Email communication is a fundamental aspect of business operations. However, the increasing prevalence of email-based threats, such as phishing attacks and email spoofing, has highlighted the need for robust email security measures.
One of the essential tools for safeguarding against these threats is DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance). IronTree and Sendmarc’s email security solution uses DMARC to ensure that cybercriminals can’t send fraudulent emails from an organisation’s domain. This protects their clients, suppliers, and employees from attacks.
Let’s explore the concept of DMARC, its significance in email security, and how it can effectively protect your organisation from email-based vulnerabilities.
What is DMARC?
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that empowers domain owners to define policies on how email receivers should handle messages that claim to be sent from their domain. It provides a standardised framework for email senders to protect their domain’s reputation, detect and prevent email spoofing, and ensure the delivery of legitimate emails to recipients.
The components of DMARC
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): SPF is an email authentication mechanism that allows domain owners to define authorised email servers for sending messages on their behalf. By publishing SPF records in the domain’s DNS (Domain Name System), organisations can specify the approved servers that are allowed to send emails using their domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM is another email authentication technique that uses cryptographic digital signatures to verify the authenticity of an email’s content. It adds a digital signature to outgoing emails. This can be validated by the recipient’s mail server using the public key published in the domain’s DNS.
Alignment and Reporting: DMARC introduces the concept of alignment, which verifies that the sending domain aligns with the “From” address in the email header. It also enabled reporting mechanisms that provide valuable insights into email authentication failures. This allows organisations to monitor and analyse abuse of their domain.
Benefits of DMARC implementation
Email deliverability: DMARC helps organisations improve email deliverability rates by ensuring that legitimate emails from their domain are successfully delivered to recipients’ inboxes, while unauthorised or fraudulent messages are more likely to be rejected or filtered out.
Brand protection: By preventing email spoofing and unauthorised use of their domain, organisations can safeguard their brand reputation and maintain the trust of their customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Fraud prevention: DMARC significantly reduces the risk of falling victim to email-based fraud, such as phishing attacks, which can lead to data breaches, financial losses, and damage to a company’s reputation.
Enhanced visibility: The reporting capabilities of DMARC provide valuable insights into email authentication failures, allowing organisations to identify potential vulnerabilities, track sources of abuse, and take proactive measures to strengthen their email security infrastructure.
How to implement DMARC
Assess current email infrastructure: Evaluate the organisation’s existing email infrastructure, including the domains used for sending emails, authentication mechanisms in place (SPF and DKIM), and any existing email deliverability issues.
Define DMARC policies: Establish DMARC policies that specify how email receivers should handle messages from your domain. Determine whether to monitor, quarantine, or reject unauthorised emails and decide how to handle alignment failures.
Publish DMARC records: Publish the DMARC records in your domain’s DNS, outlining the policies and instructions for email receivers. These records provide guidelines for email servers to follow when processing emails from your domain.
Monitor and analyse reports: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to gain insights into email authentication failures, identify sources of abuse, and take appropriate actions to strengthen your email security measures.
In conclusion, DMARC is a vital protocol for businesses to enhance their email security. By implementing DMARC, organisations can protect their brand reputation, improve email deliverability, and prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks. DMARC’s alignment and reporting features provide valuable insights for addressing vulnerabilities and ensuring secure communication channels. By embracing DMARC, businesses can fortify their email security infrastructure and establish trustworthy communication with their stakeholders.
