Everyone knows email security is a critical concern for businesses of all sizes, and one of the most effective ways to protect your organization from email spoofing and phishing attacks is by implementing DMARC. A a study by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) that found small businesses are disproportionately targeted by phishing attacks, with 43% of phishing campaigns targeting small organizations. Unfortunately, a single successful phishing attack can result in significant financial losses, with the average cost of a data breach for small businesses being $108,000 according to a study by IBM.
DMARC, which stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, is a powerful tool that helps ensure the authenticity of email messages sent from your domain. With upcoming changes being implemented by major email providers like Yahoo and Google, it's more important than ever for small businesses to get on board with DMARC standards to ensure their emails continue to reach their intended recipients.
What is DMARC?
DMARC is an email authentication protocol that works alongside existing email authentication methods, such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). It allows domain owners to specify how email receivers should handle messages that fail authentication checks. By implementing DMARC, businesses can protect their domain from being used in email spoofing and phishing attacks, which can damage their reputation and lead to sensitive information being compromised. That means that DMARC is not just about protecting your own business, but also about being a responsible member of the email ecosystem by preventing your domain from being used in attacks targeting other businesses.
DMARC builds upon the foundations of SPF and DKIM, providing an additional layer of authentication and policy enforcement. When an email is sent, DMARC checks the message's SPF and DKIM records to verify that it comes from an authorized sender. If the email fails these checks, DMARC instructs the receiving email server on what to do with the message based on the domain owner's specified policy. DMARC policies can be set to different levels of strictness, such as "none" (monitoring only), "quarantine" (sending failed messages to spam), or "reject" (blocking failed messages entirely).
Choosing which policy is right for your company means that your provider's response can range from simply monitoring and reporting on failed messages to outright rejecting them, ensuring that only authentic emails from your domain reach your recipients' inboxes. DMARC reports can also provide valuable insights into email traffic using your domain, helping you identify potential security issues and unauthorized senders. There's a lot to it!
Upcoming changes by Yahoo and Google
Major email providers Yahoo and Google have announced upcoming changes to their DMARC policies that will have a significant impact on email deliverability for businesses. Beginning in June 2023, Yahoo will start rejecting some emails that fail DMARC authentication checks, while Google plans to implement a similar policy starting in September 2023. These changes are part of a larger industry trend towards increased email security and authentication, driven by the growing threat of phishing and spoofing attacks.
That means that if your business hasn't implemented DMARC or if your DMARC policy is not properly configured, your emails may eventually begin to be rejected by these providers, leading to decreased deliverability and potential communication issues with your customers and contacts. Small businesses that rely heavily on email communication need to be particularly aware of these changes and take steps to ensure their DMARC implementation is up to par.
Importance of DMARC for small businesses
Small businesses are often targeted by email spoofing and phishing attacks, as they may have weaker email security measures in place compared to larger organizations. By implementing DMARC, small businesses can protect themselves from these threats and maintain their reputation as a trusted and secure entity.
When a small business's email domain is used in a phishing attack, it can lead to significant consequences. Customers may lose trust in the business, leading to decreased sales and damage to the brand's reputation. Moreover, if sensitive information is compromised as a result of a phishing attack, the business may face legal and financial repercussions.
Implementing DMARC helps mitigate these risks by ensuring that only authentic emails from your domain reach your recipients' inboxes. This not only protects your business from the negative consequences of email spoofing and phishing but also helps maintain your reputation as a reliable and trustworthy organization in the eyes of your customers and partners. While these changes may require some effort to implement, they ultimately benefit everyone by creating a safer and more trustworthy email environment.
To Wrap It Up
As email remains a crucial communication channel for businesses, it's essential to prioritize email security and stay up-to-date with the latest standards and best practices. With the upcoming changes being implemented by Yahoo and Google, small businesses should act now to ensure their DMARC implementation is in line with these new policies. Implementing DMARC is not a one-time task, but rather an ongoing process that requires monitoring, reporting, and adjusting policies as needed
You'll want to seek the help of email security experts or managed service providers if your firm would benefit from expertise to implement DMARC effectively. By adopting DMARC standards, small businesses can protect themselves from email spoofing and phishing attacks, maintain their reputation, and ensure their emails continue to reach their intended recipients. Don't wait until it's too late – take action today to secure your email communications and safeguard your business's future success. We're happy to be in touch!
