Email Authentication

In today’s digitally connected world, email remains a critical communication tool for businesses and individuals alike. However, it’s also the primary vector for cyber threats, with over 90% of targeted attacks launched through email.

The threat landscape is evolving rapidly, with Proofpoint’s 2024 State of the Phish Report reporting an average of 66 million targeted Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks every month. As cyber risks continue to escalate, with 69% of organizations experiencing a successful ransomware infection in the past year, the need for robust email security solutions have never been more apparent. Enter email authentication—a crucial line of defense against email-based threats that every organization should implement.

Email authentication is a collection of techniques and protocols designed to verify the legitimacy and origin of email messages. It aims to confirm that the sender of an email is who they claim to be, thereby protecting both the sender’s brand and the email recipients from spoofing, phishing, and other malicious activities.

The process of email authentication involves validating the domain ownership of any message transfer agents (MTAs) who participated in transferring and possibly modifying a message. This validation helps email service providers fight spam and phishing attempts, determine which emails are legitimate, and ultimately protect email recipients.

Three primary email authentication methods work together to create a robust security framework: Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC). By implementing these authentication protocols, organizations can significantly enhance their email security posture.

Authenticated emails are more likely to reach the intended recipient’s inbox, improving deliverability and protecting the sender’s domain reputation. Moreover, email authentication helps mitigate the risks of brand impersonation, reducing the chances of successful phishing attacks against an organization’s customers or partners.

It’s worth noting that while these methods are powerful, they work best when used in combination. A layered approach to email authentication provides the most comprehensive protection against email-based threats.

Email authentication is a multi-step process that involves several protocols working together to verify the email sender’s legitimacy. Here’s a distilled breakdown of how it functions:

1. Sender configuration: The domain owner sets up authentication records (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) in their Domain Name System (DNS).
2. Email sending: When an email is sent, it includes information about the sender and authentication details in its headers.
3. Receiver verification: The receiving mail server checks the email against the authentication records published in the sender’s DNS.
4. SPF check: The server verifies that the sending IP address is approved to send emails for the domain.
5. DKIM verification: The server uses the public key in the DNS to decrypt the DKIM signature and verify the email’s integrity.
6. DMARC evaluation: If SPF or DKIM checks fail, the server consults the DMARC policy to determine how to handle the email.
7. Decision: Based on the authentication results, the receiving server decides whether to deliver, quarantine, or reject the email.

This process happens within seconds, providing a robust defense against email security threats while ensuring legitimate emails reach their intended recipients.

By implementing robust email authentication measures, organizations can significantly improve their email security posture, protect their brand, and ensure more effective communication with their audience.

Email authentication employs three primary methods to verify email sender legitimacy and protect against email-based threats: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

Sender Policy Framework (SPF)

SPF prevents email spoofing by specifying the authorized IP addresses that send emails from a domain. SPF adds a DNS record that lists approved IP addresses and mail servers. When an email is received, the receiving server checks if the sending IP matches those listed in the SPF record.

This protocol helps prevent phishing attacks and improves email deliverability by ensuring emails come from legitimate sources. SPF benefits include reduced chances of domain abuse, enhanced sender reputation, and improved overall email security.

DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM)

DKIM is a level-up that uses cryptographic signatures to verify an email message’s authenticity and integrity. It ensures that emails haven’t been altered in transit and confirms they originated from the claimed domain. DKIM adds a digital signature to the email header using a private key, which the receiving server then verifies using the public key published in the sender’s DNS.

This method provides stronger protection against email tampering and forgery than SPF alone. DKIM helps maintain the integrity of email content, improves deliverability, and builds trust with email recipients by allowing receiving servers to detect forged sender addresses in emails.

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, & Conformance (DMARC)

DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, providing a framework for domain owners to specify how to handle authentication failures. DMARC allows senders to instruct email providers on whether to deliver, quarantine, or reject emails that fail authentication checks. It also enables domain owners to receive reports about messages sent using their domain, helping them monitor and improve their email authentication practices.

DMARC publishes a policy in the DNS that specifies how to treat emails failing SPF and DKIM checks. Its benefits include enhanced protection against phishing and spoofing, improved visibility into email streams, and the ability to enforce consistent email authentication policies across an organization.

These three methods can work together to establish a robust email authentication system. While SPF and DKIM provide the foundational authentication checks, DMARC adds an extra layer of policy enforcement and reporting. Implementing all three methods significantly enhances email security, protects brand reputation, and improves overall email deliverability.

Implementing email authentication is a crucial step in securing your organization’s email communications. Here’s a guide on how to set up an effective email authentication system:

Assess your current email infrastructure: Identify all sources of outgoing email, including marketing platforms, CRM systems, and third-party services. Map out your email-sending domains and subdomains.

1. Choose an implementation approach: Decide whether to implement authentication protocols yourself or use a managed service provider, and consider your in-house expertise and resources when making this decision.
2. Start with SPF: Begin by implementing SPF, as it’s typically the easiest to set up. Create and publish your SPF record in your domain’s DNS.
3. Implement DKIM: Generate DKIM keys and configure your email servers to sign outgoing messages. Publish your DKIM public key in your DNS.
4. Deploy DMARC: Start with a monitoring policy (p=none) to gather data without affecting email delivery and publish your initial DMARC record in your DNS.
5. Test your configuration: Use email authentication testing tools to verify your setup. Send test emails and analyze their authentication results.
6. Monitor and analyze: Set up a system to receive and analyze DMARC reports and leverage these insights to refine your authentication policies.
7. Gradually tighten policies: As you gain confidence in your setup, move from monitoring to enforcement. Progressively tighten your DMARC policy from p=none to p=quarantine and finally to p=reject.
8. Educate your team: Train relevant staff on email authentication principles and best practices and ensure your team understands the importance of maintaining these protocols.
9. Maintain and update: Regularly review and update your authentication records as your email infrastructure changes and stay informed about new developments in email authentication technologies.

These best practices help organizations establish a robust email authentication system that significantly enhances their email security posture and protects their brand reputation.

Proofpoint offers industry-leading solutions to simplify and streamline email authentication implementation, with a particular focus on DMARC deployment. As the trusted choice for more Fortune 1000 companies than the next five closest competitors combined, Proofpoint provides comprehensive support for organizations seeking to secure email communications.

Proofpoint’s Email Fraud Defense solution helps secure your email channel and restore trust to business communications. It simplifies DMARC authentication, helping to stop email fraud and safeguard your trusted domain. The solution goes beyond basic DMARC implementation by offering insights into supplier fraud risks and providing comprehensive domain discovery to detect lookalike domains attempting to impersonate your brand.

With Proofpoint, you can access world-class consultants who guide you through every step of your DMARC journey. Their expertise helps identify all legitimate senders, ensure proper authentication, and publish DMARC reject policies without blocking valid emails. Proofpoint also offers cutting-edge technology, including hosted authentication services for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which streamline management and improve security. Additionally, Proofpoint’s solution integrates seamlessly with its industry-leading secure email gateway, providing a holistic approach to email security.

By partnering with Proofpoint, organizations can confidently navigate the complexities of email authentication, protect their brand reputation, and ensure the deliverability of critical customer communications. To learn more, contact Proofpoint.