Nowadays, email is one of the main ways businesses connect with clients, partners, and even their own teams. It’s quick, professional, and for the most part, pretty darn reliable. But what a lot of companies don’t realise is just how easy it is for cybercriminals to hijack your email domain and use it against you.
Without the right safeguards in place, someone halfway across the world can send an email that looks like it came from your company. Same domain name, same branding, same friendly sign-off. And unless you’re actively protecting yourself, you won’t even know it’s happening until the damage is done — whether that’s tricked clients, leaked information, or a nasty swipe at your reputation.
This is where SPF, DKIM, and DMARC come in. No, they’re not new internet slang. They’re important layers of protection that help stop email fraud before it ever reaches your inbox (or worse, your clients’ inboxes).
What DMARC actually does (and why it matters)
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) makes sure that the emails sent from your domain are genuinely yours. It checks each outgoing email against SPF and DKIM records. If an email fails the test, DMARC tells the receiving server what to do next — either block it, flag it as suspicious, or allow it through under certain conditions.
TLDR? (Too Long, Didn’t Read for those who are sick of all the anacronyms already). DMARC acts as the digital gatekeeper for your email identity. It gives you the power to stop impersonators before they do any harm.
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC explained
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
Much like sunscreen SPF, SPF in emails also protects you! Think of it a bit like a security list that only allows specific servers to send emails for your company. If someone else tries to send an email using your domain without permission, SPF helps block it.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM adds a digital signature to every email you send. It proves that the message really came from you and wasn’t tampered with along the way.
DMARC
DMARC checks whether the email passed both SPF and DKIM checks and then follows your instructions on what to do if it doesn’t. It’s the final piece that pulls everything together, adding enforcement and visibility.
Why most businesses are at risk
It’s estimated that around 95% of businesses either don’t have email authentication properly configured or haven’t set it up at all. That’s an enormous number, and it’s a big reason why phishing attacks and email fraud are still so common.
When your domain isn’t protected, cybercriminals can send emails that look identical to yours. And they absolutely will, because it works. Your clients trust your brand, and a convincing fake email can lead to leaked data, financial loss, or long-term reputational damage.
Your staff could even fall for these as criminals will often target employees through phishing scams, encouraging them to believe they’re talking to senior members or others in their supply chain. Worse still, many businesses aren’t even aware when someone’s impersonating their domain.
Why should you set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC?
Properly setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is about waaay more than just ticking off another box on your to do list. It’s about:
- Preventing brand impersonation: Making it extremely hard for scammers to fake your emails.
- Protecting client trust: Keeping your reputation intact by making sure only legitimate emails reach inboxes.
- Avoiding legal or financial fallout: Reducing the risk of being blamed for an attack that used your name.
- Increasing your email deliverability: Making sure that your real emails don’t end up trapped in spam filters.
Let’s talk email deliverability
There’s another reason to take email authentication seriously: getting your emails where they need to go. Major email providers like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft have tightened their spam filters. If your domain doesn’t meet their latest security standards, your emails — even the legitimate ones — might end up flagged as spam or blocked altogether.
That affects everything from client communications to marketing campaigns. By configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly, your emails are more trusted by email providers, which means higher deliverability rates and better communication across the board. And who doesn’t want that?
Get your domain score…Instantly
You can quickly, easily and instantly discover your organisation’s vulnerability to fraudulent email activities like impersonation, phishing, and spoofing.
Just type in your domain name below and hit scan now (the part after the @ sign in your email address) and you’ll instantly find out if your DKIM, SPF and DMARC records are in place and protecting you.
Need help?
Need help with your email cybersecurity or any other aspect of your IT? Book a free, no obligation chat with Mark to talk about how we could work together!