Have you been hearing more about email authentication lately? There is a reason for that. It’s the prevalence of phishing as a major security threat. Phishing continues as the main cause of data breaches and security incidents. This has been the case for many years, no matter where in the country your business is located.
A major shift in the email landscape is happening to combat this threat of phishing scams. Email authentication is becoming a requirement for email service providers. Paying attention to this shift is crucial to your online presence and communication.
Google and Yahoo are two of the world’s largest email providers. They have implemented a new DMARC policy that took effect in February 2024. This policy essentially makes email authentication in order for your emails to reach their intended inboxes. It’s targeted at businesses sending emails through Gmail and Yahoo Mail.
But what’s DMARC, and why is it suddenly so important? We’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the world of email authentication, helping you understand the tech lingo, and why these email changes are more critical than ever for your business.
The Email Spoofing Problem
Imagine receiving an email seemingly from your bank. It requests urgent action. You click a link, enter your details, and boom – your information is compromised.
The common name for this is email spoofing. “Spoofing” happens when scammers disguise their email addresses, trying to appear as legitimate individuals or organizations. Scammers spoof a business’s email address and then email customers and vendors pretending to be that business.
When they succeed, these deceptive spoofing tactics can have devastating consequences on companies. These include:
- Financial losses
- Reputational damage
- Data breaches
- Loss of future business
Unfortunately, email spoofing is a growing problem, so large email providers are taking steps to combat it, making email authentication a critical defense measure.
What is Email Authentication?
Email authentication is a way of verifying that an email is legitimate. This includes verifying the server sending the email and reporting unauthorized uses of a company domain.
Email authentication uses three key protocols, and each has a specific job:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Records the IP addresses authorized to send email for a domain.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Allows domain owners to digitally “sign” emails, verifying legitimacy.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): This protocol gives instructions to a receiving email server, including what to do with the results of an SPF and DKIM check. It also alerts domain owners that their domain is being spoofed.
SPF and DKIM are protective steps. DMARC provides information critical to security enforcement. All three protocols help keep scammers from using your domain name in spoofing attempts.
So, how does it work?
- You set up a DMARC record in your domain server settings. This record informs email receivers (like Google and Yahoo). It tells them the IP addresses authorized to send emails on your behalf.
- What happens next? Your sent email arrives at the receiver’s mail server. It checks to see if it is from an authorized sender.
- The receiver can take action based on your DMARC policy. This includes delivery, rejection, or quarantine.
- The DMARC authentication provides reporting. The reports let you know if your business email is being delivered and if scammers are spoofing your domain.
Why Google & Yahoo’s New DMARC Policy Matters
Both Google and Yahoo have offered some level of spam filtering. But didn’t strictly enforce DMARC policies. The new DMARC policy raises the bar on email security.
- The new rule took effect in February 2024. Businesses sending over 5,000 emails daily must implement DMARC.
- Another note: You may think your company doesn’t send 5,000 daily emails! But is your domain a part of a larger email group? Think about where your emails are sent from.
- Both companies (Yahoo and Google) also have policies for those sending fewer emails. These relate to SPF and DKIM authentication.
Did you notice a sharp change in your email open rates after February 2024? It’s worth looking into to make sure your domain has all the protections set up and in place for email delivery.
The Benefits of Implementing DMARC
Implementing DMARC isn’t just about complying with new policies, though. It offers a range of benefits for your business that you want to consider:
- Protects your brand reputation: DMARC helps prevent email spoofing scams. These scams could damage your brand image and customer trust.
- Improves email deliverability: Proper authentication ensures delivery. Your legitimate emails reach recipients’ inboxes instead of spam folders.
- Provides valuable insights: DMARC reports offer detailed information. They give visibility into how different receivers are handling your emails, help you identify potential issues, and improve your email security posture.
Taking Action: How to Put DMARC in Place
If you have someone helping you with your domain, reach out to them to make sure you have implemented DMARC. This is especially true considering the rising email security concerns with email spoofing. There are many in-depth articles available if you want to look into your DMARC options, or we always suggest reaching out to us if you have questions! And make sure to keep an eye on those emails, open rates, and adjust as needed!
Need Help with Email Authentication & DMARC Monitoring?
DMARC is just one piece of the email security puzzle. It’s important to implement email authentication, one of many security measures required in the modern digital environment. Need help implementing these protocols? Hop-A-Long I.T. is here to help businesses across central Kansas and Nebraska with all their cybersecurity and technology needs! Give us a call today or visit our contact page for more information.
This article is adapted with permission from The Technology Press