As technology continues to advance and the world becomes more digitally connected, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses to keep their online presence safe and secure. One of the ways to do this is by using authentication protocols like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF. In this article, we’ll explore what DMARC is, and why it’s so important.
What is DMARC?
DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance. It’s a protocol that helps protect email senders and recipients from fraudulent emails, also known as email spoofing.
The DMARC protocol was designed to provide a simple, yet powerful, way for email senders to determine if their emails are being spoofed, and to take action if they are. It does this by combining two existing email authentication protocols, namely Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).
SPF describes a set of rules for how email servers should accept emails from a specific domain. It works by publishing a list of IP addresses that are authorized to send email on behalf of a domain. This helps prevent spammers from sending emails that appear to come from your domain.
DKIM is another email authentication protocol that uses a cryptographic signature to verify that an email message was sent by the domain owner.
How does DMARC work?
DMARC works by using SPF and DKIM to verify the identity of an email sender. The destination server checks the DMARC record to see if the message meets either the SPF or DKIM validation criteria, or both. If it passes both, then the message is considered authenticated, and it’s delivered to the recipient’s inbox. If it fails either one, then the message is either marked as spam or rejected by the server.
In addition to authentication, DMARC also provides a reporting mechanism to help you monitor email fraud. It sends reports back to the domain owner, informing them of any email authentication failures, allowing them to take action if necessary.
Why is DMARC important?
DMARC is important for three main reasons:
1. Protects your brand reputation – Email spoofing can damage your brand reputation by having your customers lose trust in your emails.
2. Prevents email fraud – Fraudulent emails can impersonate your brand and trick your customers into giving sensitive information.
3. Ensures email deliverability – DMARC helps ensure that your legitimate emails reach their intended recipients by preventing your emails from getting marked as spam.
Email authentication protocols like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF are an important part of keeping your business safe and secure online. By implementing these protocols, you can help protect your brand reputation, prevent email fraud, and ensure that your legitimate emails are delivered to their intended recipients.
Check out our results and test your own domain on the following link:
https://emailsecuritycheck.service.ncsc.gov.uk/results?domain=foxcube.co.uk
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Author: Adam Hollingsworth
Gothic House, Barker Gate, Nottingham, UK
01157323060
01157323060
sales@foxcube.co.uk
