servers, custom control systems, specialty IoT gear. These are your biggest risks and where you may want stronger bricking protection.
3. Ask for a “bricking endorsement”
   Don’t assume it’s included. In many policies, you’ll need to pay extra to add this coverage.
4. Clarify exclusions & triggers
   Work with your insurance professional (that’s us!) to dig into which types of attacks are covered (malware, firmware corruption, supply chain attacks, etc.). Also ask about notification requirements, proof obligations, and waiting periods.
5. Watch sublimits & device caps
   Check whether your policy places a sublimit per device, or limits on how many devices can be replaced in a single claim. This is especially important if your business relies on many connected devices.
6. Stress-test your plan
   Run tabletop exercises: what happens if your POS network crashes, or the HVAC control system is bricked? Knowing how downtime, replacement, and claim paperwork will proceed helps reduce panic after the fact.

Mountain View Café (or your business) — a bricking scenario

Let’s put it into context. Say your Hill Country café has upgraded to smart thermostats, self-order tablets, and a small server for in-house tracking. A cyber attacker corrupts the firmware across all these devices overnight. Tablets won’t boot, your server is unusable, the climate system is down — but none of the hardware is visibly cracked or “damaged.” You’ve been bricked.

Without bricking coverage, you may have to absorb costs for replacing dozens of devices, paying technician labor, and losing business while waiting for replacements.

With a well-designed policy, your insurer could cover the hardware, labor, installation, and help you get back online faster — limiting your downtime, financial loss, and (most importantly) stress.

Final thought: Don’t wait until your gear is a hunk of metal

In Central Texas and the Hill Country, businesses are more connected — and more vulnerable — than ever. Bricking attacks may sound like sci-fi, but they’re real. Having cyber insurance that includes bricking (or optional endorsement for it) can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown disaster.

At Dowd Insurance Agency, we get how Texas businesses work — the pride, the workflows, the tough margins. Let’s review your current policies and see if your protection is rock-solid (not brick). Contact us today — because there’s nothing charming about turning your hardware into a brick.