CFC vs
Marsh
Compare CFC technology products with Marsh and MMA brokerage for a startup whose digital infrastructure risks are growing.
Introduction
A startup moving from selling software to operating significant digital infrastructure may need a different insurance program as well as a technology liability policy. CFC markets technology underwriting products; Marsh’s Technology Practice markets data-center and infrastructure work, while MMA offers a middle-market brokerage route. The buyer should first decide what advisory and placement work is needed, then compare actual policy proposals. 1 32 49
Where Each Provider Shines
Where CFC Shines
Where Marsh Shines
- Marsh brokers insurance and advises on risk for companies across industries, with a Technology Practice and a US/Canada middle-market path through Marsh McLennan Agency. 30,32,47,49
- Marsh places cyber insurance through a dedicated practice and markets large digital-infrastructure property placements through Stratus, alongside MMA executive, property, casualty and benefits brokerage. 37,53,33,34,32
Coverage Comparison
| Coverage Type | CFC | Marsh |
|---|---|---|
| Builders risk | Not listed | Listed 55 |
| Commercial property | Listed 13 | Listed 55,33,34 |
| Crime | Listed 11,23 | Listed 54 |
| Cyber liability | Listed 9 | Listed 37,53 |
| Directors and officers | Listed 11 | Listed 40,54 |
| Employee health and benefits | Not listed | Listed 58,51,47 |
| Employment practices liability | Listed 11 | Listed 41,54 |
| Equipment breakdown | Not listed | Listed 33 |
| Fidelity bonds | Not listed | Listed 54 |
| Fiduciary liability | Listed 11 | Listed 54 |
| General liability | Listed 13 | Listed 33 |
| Intellectual property | Listed 14 | Listed 54 |
| Kidnap and ransom | Listed 15 | Listed 54 |
| Management liability | Listed 10 | Listed 54,43 |
| Media liability | Listed 21 | Listed 54 |
| Medical malpractice | Listed 20 | Not listed |
| Product liability | Listed 22 | Not listed |
| Product recall | Listed 16 | Not listed |
| Professional liability / E&O | Listed 12 | Listed 42,54 |
| Representations and warranties | Listed 17 | Not listed |
| Surety bonds | Not listed | Listed 33,57 |
| Technology errors and omissions | Listed 2 | Listed 33,42 |
| Umbrella and excess liability | Listed 18 | Not listed |
| Virtual care and telehealth | Listed 19 | Not listed |
| Workers’ compensation | Not listed | Listed 56 |
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 CFC and Marsh
Infrastructure Property Capacity Is Not a Software Liability Limit
Marsh’s data-center practice describes property, equipment breakdown, business interruption, technology E&O and surety-related needs. Its Stratus exchange is marketed for operational digital-infrastructure property, with insurers evaluating risks individually. The advertised property capacity should not be read as technology E&O capacity or a limit available to a startup merely because it uses cloud infrastructure. 33 34
CFC’s technology brochure focuses on its combined technology liability and cyber proposition; it separately markets property/casualty products. A finance lead should separate an outage caused by the startup’s service from loss involving owned equipment or a dependent facility, then ask the broker to show which proposed contracts respond. The public catalogues do not perform that allocation. 2 13
The Marsh Segment Affects the Engagement Being Purchased
Marsh’s US compensation guide distinguishes core broking segments, MMA and Affinity. MMA is described as a wholly owned subsidiary serving middle-market businesses in the US and Canada. A founder should identify the segment and team accepting the account rather than presume every Marsh specialist or facility is included in a small-business engagement. No public minimum premium or startup acceptance rule was established in the reviewed public documentation. 47 49
CFC’s documented application route uses a broker, and its Connect platform is for brokers. Marsh’s sales/RFP form is an inquiry, not a binding transaction. These roles could be complementary, but the reviewed evidence does not establish that Marsh will place this account with CFC or that a particular broker has access to every CFC product. 3 6 45
Compensation and Producer Identity Should Follow the Actual Segment
Marsh discloses multiple compensation types and different contingent-commission treatment for core domestic US broking and MMA. A generic “Marsh fee” description would lose that distinction. CFC’s reviewed public sources do not disclose a buyer-specific fee schedule, so ask for the full placement economics whichever policy is proposed. 47
The reviewed U.S. technology brochure, application and Connect page do not disclose a buyer-specific premium, producer commission rate, broker fee or complete schedule of policy charges. Request a written breakdown of premium, taxes, fees and intermediary compensation before purchase. 2,3,6
Marsh’s current materials also use both Inc. and LLC producer names; the reviewed public documentation leaves that reconciliation and current California authority unresolved. CFC’s regulatory disclosure does not by itself settle its California technology issuer. The signed engagement and quote should resolve both the intermediary and insurer fields. 46 48 4
What to Confirm in Quotes
- Which operational assets and dependencies require property or infrastructure insurance beyond technology E&O and cyber?
- Will Marsh core broking, MMA or another segment service the account, and which specialists and markets are included?
- What exact producer and insurer entities, California authority, client fees and insurer-related compensation apply?
Service Comparison
CFC vs Marsh: documented services and availability
| Criteria | CFC | Marsh |
|---|---|---|
| Business role | CFC is a specialist insurance provider operating an MGA model: a managing general agent performs underwriting functions for insurance capacity providers. Its disclosures identify CFC Underwriting Limited and the U.S. producer CFC USA, Inc.; the CFC brand should not be treated as the name of every policy’s insurer. 5,4 | Marsh’s US compensation guide states that, as an insurance broker, Marsh’s role is to facilitate placement of insurance coverage on behalf of clients. The transparency page describes determining appropriate insurers and negotiating with those insurers. Marsh is not identified in these sources as the insurer that issues or pays the policy. 47,46,31 Current Marsh materials use more than one US legal name. The compensation guide (copyright 2024, Marsh LLC) refers to Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC entering client agreements. The transparency page instead names Marsh LLC and Marsh USA Inc. Marsh McLennan Agency is described as a wholly owned Marsh subsidiary. A 2006 California decision caption used MARSH USA, INC., dba MARSH RISK AND INSURANCE SERVICES, license 0437153. Confirm the exact contracting producer on the proposal and license documents; current California license status remains unverified. 47,46,48,49,30,60 |
| Coverage lines | 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. 2 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. 9 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. 10,11 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. 14,2 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. 23,19,22 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. 12,13,21,20,16,15,18 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. 17 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. 25,26,27,28 | Marsh’s Cyber Insurance practice markets brokerage of cyber policies and related analytics products. Marsh McLennan Agency’s cyber page lists solution areas such as cybercrime, extortion and ransomware, media liability, network interruption and privacy regulatory defense costs. The Technology Practice’s data-center service describes programs that can include property damage, equipment breakdown, business interruption, cyber, general liability and surety for power and interconnection obligations. Stratus is marketed as an operational property exchange for digital infrastructure with potential access to up to $10 billion of property capacity on a single placement; at launch it is focused on property, with inland marine, cyber and casualty described as possible later lines. These are marketed capabilities, not a standard startup package or guaranteed limits. 37,53,33,34,32 Marsh’s Directors and Officers page offers D&O program design for public, private and non-profit companies. Its Employment Practices page offers EPLI, including endorsements described for firms with more than 4,000 employees and for midsize firms with 250 to 4,000 employees. Its Professional Liability page offers E&O risk-transfer design, including for technology businesses. MMA’s executive and professional liability practice lists D&O, E&O, EPL, commercial crime/fidelity, cyber, fiduciary, media, intellectual property and kidnap-and-ransom among policies it places. Endorsement headcount bands and product labels do not establish that a particular Bay Area company qualifies or that wording is equivalent across insurers. 40,41,42,54,43 MMA’s business-insurance hub links casualty, property, surety, cyber, executive and professional liability, international placements, captives and small-business programs. Its property page covers commercial property and builders’ risk. Its casualty page includes workers’ compensation. MMA and Marsh sites also market employee health and benefits consulting and placement. MMA’s compensation-guide landing page exists for 2026 but the PDF body was not fully extracted here. 52,55,56,57,58,47 |
| Application process | 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. 3,6 | The public Marsh path to speak with a broker is an inquiry, not an online bind. Contact pages ask you to choose an inquiry type, including a sales or RFP route. The business-inquiry page says to complete a form and that a representative will respond within 48 hours; it points existing-policy certificate, billing and policy questions elsewhere. The inquiry page does not display premiums or bind coverage. The 48-hour response time is a company statement, not a binding or service guarantee. 44,45,50 Marsh describes a broker-led placement: identifying insurers for the risk, negotiating coverage and price, and, in core US broking segments, disclosing quotes and premium indications received. It may share incumbent or competing insurer names, pricing objectives, expiring terms, or give an insurer a last look when it believes that is in the client’s interest or the client instructs it. Those market practices are disclosure statements, not a guaranteed outcome or turnaround. 47,46 |
| Fees and compensation | The reviewed U.S. technology brochure, application and Connect page do not disclose a buyer-specific premium, producer commission rate, broker fee or complete schedule of policy charges. Request a written breakdown of premium, taxes, fees and intermediary compensation before purchase. 2,3,6 | Marsh’s US compensation guide says it may be paid by insurer retail commissions, client fees (often in a written Client Service Agreement, sometimes crediting commissions), wholesale commissions, insurer consulting compensation, supplemental commissions, compensation for facilities or other insurer arrangements, interest on premium accounts, and other benefits. Marsh says it does not accept contingent commissions on domestic placements for US clients in core broking operations, except for employee health and benefits or when acting as managing general agent or underwriting manager; Marsh McLennan Agency does accept contingent commissions. Standard public premium ranges or a startup fee schedule were not found. Request an account-specific disclosure of commissions, fees, contingent or supplemental amounts, premium finance charges and any affiliated-market compensation. 47,46,59 |
Sources
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.
Marsh Official Website
- Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh Risk | Global Leader in Insurance Broking and Risk Management. Marsh; Opening advice, analytics and insurance positioning; Our services: consulting, brokerage and claims advocacy; Talk to us sales/RFP inquiry. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; listed practice links including data center insurance, fintech, Stratus; Talk to us contact CTA. FAQ coverage questions treated as educational, not catalogue proof.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Data center insurance and risk management. Marsh; Closing the gaps in conventional coverage (property, casualty, technology E&O); surety for PPA and interconnection; FAQ typical covers: property damage, equipment breakdown, business interruption, cyber, general liability. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Stratus. Marsh; Operational property insurance exchange for digital infrastructure; up to $10 billion single-placement capacity; prior-submit exchange; Nimbus construction-phase counterpart; launch focused on property. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Fintech Industry Insurance. Marsh; Practice positioning for fintech insurance advice; UK-centric client examples; contact CTA. No line-by-line US product schedule.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber Risk. Marsh; Practice overview; expertise links including Cyber Insurance and Claims and Incident Management; ransomware FAQ describing possible policy parts, not a guarantee. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber Insurance. Marsh; Opening brokerage positioning; products list including Cyber Pathway, Cyber Accelerate, Claims Advocacy, CyberPort. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Claims Advocacy. Marsh; Cyber claims specialists advocating with insurers; review claims, litigation management, proof of loss with forensic accountants. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Claims Management. Marsh; Claims management as advisor between business, insurer and TPA; listed claim types including property, cyber, worker injury, directors liability. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Directors and Officers Liability (D&O). Marsh; Opening D&O placement for public, private and non-profit companies; US D&O Product Leader listed. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Employment Practices Liability. Marsh; What we offer: EPLI placement; Global Leaders Endorsement (>4,000 employees) and Leaders Preferred Endorsement (250–4,000 employees). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Professional liability. Marsh; What We Offer: design risk-transfer solutions; specialist industries including technology. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Financial & Professional Liability. Marsh; Practice introduction for executive insurance advisory; FAQ distinguishing management liability, D&O and EPL (educational context for the practice page). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Contact us inquiries. Marsh; Please select your type of inquiry; sales/RFP card; JSON-LD legalName Marsh LLC; link to business-form.html. Inspected 16 September 2026; no form submitted.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Business inquiries. Marsh; Please complete this form and a Marsh representative will respond within 48 hours; sales/RFP inquiry; separate path noted for certificates, policies and billing. Embedded form iframe not fully field-mapped; no submission.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Leading the Way in Transparency. Marsh; Placement process; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA Inc. client agreements; Compensation Guide for US Clients; MarketConnect/Market Match insurer consulting; equity-interest disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; Copyright © 2024, Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Licensing. Marsh Affinity; Marsh USA LLC producer license table as of 03/08/2024, including CA 437153; Amazon program administrator role and Victor wholesale/MGA language are program-specific and not treated as the default Marsh retail role. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh McLennan Agency | USA Insurance Leaders. Marsh McLennan Agency; Specialists in insurance, employee benefits and retirement; Contact Us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Who We Are | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Business of Marsh (NYSE: MRSH); business insurance, employee health & benefits, retirement & wealth, and private client solutions across the US and Canada. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Business Insurance. Marsh McLennan Agency; Client-focused solutions including casualty, cyber, executive & professional liability, property, surety, small business, international; works with a wide variety of carriers. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Cyber Insurance | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Placement plus claims advocacy as carrier liaison; listed solution areas including cybercrime, ransomware, media liability, privacy regulatory defense. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Expert Executive and Professional Liability Insurance | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Policies include D&O, E&O, EPL, commercial crime/fidelity, cyber, fiduciary, media, IP, and kidnap and ransom; coverage subsections for D&O, EPL and cyber. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Property Insurance | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Commercial property; flood, windstorm, wildfire, earthquake options; builders’ risk; claims advocacy; captives and parametric options. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Comprehensive Casualty Cover | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Casualty program design; Claims Management; Workers’ Compensation subsection describing WC as coverage for on-the-job injury. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Opening: we provide surety bonds; national market representation. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Employee benefits consulting positioning; implementation of employee benefits solutions. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Complete 2026 Agency Compensation Guide | MMA. Marsh McLennan Agency; Landing page for 2026 MMA Compensation Guide download and premium-finance disclosure; PDF body not fully extracted (download redirected). Compensation types for MMA therefore rest primarily on the Marsh US guide’s MMA statements.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- MARSH USA INC. California Department of Insurance; 9 March 2006 precedential decision caption: MARSH USA, INC., dba MARSH RISK AND INSURANCE SERVICES (license #0437153). Historical enforcement caption, not a 2026 license-status verification.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- License Number Search. California Department of Insurance; Public search interface retrieved 16 September 2026; no authenticated license-detail record for 437153 was returned in this research (no captcha completion). No current status conclusion drawn.. Accessed 2026-09-16.
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