Ensuring that your business emails reach your customers’ inboxes—and not their spam folders—is more important than ever. With the rise in phishing scams, which have been the leading cause of data breaches for years, email authentication has become a critical defence mechanism.
To combat these threats email authentication has become essential. Recently, two of the world’s largest email providers, Google and Yahoo, have implemented new policies that make email authentication a requirement, particularly for businesses using their services.
Understanding Google and Yahoo’s new email policies impact on your business
Understanding the Email Spoofing Problem
Imagine this scenario: a customer receives an email that appears to be from your company, requesting urgent action. They click a link and provide sensitive information, only to realise later that it wasn’t you who sent the email—it was a scammer. This tactic, known as email spoofing, is a growing problem that can have devastating consequences for your business, including financial losses, reputational damage, data breaches and the potential loss of future business. As email spoofing becomes more sophisticated and widespread, email authentication has emerged as a critical measure to protect businesses and their customers.
What is Email Authentication?
Email authentication is a process that verifies the legitimacy of your emails. It ensures that the server sending the email is authorised to do so and provides mechanisms to report unauthorised uses of your domain.
There are three key protocols involved in email authentication:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This protocol records the IP addresses authorised to send emails on behalf of your domain.
- DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail): DKIM allows domain owners to digitally sign their emails, providing a way to verify that the email hasn’t been altered in transit and is indeed from your domain.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM by giving instructions to receiving email servers on what to do if an email fails these checks. It also provides feedback to the domain owner about unauthorised attempts to use their domain.
While SPF and DKIM are foundational steps for email security, DMARC is the linchpin that ties everything together, offering the necessary enforcement and reporting to safeguard your domain.
Why Google & Yahoo’s New DMARC Policy Matters
Until recently, Google and Yahoo offered spam filtering without strictly enforcing DMARC policies. However, as of February 2024, these tech giants have raised the stakes in email security. Businesses sending over 5,000 emails daily are now required to have DMARC implemented.
For businesses sending fewer emails, policies around SPF and DKIM authentication are also enforced, underscoring the importance of email authentication for all businesses, regardless of size. This change signifies a new era in email communication where ensuring your emails are authenticated is not just a recommendation but a requirement.
The Benefits of Implementing DMARC
Adopting DMARC and other email authentication protocols isn’t just about meeting new requirements—it’s about securing your business.
Here are the key benefits:
- Protects Your Brand Reputation: By preventing email spoofing, DMARC safeguards your brand’s image and helps maintain customer trust.
- Improves Email Deliverability: Proper authentication ensures your legitimate emails land in your recipients’ inboxes rather than being filtered into spam folders.
- Provides Valuable Insights: DMARC reports offer detailed information on how different email servers handle your messages, helping you identify potential issues and strengthen your overall email security posture.
Taking Action
How to Put DMARC in Place
Given the increasing threats of email spoofing, implementing DMARC is crucial. Here’s how you can get started:
- Understand Your DMARC Options: Familiarise yourself with the different levels of DMARC policies, from monitoring to enforcement.
- Consult Your IT Team or Security Provider: Implementing DMARC correctly requires technical expertise. Engage with your IT team or a trusted security provider to set up and manage your DMARC records.
- Track and Adjust Regularly: DMARC isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Regularly review your DMARC reports to adjust and refine your email authentication strategies.
Need Help with Email Authentication & DMARC Monitoring?
DMARC is a vital piece of the email security puzzle, but it’s only one part of a comprehensive email security strategy. Ensuring your business is protected. If you need assistance with implementing DMARC or other email authentication measures, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to schedule a chat and secure your business communications.
