Professional Liability Insurance for Calgary IT Professionals
Calgary IT consultants are exposed to risks from software bugs, failed integrations, and data issues. Professional liability (E&O) insurance helps cover the liabilities tied to your solutions.
Errors and omissions insurance for IT professionals in Calgary
If you are an IT freelancer, contractor or small business owner in Calgary, professional liability insurance is an important asset for your business. Also known as errors and omissions insurance or E&O, this coverage can provide financial support if you are sued for negligence because of your professional services or advice. Mistakes happen, and you need to be covered when they do.
Interested in purchasing your professional liability online in minutes?
Acera Insurance offers EasyCover where you can get a quote, bind your policy and pay online in only a few short minutes. Get comprehensive coverage and affordable rates quickly and easily.
Here are some of the benefits of EasyCover:
- Get free online quotes 24/7
- No long, confusing applications to fill out
- Purchase and manage your policy online
- Support by phone, email or chat
- Option to bundle with other coverages
What does Calgary IT/computer contractor professional liability insurance cover?
As an IT professional, even a small error or oversight in your work can have disastrous professional and financial consequences. Unfortunately, you face risks such as data breach, human error and property damage as part of your day-to-day operations. Your company could be sued with allegations of negligence, errors and omissions if there is a security breach or technological failure that causes your client financial and reputational harm.
EasyCover’s professional liability can protect you and your company when the unexpected happens by providing coverage for your legal expenses, judgment awards and settlements in the event of a lawsuit.
How much professional liability coverage does a Calgary computer contractor need?
EasyCover offers three levels of protection for IT professionals based in Calgary:
- $1 million
- $2 million
- $5 million
Regardless of the number of claims, these are the maximum amounts that your E&O policy will pay out over a 12-month period.
When reviewing your contracts, make note of the professional liability insurance requirements stated in the document – most range from $1 million to 2 million. EasyCover advisors typically recommend a minimum of $2 million in E&O coverage, since the costs associated with a lawsuit can accumulate quickly.
E&O insurance for IT professionals in Calgary
Our team at EasyCover offers IT professional liability insurance for a wide range of information technology roles, including:
- CRM Systems Consultants
- IT Facilities Managers
- IT Hardware Consultants
- IT Hardware & Software Sellers and Suppliers
- IT Network Architects
- IT Outsourcing Consultants
- IT Program Managers
- IT Systems Analyst
- IT System Designers
- IT Trainers
- Network Communication Consultants
- PC / IT Network Supporters
- Search Engine Optimization Consultants
- Software Engineers, Developers, Programmers & Consultants
- Telecommunication Consultants
- Website Developers
Don’t see your specialty? Contact us and we’ll work to find a solution for you.
Calgary IT professional E&O claims examples
Here are a few examples of claims that can be made against Calgary IT professionals.
Security breach after configuration mistake
While configuring a client’s firewall your IT firm fails to close a vulnerability. Hackers are able to exploit this gap, which leads to a data breach that exposes your client’s sensitive customer data. The client sues you for the breach response costs, regulatory fines and reputational harm caused by the hackers.
Software implementation failure
You are doing contract work as a software developer and deliver a custom application that contains coding errors. These errors cause your client’s e-commerce site to crash during a peak sales period, resulting in significant lost revenue. The client files a lawsuit to recover those losses.
Data migration error
While working as an IT consultant to migrate a client’s database to a new platform, critical data is lost due to an oversight in the migration process. The client sues you for the cost of recovering the data and the business interruption losses caused by the downtime.
What factors determine the rate of professional liability insurance for IT professionals in Calgary?
Your professional liability insurance rates are determined by a number of factors related to your IT services and business in Calgary. Some of the factors that are considered when calculating your insurance premiums are:
- Insurance and claims history: Previous claims or missed payments can drive up your premiums.
- Annual revenue: Companies with higher annual revenues often have more complex projects and greater workload which heightens their risk of claims.
- Company size: Your potential liabilities and insurance costs will increase the more employees you have listed under your policy.
- Area of expertise: Your premiums will reflect the different types of risk and legal exposures associated with different specialties in the IT sector.
- Policy choices and limits: Choosing higher policy limits and adding other types of insurance coverages will increase your insurance costs but provide you with more comprehensive coverage.
To help you decide on coverages and limits, you can get a free quote online in just a few minutes with EasyCover.
How much does E&O insurance for Calgary IT/computer contractors cost?
Here are a few examples of what IT professionals could expect to pay for professional liability insurance in Calgary:
- A software developer who makes $90,000 a year may pay $660 per year for $2 million of professional liability insurance. Adding on cyber liability coverage would be an extra $150.
- A network communications consultant in Calgary that makes $260,000 a year with two employees may pay $1,450 for $2 million in professional liability insurance each year. Adding commercial general liability insurance for $220 and a cyber liability policy for $150 would bring the total of their insurance coverage to approximately $1820.
Get an online professional liability insurance quote today and find out what your rates would be.
Risk management strategies for Calgary IT contractors
Implementing risk management strategies is an important tool to help you minimize your exposures. Some simple steps include:
Clearly Defined Contracts
Using clear detailed contracts that define the project scope, deliverables, timelines and responsibilities for you and your team.
Detailed Documentation
Documenting everything and maintain thorough records of all client communications, approvals, projects milestones and project changes.
Enhanced Cyber Security
Implementing strong cyber security protocols to protect your systems and your client data with firewalls, multifactor authentication, encryption and regular patching to prevent breaches.
Quality Assurance Testing
Conducting thorough testing before launch to address any functionality, compatibility and security vulnerabilities.
Additional liability coverage options for Calgary IT professionals
Cyber Liability Insurance
For IT professionals, cyber risks are a significant concern. Cyber liability insurance is designed to help your business recover from cyberattacks or data breaches. EasyCover’s policies cover both network security and privacy liability, including breach investigation and notification costs, data recovery, lost income due to downtime, legal defence, replacement of digital assets and certain regulatory fines.
Since coverage limits and exclusions can vary, it’s vital to review your policy in detail to ensure it meets the specific requirements of your IT operations.
Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL)
CGL acts as an essential safeguard against everyday risks by providing coverage if you or your staff unintentionally cause bodily injury to a third party or damage someone else’s property while performing your services. This could include incidents at your own office, during on-site troubleshooting, or while setting up equipment at a client’s location. EasyCover offers CGL starting at $1 million in coverage, with the flexibility to choose higher limits based on your business needs.
Keep in mind, CGL does not cover physical property involving your own computers, networking gear, or other business assets.
Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability Insurance
If you sit on the board of a tech company or serve as an officer, you could face personal liability for decisions or actions that cause financial harm or regulatory issues. Directors and officers insurance helps cover legal expenses from claims brought by employees, clients, shareholders or oversight bodies. However, it’s important to note that criminal acts and penalties cannot be insured under Canadian law.
Why Calgary IT professionals depend on EasyCover for their E&O coverage
Calgary IT consultants choose EasyCover for their professional liability insurance because we:
- Provide customizable coverage options
- Competitive prices
- Make it as convenient as possible
- Provide quick, easy service to get a quote or purchase your policy
You don’t need to speak to a broker to get insured! make it easy for IT consultants in Calgary: get your professional liability insurance at your own time and completely online.
Ready to get your free IT contractor professional liability insurance quote?
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