The world of email policies and security is complex and difficult to understand. With new terms such as DMARC popping up often, its important you keep up to date and know these new technologies. In this blog, we break down what DMARC is, why you would benefit from it and how it works.

 

What Does DMARC Stand for?

DMARC stands for Domain based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance.

What Does DMARC do?

DMARC plays a significant role in the security of emails. Put simply, DMARC ensures that any emails sent are actually you and not someone stealing your domain name. In a world where cyberthreats have increased massively. Being able to improve the security of your emails is something which needs to be considered.

 

How Does DMARC Work?

DMARC works in multiple steps, each playing a role in making sure emails being sent from a domain are coming from someone with legitimate access.

Authentication: When someone receives an email from your domain i.e. @threecherries.co.uk, DMARC makes sure the email has come from the authorised servers of the sender. This means that you will not be receiving emails from someone pretending to be Three Cherries. This is done by using two tools.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – This checks if an email is coming from an approved list of servers.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – This checks if the senders email signature has been verified. It acts as a stamp of approval showing that the email is genuine.

Verification: if the email has passed these checks, it is automatically delivered to the recipient like normal. If not, there are three key options that can happen.

• The email goes through anyway.
• The email is marked as spam.
• The email is blocked.

Reporting: It then reports how many emails are being sent from the domain, and if any of these have been flagged as suspicious. Helping you keep an eye out for phishing attempts.

 

Why do we Need DMARC?

Being able to protect your domain and business from the damages of a spoof attack is massive. If your domain was used to send mass malicious emails out, not only do you have the damage of breach to your business, but also the reputational damage. This makes your business look untrustworthy.

As a small business, implementing this feature should be high on the priority list to protect your company against spoofing and mailing problems. Not only is it vital for security, but also a requirement for many marketing platforms nowadays.

How can we Implement it in our Business?

If you’re interested in implementing DMARC for your emails, it is important it is done correctly to ensure that it works. This is where a company like Three Cherries can assist, ensuring that all policies are working efficiently and serving their purpose. Read this Microsoft article to find out more!

If you require any assistance, contact us today and let the experts at Three Cherries help!