Have you been having issues emailing certain people recently? Google, Yahoo and some other providers have been implementing extra security features to their email servers recently. This causes problems when people email them if the senders have not implemented certain features for their domain.
The reason for the change is due to 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 and now a major shift in the email landscape is happening to try and combat phishing scams. Email authentication is becoming a requirement for many email service providers and it is crucial to your online presence and communication to pay attention to these changes.
Google and Yahoo are two of the world’s largest email providers. They have implemented a new email policy that took effect in February 2024. This policy essentially makes email authentication essential.
But what changes are required and why is it suddenly so important? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the world of email authentication. We can help you understand why it is more critical than ever for your business.
The Email Spoofing Problem
Imagine receiving an email seemingly from your bank requesting urgent action. Without thinking things properly through, you click a link, enter your details, and bam – your information is compromised. This is known as email spoofing.
With email spoofing, scammers disguise their email addresses to try and appear as legitimate individuals or organisations. They then email people (both to personal and business mailboxes) and pretend to be that business. These deceptive tactics can have devastating effects on companies with the consequences being:
- Data breaches
- Financial losses
- Reputational damage
- Loss of future business
Unfortunately, email spoofing is a growing problem which makes email authentication a critical defence measure.
What is Email Authentication?
Email authentication is a way of verifying that your email is legitimate. This includes verifying the server sending the email and also includes reporting back unauthorised uses of a company domain. Email authentication uses three key protocols (SPF, DKIM and DMARC) and each has a specific job:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Records the IP addresses that are authorised to send email for a domain.
- DKIM (Sender Policy Framework): Allows domain owners to digitally “sign” emails which then verifies legitimacy.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): Gives instructions to a receiving email server. Including, what to do with the results of an SPF and DKIM check and alerts domain owners that their domain is being spoofed.
SPF and DKIM are protective steps. DMARC provides information critical to security enforcement as it helps to keep scammers from using your domain name in spoofing attempts. Here is how it works:
- You set up a DMARC record in your domain server settings. This record informs email receivers (like Google and Yahoo) about the IP addresses that are authorised to send emails on your behalf.
- Once your email arrives at the receiver’s mail server. It looks to see if the email is from an authorised sender.
- Based on your DMARC policy, the receiver can take actions such as delivery, rejection or quarantine.
- You can get reporting back from the DMARC authentication. The reports let you know if your business email is being delivered and can also tell you 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 they don’t strictly enforce DMARC policies. They have raised the bar on email security though
Other providers will follow suit shortly and you need to pay attention to ensure the smooth delivery of your business email.
The Benefits of Implementing DMARC:
Implementing DMARC is not just about policy compliance as it can offer a range of benefits for your business:
- Improves email deliverability:
Proper email authentication can ensure delivery, which means your legitimate emails reach recipients’ inboxes instead of their spam folders. - Protects your brand reputation:
DMARC helps prevent email spoofing scams. This protects your brand against scams that could damage your image and customer trust. - Provides valuable insights:
DMARC reports offer detailed information. These reports gives you visibility into how different receivers are handling your emails as well as help you identify potential issues. They also improve your email security posture.
How to Put DMARC in Place
With all the changed happening, implementing DMARC is now crucial. This is especially true considering the rising email security concerns with email spoofing. To get started, you need to understand your DMARC options and then consult your IT team or IT service provider. It doesn’t end there though as you also need to regularly track and adjust.
Do You Need Help with Email Authentication?
As you can see, it is important to put email authentication in place as it is now one of many security measures required in the modern digital environment. If you need help putting these protocols in place, contact us today to schedule a chat.