Does General Liability Cover Data Breaches?
Usually no for breach-response costs or lost electronic data; a privacy offense provision is not comprehensive cyber coverage.
A CGL policy is not a substitute for cyber insurance. The ISO specimen excludes damages from loss, corruption, or inaccessibility of electronic data. A defined privacy offense under personal and advertising injury does not itself cover forensic work, customer notices, data restoration, or regulatory response.
Ask the broker to map each expected breach cost to the cyber policy, including response services, interruption, privacy claims, waiting periods, sublimits, and exclusions. Check both policies’ wording for any overlap or gap.
Coverage Guides Related to General Liability Insurance
Sources for General Liability Insurance Answers
- Commercial general liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; What commercial general liability insurance covers; Coverage A, B and C; Additional liability coverages to consider. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial General Liability; Commercial Automobile; Workers Compensation; Commercial Property. Accessed 2026-09-25.
- Commercial General Liability Coverage Form, CG 00 01 12 07. ISO; specimen hosted by Hiscox; Coverage A I.A pp.1–5; Coverage B I.B pp.6–7; Who Is An Insured II pp.9–10; Limits III p.10; Conditions IV pp.10–12; Definitions V pp.12–16. Accessed 2026-09-25.