Beazley vs 
Cowbell: How Do They Compare for Tech E&O Insurance?
Cowbell Prime Tech suits technology firms with up to $1B in revenue that want limits up to $5M through an agent, and Cowbell markets it as combining Tech E&O with cyber. Beazley's MediaTech is a small-business form that also includes media liability.
Cowbell's Prime Tech puts Tech E&O and cyber in one policy for tech firms with up to $1 billion in revenue, with $5 million limits plus $5 million excess and no exclusion for breached warranties; Beazley's MediaTech is a small-business package of Tech E&O, media and cyber that excludes patent and trade-secret claims on tech products. 4,5,1
What Are the Key Differences Between Beazley and Cowbell Tech E&O Insurance?
Up to $1 Billion in Revenue vs a Small-Business Package
Cowbell's Prime Tech and Prime Tech Plus target tech businesses with up to $1 billion in revenue, including SaaS, IT consultants, data analytics, hardware resellers and web design. Prime Tech combines Tech E&O and cyber in one policy with limits up to $5 million, plus another $5 million of Prime Tech Plus excess, sold through agents as surplus lines (fewer state protections) in all 50 states. Beazley's MediaTech is a small-business form placed through third-party platforms or email, and doesn't publish a maximum limit. Choose Cowbell if you're a growing tech company that needs several million in limits; choose Beazley if you're a small tech or media business that wants E&O, media and cyber cover in one package. 1 4 5
Broad Warranty and IP Cover vs Patent and Trade-Secret Exclusions
Cowbell says Prime Tech includes duty to defend, contractual indemnity and expansive breach-of-contract cover, doesn't exclude guarantees, consequential damages or breached warranties, and covers IP infringement broadly. Beazley's sample form covers unintentional breach of contract for tech services and software copyright on tech products, but excludes patent infringement and trade-secret misappropriation tied to tech products. If you sell software that could draw a patent claim, Cowbell's described cover goes further. 4 3
Security Tools vs a Dedicated Claims Team
Cowbell adds Co-Pilot underwriting support, Resiliency Services, Connectors and Wizer security training. Beazley describes a dedicated cyber and tech claims team instead. 4 1
What Should You Confirm in Beazley and Cowbell Tech E&O Insurance Quotes?
- Ask whether Cowbell is quoting Prime Tech, Prime Tech Plus or both. 5 1
- Ask Cowbell which insurer issues Prime Tech; Beazley's application names Beazley Insurance Company, Inc. 4 2
- Get limits from both and ask whether defense costs reduce the limit. 4 3
- Compare patent, trade-secret, warranty and consequential-damages wording on each form. 3 4
Beazley vs Cowbell Tech E&O Insurance Compared
Beazley vs Cowbell: Tech E&O Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Beazley MediaTech for Small Businesses | Cowbell Prime Tech / Prime Tech Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Limits and Retentions | Coverage is claims-made and reported: it responds only to claims first made and reported during the policy period (or a purchased Optional Extension Period), and defense costs reduce the available limit. A buyer can purchase an Optional Extension Period (a tail) for additional premium after non-renewal or cancellation. 3,2Company-reported. Sample policy form F00731; application form repeats the same notice; specific tail pricing and duration are set in the declarations, not disclosed publicly. | Cowbell states Prime Tech offers limits up to $5M, and Prime Tech Plus (the excess layer) also offers limits up to $5M above the underlying primary policy. 4,5Company-reported. Product overview PDFs. |
| How to Apply | Beazley's MediaTech application asks for employee count, US and non-US revenue for the last three years, the share of revenue from managed IT services, and answers about ransomware controls such as multi-factor authentication, VPN use, patching cadence and backup frequency. 2Company-reported. Application form F00859, 042022 edition, General Information, Revenue Information and Ransomware Controls sections; a completed application does not establish acceptance. Beazley says small and midsize MediaTech business is placed through third-party placement platforms or by email, with automated processing rather than a direct-to-consumer purchase flow. 1Company-reported. MediaTech product page SME placement paragraph; describes the stated distribution channel only. | Cowbell says Prime Tech is available on a surplus-lines basis in all 50 states and is distributed through agents rather than direct to businesses. 4Company-reported. 'Prime Tech Coverage Benefits' list, first bullet. |
| Coverage Features | The sample MediaTech form defines two technology-specific triggers: a Tech & Professional Services Wrongful Act (a negligent act, error, omission, misstatement or unintentional breach of contract in rendering Tech Services) and a Tech Product Wrongful Act (a Tech Product that fails to perform as intended, or software copyright infringement). Both are separate from the policy's Media Wrongful Act trigger. 3Company-reported. Sample policy form F00731, 022019 edition, insuring agreements and definitions; the issued policy's wording and any endorsements control. The sample form excludes patent infringement and trade-secret misappropriation connected to Tech Products or other products, even though it insures Tech Product Wrongful Acts generally. 3Company-reported. Sample policy form F00731, 022019 edition, Patent & Misappropriation of Information exclusion; excludes only patent and the described trade-secret scenario, not all IP claims. | Cowbell lists Prime Tech coverage for delay in delivery, negligence, misrepresentation, breach of warranty/contract, product failures, and software copyright disputes, plus associated cyber-related costs like cyber extortion, data restoration, social engineering, and business interruption. 4Company-reported. Prime Tech FAQ, 'What coverage is offered?' and 'other associated costs' lists. Cowbell says Prime Tech includes duty to defend, defense costs for privacy-related regulatory proceedings, contractual-indemnity coverage, expansive breach-of-contract coverage, broad intellectual-property infringement coverage, and no exclusions for guarantees, consequential damages, or breach of warranties. 4Company-reported. 'Prime Tech Coverage Benefits' list; illustrative, subject to the issued policy. |
| Role in This Line | Beazley sells technology errors and omissions coverage bundled inside MediaTech, a single small-business form that also includes professional E&O, media liability and cyber coverage. It is not offered as a standalone tech E&O policy for this segment. 1Company-reported. US small-business MediaTech product page; does not address Beazley's larger-account technology E&O programs, if any. | Cowbell markets Prime Tech as a non-admitted professional-indemnity product that combines Technology Errors & Omissions (E&O) with cyber coverage in one policy, and Prime Tech Plus as a follow-form excess layer that sits above a primary Tech E&O/cyber policy. 4,5Company-reported. Prime Tech and Prime Tech Plus overview PDFs. |
