Beazley vs
CFC
Compare Beazley MediaTech and CFC technology insurance for a small software company facing IP and contract requirements.
Introduction
A small software company asked to indemnify a customer for intellectual-property claims needs to look beyond the word “media” in a technology package. Beazley MediaTech and CFC’s technology brochure both describe technology liability and cyber combinations. Their public evidence also shows why the precise allegation, exclusion and contract wording matter more than the package name. 1 22
Where Each Provider Shines
Coverage Comparison
| Coverage Type | Beazley | CFC |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial property | Listed 15 | Listed 33 |
| Crime | Listed 11 | Listed 31,43 |
| Cyber liability | Listed 1,9 | Listed 29 |
| Directors and officers | Listed 10 | Listed 31 |
| Employment practices liability | Listed 10 | Listed 31 |
| Fidelity bonds | Listed 11 | Not listed |
| Fiduciary liability | Listed 10 | Listed 31 |
| General liability | Listed 17,13 | Listed 33 |
| Hired and non-owned auto | Listed 17 | Not listed |
| Intellectual property | Not listed | Listed 34 |
| Kidnap and ransom | Not listed | Listed 35 |
| Management liability | Listed 10 | Listed 30 |
| Media liability | Listed 1 | Listed 41 |
| Medical malpractice | Listed 13,14 | Listed 40 |
| Product liability | Listed 14 | Listed 42 |
| Product recall | Listed 16 | Listed 36 |
| Professional liability / E&O | Listed 1,17 | Listed 32 |
| Representations and warranties | Listed 12 | Listed 37 |
| Technology errors and omissions | Listed 1 | Listed 22 |
| Umbrella and excess liability | Listed 18 | Listed 38 |
| Virtual care and telehealth | Listed 13 | Listed 39 |
Listed products and programs, including policies arranged through insurers or partners. Optional endorsements are discussed in the analysis below. “Not listed” means no separate offering appears in the reviewed catalogue; confirm availability and policy terms with the provider.
Key Differences Between Beazley and CFC
Public Sample Wording Is a Warning to Inspect the Current Form
Beazley’s linked MediaTech sample is dated February 2019 and contains patent and certain trade-secret exclusions, contractual-liability restrictions and retroactive-date provisions. Those details make it useful for identifying questions, but not for declaring the wording of a policy offered today. Request the current specimen and endorsements before concluding that a customer’s IP obligation is covered or excluded. 3 5
CFC separately markets intellectual-property insurance beyond the media/IP description in its technology brochure. That creates another product to investigate, not permission to import the standalone IP product’s features into the technology package. Ask whether patent defense, enforcement and contractual indemnities require distinct coverage. 34 22
Application Notices Can Change How a Limit Should Be Read
Beazley advertises MediaTech limits up to $5 million. Its posted Digital Media Tech application states that liability is claims-made and reported and that claims expenses reduce the liability limit and are subject to retentions. Those application notices warrant explicit confirmation in a current quote; an advertised limit is not necessarily all available for damages after defense expense. 1 2
CFC’s application gathers products, services, contracts, revenue and claims information through a broker. Use the same operational description for both submissions, then compare defense-cost treatment, reporting conditions and prior-acts provisions in the offered policies. The CFC brochure alone does not settle those terms. 23 22
Adjacent Cyber and Executive Products Are Not Automatic Package Benefits
Beazley’s small-business Full Spectrum Cyber page describes security and response services, with a broker quote route scoped to that cyber product. Its criteria should not be transferred to MediaTech. CFC markets a response proposition, but the buyer should still obtain the service entitlement for the proposed technology contract. 9 27
Beazley’s Execuguard offers shared or separate executive-risk limits with admitted and non-admitted options. That is not proof of California acceptance. CFC’s reviewed US management offering expressly declines California-domiciled business. A founder needing board protection should obtain a separate, eligible proposal rather than regard either technology package as a complete fundraising program. 10 31
What to Confirm in Quotes
- What current form and endorsements govern patent, trade-secret and contractual-indemnity claims, and is separate IP insurance required?
- Do defense expenses reduce limits, what retroactive date applies, and when must a claim or circumstance be reported?
- Which California producer, insurer and placement route apply, and which response services or executive policies are separately purchased?
Service Comparison
Beazley vs CFC: documented services and availability
| Criteria | Beazley | CFC |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage lines | MediaTech combines technology and professional errors and omissions, media liability and cyber coverage. Beazley lists breach response, business interruption, dependent business interruption, extortion, data recovery and eCrime protections, with limits up to $5 million; the issued policy determines the cover purchased. 1 The linked MediaTech sample form is dated February 2019. It excludes patent infringement and trade-secret misappropriation related to technology or other products, and contains contractual-liability and retroactive-date restrictions. The sample is not evidence of the wording that will be offered today. 3,5 Execuguard offers private-company directors and officers, employment practices and fiduciary liability, with separate or shared limits across selected coverages. Beazley advertises both admitted and non-admitted options; state and account eligibility still need confirmation. 10 Beazley offers Commercial Crime for commercial companies and Financial Fidelity Bonds for financial institutions. Its crime page describes fraudulent-instruction coverage subject to out-of-band authentication, with possible removal of that condition for documented controls and an additional premium. 11 Virtual Care lists healthcare professional liability, technology liability, cyber, media, general liability and products/completed operations for digital-health businesses. Life Sciences offers product, professional and general liability through BioSecure, NutraGuard and WellTech forms for different life-sciences exposures. 13,14 North American Commercial Property targets mid-sized and large commercial properties on an excess and surplus lines basis. Product Recall – Manufacturing Risk and Response separately addresses consumer goods, component parts and consumables, including product-removal and related income-loss costs. 15,16 BeazleyOne Environmental combines general, professional and contractors’ pollution liability for environmental-service firms, and lists hired and non-owned auto. US Marine offers hull and marine liability on primary and excess bases; this does not establish general corporate umbrella availability. 17,18 Beazley offers representations and warranties coverage for acquisitions. Its US Specialty Programs business works through managing general agents, program administrators and specialized brokers on professional, general, product, manufacturers’ E&O, cyber and allied-medical liability programs. 12,19 The posted Digital Media Tech application says liability coverage is claims-made and reported: the claim must be made and reported within the applicable policy terms. It also warns that claims expenses reduce the liability limit and are subject to retentions. 2 | CFC’s U.S. technology brochure describes errors and omissions, cyber, media/IP infringement and general liability protection, including liability arising from client contract breaches. The brochure describes a package; the quote and wording determine which sections and exclusions apply. 22 CFC’s U.S. cyber catalogue lists Cyber Proactive Response, admitted cyber, Corporate cyber and cyber excess. These are distinct offerings; an admitted label on the website does not establish California eligibility or identical wording across products. 29 CFC markets management liability covering directors and officers, employment practices, fiduciary exposures and crime, and separately lists Side A DIC excess protection for directors and officers. Its U.S. management-liability brochure declines California-domiciled business; do not read these catalogue entries as California availability. 30,31 CFC separately markets intellectual-property insurance for infringement defense, enforcement and related IP risks, including patent exposures. Its scope should be compared with the narrower IP provisions in any technology quote. 34,22 CFC offers fintech insurance combining financial and technology liability with other financial-sector risks, eHealth for digital-health businesses, and life-science packages for businesses such as device or drug developers and nutraceutical companies. These sector products require their own underwriting and terms. 43,39,42 CFC’s U.S. product pages also market professional E&O, property and general liability, media liability, medical malpractice, product recall, kidnap and ransom, and umbrella protection over professional liability, general liability or cyber. This catalogue does not mean every line is included in a technology policy or available for every California risk. 32,33,41,40,36,35,38 CFC markets representations and warranties insurance, small-business buyer and seller protection, and secondary-liquidity transaction solutions. These are transaction-specific products rather than ordinary operating-company liability coverage. 37 Other CFC specialty offerings include carbon-credit delivery, cancellation and lender non-payment insurance; a CORSIA guarantee product; standalone sexual abuse and molestation liability through Safeprotect; terrorism insurance; and marine hull-war and kidnap-and-ransom cover. Their presence on the U.S. site does not resolve California placement eligibility. 45,46,47,48 |
| Application process | Beazley describes MediaTech placement through third-party platforms or email. Its posted application requests the business’s services and products, employee count, US and non-US revenues, financial statements and expected business changes. A submitted application does not establish acceptance or an effective policy. 1,2 | The U.S. technology application asks a senior staff member to complete it and return it to the company’s insurance broker. It requests revenue, funding, subsidiaries, products, major contracts, security controls, IP procedures and claims history. CFC’s Connect portal separately supports broker trading and describes a broker appointment process. 23,26 |
| Access to insurers | The posted Digital Media Tech application names Beazley Insurance Company, Inc. Beazley’s broader disclosures also describe surplus-lines business through Beazley Excess and Surplus Insurance, Inc. or Beazley-managed Lloyd’s syndicates. The actual MediaTech insurer and California placement basis must be identified in the quote. 2,7 | CFC’s regulatory page identifies Lloyd’s Syndicate 1988, managed by Asta Managing Agency Ltd. The reviewed U.S. technology materials do not name the insurer or participating syndicates for a California buyer’s actual policy; ask for those names on the quote and declarations. 24,22,23 |
| Servicing and renewals | Beazley publishes a MediaTech renewal application. The reviewed renewal form and product page do not establish a guaranteed renewal, dedicated account manager, or turnaround commitment for policy changes. 4,1 Full Spectrum Cyber for small businesses combines Beazley Breach Response with security tools and services. Beazley describes incident-response coordination and discounted vendor services. Its myBeazley quote-and-bind route is for brokers handling accounts below $35 million in revenue and limits no higher than $5 million; these are cyber-route criteria, not MediaTech eligibility rules. 9 | CFC says its cyber service includes threat monitoring and alerts, a response app and round-the-clock technical incident support. These are company-described services; access, scope and any conditions should be checked against the proposed policy. 27 The reviewed Connect and technology application pages do not specify a customer-facing renewal timetable, certificate turnaround or dedicated account-management commitment for California technology buyers. Confirm those arrangements with the placing broker. 26,23 |
Sources
Beazley Official Website
- MediaTech for Small Businesses. Beazley; What we offer; How can we help; Tools & Resources. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Beazley Digital Media Tech Application. Beazley; F00859, 042022 edition, pages 1–2: notice, general information and revenue information. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Beazley MediaTech Sample Policy. Beazley; F00731, 022019 edition; printed pages 14, 16–18: definitions and exclusions (PDF pages 15, 17–19). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Beazley MediaTech Renewal Application. Beazley; F00729, 022019 edition; page 1, title and claims-made notice. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Legal Information. Beazley; Website conditions: US jurisdiction availability, surplus lines and policy wording disclaimers; Beazley plc identity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Web Services Terms of Use. Beazley; Page 1: operating entities and California insurance license table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Contingency Toolkit. Beazley; PDF page 13: Event Tech Protect disclaimer; page 26: Disclaimer US (BZPAC211). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Notify a Claim. Beazley; Policy-first guidance; Submit a Notice of Loss; US email directory. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Full Spectrum Cyber for Small Businesses. Beazley; What we offer; Responsive Cyber; Vendor Services; Small and medium sized businesses. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Execuguard (Combined EPL, D&O, and Fiduciary). Beazley; What we offer: separate/shared limits; admitted/non-admitted; How can we help. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Crime and Fidelity. Beazley; What we offer: Commercial Crime versus Financial Fidelity Bonds; fraudulent instruction condition. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Mergers & Acquisitions. Beazley; What we offer: representations/warranties, target customers and 50-state statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Virtual Care. Beazley; Available Coverages; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Life Sciences. Beazley; What we offer; Our Coverages; Who we can help. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- North American Commercial Property. Beazley; Coverage highlights; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Product Recall – Manufacturing Risk and Response. Beazley; What we offer; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Environmental Package Policy (BeazleyOne Environmental). Beazley; Key Coverages; Additional Coverages; Who we can help. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Beazley US Marine. Beazley; What we offer: Marine Hull and Marine Liability; primary and excess. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Specialty Programs. Beazley; What we offer; Who we can help; Where is this offered. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Explore All Products. Beazley; US product directory, all product categories including Small Business Solutions and Reinsurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
CFC Official Website
- Technology. CFC; Introduction; Technology key features; Digitally traded. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology — United States product brochure. CFC; Page 1: coverage sections; Response app highlights; Limits and deductibles. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology companies — US application v2.4. CFC; Pages 1–8: completion instructions and Sections 1–8. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Regulatory information. CFC; CFC Underwriting Limited; CFC Lloyd’s Syndicate 1988; CFC USA Inc.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- About CFC. CFC; Matt Taylor biography: independent MGA and Syndicate 1988. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Connect broker trading portal. CFC; Get started; Products traded on Connect; FAQs: broker appointment. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- CFC Response. CFC; Proactive protection; Immediate response; Real-time support. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Notify a claim or cyber incident. CFC; General enquiries or claims; Experiencing a cyber incident now?. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber insurance — US. CFC; Cyber Proactive Response; Cyber (admitted); Corporate cyber; Cyber excess. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Management liability. CFC; Management liability; Side A DIC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Management liability — United States product brochure. CFC; Page 1: coverage; What we decline; Management liability. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Professional liability. CFC; Our professional liability products; Professional liability (admitted). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Property & casualty. CFC; Property & casualty product. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Intellectual property insurance. CFC; Intellectual property product; Key features; Defense; Pursuit of infringers. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Kidnap and ransom. CFC; Kidnap & ransom product and Key features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Product recall. CFC; Contaminated product recall; Product recall. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Transaction liability. CFC; Transaction liability; Seller protect; Buyer protect; Secondary liquidity solutions; Limit & appetite. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Umbrella cover. CFC; Umbrella cover product description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Digital health insurance. CFC; eHealth product; Telemedicine; mHealth; Artificial intelligence; Remote patient monitoring. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Medical malpractice. CFC; Our medical malpractice products. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Media & entertainment. CFC; Media product description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Life science. CFC; Life sciences; Nutraceuticals; What does CFC’s life science policy cover?. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Fintech insurance. CFC; Fintech product; What does CFC’s fintech policy cover?. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Financial institutions. CFC; Financial institutions professional indemnity; Investment managers; SME banks. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Carbon insurance. CFC; Carbon delivery; Carbon cancellation; Carbon lender non-payment; CORSIA guarantee. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Safeprotect misconduct liability. CFC; Safeprotect product; Praesidium services. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Terrorism. CFC; Introduction: standalone terrorism policy. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marine. CFC; Introduction: hull war and marine kidnap & ransom. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- CFC launches admitted offerings for professional liability and technology E&O. CFC; 21 March 2023 announcement: admitted technology E&O; broker quote, bind and adjustment process. Accessed 2026-09-16.
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