Yahoo and Google have required that email has DMARC records, but what does that mean and how are you able to do it?
DMARC, which stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, is an email authentication protocol designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing. The purpose and primary outcome of implementing DMARC is to improve and ensure the integrity and reliability of email communications.
DMARC is built on two existing email authentication mechanisms, SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). It allows the sender's domain to indicate that their emails are protected by SPF and/or DKIM and tells the receiving mail servers what to do if neither of those authentication methods passes – such as rejecting the message or quarantining it. Additionally, DMARC includes a reporting function, which sends reports back to the sender about messages that pass and/or fail DMARC evaluation.
How DMARC Affects Your Business:
- Enhances Email Security: By implementing DMARC, businesses can protect their domains from being used for email spoofing, phishing scams, and other cyberattacks that can harm their reputation and the security of their customers.
- Improves Email Deliverability: Emails that are authenticated through DMARC are more likely to be delivered to the recipient's inbox, as opposed to being flagged as spam or rejected outright by email providers.
- Increases Visibility into Email Ecosystem: DMARC reports give businesses insights into their email ecosystem, allowing them to identify legitimate sources of email as well as potential sources of abuse.
- Protects Brand Reputation: Preventing misuse of the domain in phishing and spoofing attacks helps protect the brand's reputation and trustworthiness in the eyes of customers and partners.
Why Google Requires Email DMARC:
Google, like many other email service providers, has taken steps to improve email security and integrity across the board. Requiring DMARC for email senders aiming to deliver to Gmail users is part of this effort. The reasons include:
- Fighting Spam and Phishing: Implementing DMARC helps reduce the amount of spam and phishing emails that reach users, enhancing overall security.
- Ensuring Trusted Communication: By encouraging or requiring DMARC, Google ensures that emails coming to and from its services are from verified sources, thereby increasing the trust in email as a communication tool.
- Protecting User Experience: Google aims to protect its users from malicious emails and scams. Requiring DMARC is a step towards ensuring that emails received by Gmail users are safe and legitimate.
In summary, Google's requirement for DMARC implementation is part of a broader initiative to enhance email security, protect users, and ensure a trusted email ecosystem. Businesses that implement DMARC not only comply with Google's requirements but also take a significant step towards securing their email communications and protecting their brand.
For assistance with DMARC setup, contact On Technology Partners https://ontechnologypartners.com/contact/