DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance) has been used to protect companies email domains since 2012, but for many small to medium business owners the benefit of DMARC remains a mystery. In today’s article we will briefly explain what DMARC is, as well as highlighting some of the key benefits of using it properly.
DMARC is a way for companies to prevent their email domain being used for scams and other cybercrimes that are performed through email, for example phishing emails and those with ‘spoofed’ domains. DMARC utilises SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) and adds a reporting function which is vital in recognising who is sending emails using your domain name.
Why Utilize DMARC?
The biggest benefit of using DMARC in your business is the protection it offers for you, your customers, and also your brand. If cybercriminals are using your company email domain to scam people, then that reflects badly on your business. If you are able to spot a fraudulent email being sent from an account that has your domain, then you are also able to find the source of the problem and tackle it at a faster rate. This could even give you time to warn any customers or employees that might be affected or even stopping the emails from being delivered in the first place, potentially saving your staff and other businesses from becoming victims of a cyberattack.
For example, an increasingly common cybersecurity concern is ‘CEO Fraud’, where emails are sent seemingly from the CEO to customers or employees. In reality, these emails are being sent from scammers who ‘spoofed’ your company’s email domain for added legitimacy when posing as the CEO or other executives at the company. This makes employees and customers more likely to trust the email and share private information, or click on potentially harmful links. Identifying CEO Fraud emails can be difficult, but DMARC makes it easier to spot any problems and put a stop to them before they escalate. This generally helps your business maintain stronger anti-phishing controls and protects your brand.
The Downside of DMARC
When properly implemented the benefits of DMARC hugely outweigh any negative aspects. However, the key words in the last sentence were ‘properly implemented’. DMARC can be a very tricky standard to utilize, and even larger organizations have been known to struggle with properly setting up and then using it in a way that truly helps to protect their business. Despite being a standard that has been used for almost a decade now, the intricacy of setting it up is still something that even many professionals are not familiar with.
Further adding to the confusion, as previously mentioned DMARC relies on using the standards SPF and DKIM. Therefore, these must also be set up correctly before a company can benefit from DMARC. All of this work is not just difficult, but also highly time-consuming for smaller and medium businesses that are less likely to have the resources and expertise required. This is why in many cases, even for bigger businesses, it is recommended to ask for an external professional’s help to set-up DMARC.
Here at Euclid Security, we offer a range of services to help you achieve the strongest cybersecurity possible for your business. This includes consultations, security assessments, cybersecurity training and more. If your business needs to put a stop to phishing emails protect its brand utilizing DMARC, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with Euclid Security for a free consultation.