Enhancing Email Security: A Guide to Google's New Requirements

On October 3rd, the tech juggernaut Google took a momentous leap forward in bolstering the security of digital communication. They introduced some new rules for sending bulk emails as a part of Google's ongoing effort to make emails safer and more reliable.

Google's not the only one in the game. Yahoo, another major tech player, saw the wisdom in what Google was doing and decided to follow suit. They, too, started adopting these new rules. This is a big deal because it's not just Google or Yahoo; it's the whole tech industry coming together to make email more secure and fight off spam.

"No matter who their email provider is, all users deserve the safest, most secure experience possible,” says Marcel Becker, Sr. Dir. Product at Yahoo.

What Are These New Requirements?

Starting in 2024, Google will be mandating bulk senders to authenticate their emails, facilitate straightforward unsubscription options, and maintain compliance with a designated spam complaint threshold. Here’s what that means:

Email Authentication: Google is making it mandatory for high-volume email senders to authenticate their emails securely, without expecting users to understand the technical details. This will enhance email security and close vulnerabilities exploited by attackers.

Easy Unsubscription: Large email senders must provide a one-click option for Gmail users to unsubscribe from commercial emails, ensuring prompt processing within two days. These requirements are based on open standards, making it easier for everyone to manage their email preferences.

Reducing Spam: Google is setting a clear spam rate threshold that senders must adhere to, ensuring Gmail users receive fewer unwanted messages. This measure aims to keep inboxes cleaner and free from spam.

These new rules won't be thrust upon you right away. Instead, they're going to be introduced gradually, starting in February 2024. That way, you have plenty of time to get used to the changes and ensure everything goes smoothly.

How To Ensure You Are on the Right Track?

We're here to be your trusted guide through this essential journey. To begin, you'll need what's called a "custom sending domain." Don't let the jargon intimidate you; it's just a way to give your emails a personal touch and go beyond technical requirements, so people can easily recognize that they're from you. 

To set it up, you'll need access to your domain and mail host, like Office Exchange, G Suite, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.

Demystifying DMARC

Now, let's talk about DMARC, a term you might need to familiarize yourself with. It might sound complicated, but it's not. 

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is a technical standard and email authentication protocol designed to enhance email security and protect against email fraud and phishing attacks.

Here's what DMARC does in simpler terms:

Reporting: DMARC encourages email receivers (like email providers) to send feedback reports to the email senders. These reports contain information about the emails they've received and whether they passed or failed DMARC checks. 

Action: DMARC enables the email sender to specify what actions should be taken when an email fails the authentication checks. They can instruct email providers to deliver, quarantine, or reject the email, depending on their policy.

Authentication: DMARC helps verify that an email is actually from the sender it claims to be from. 

DMARC works in tandem with two fundamental email authentication methods:

Sender Policy Framework (SPF): SPF allows the domain owner to authorize specific IP addresses that are permitted to send emails on behalf of the domain. This permits receiving servers to confirm that messages allegedly originating from a particular domain indeed originate from servers authorized by the domain owner.

Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM): DKIM enhances email security by adding a digital signature to every outgoing message. Receiving servers then use this signature to verify the authenticity of messages, ensuring they haven't been tampered with or manipulated during transmission.

Why DMARC Matters

DMARC is a powerful tool that your custom domain uses to make your emails safer and more likely to reach their destination. It's like a stamp of trust and authenticity for your emails. 

If you're new to DMARC, don't worry. You can start by using a DMARC policy of "p=none."

Our guide will walk you through the process of DMARC implementation, providing you with easy-to-follow steps that should give you an understanding of how the authentication process works.

By having a DMARC policy in place, you're adding an extra layer of protection to your email domain. This helps prevent others from using your domain without permission and stops common tricks used by cybercriminals.

Improving Email Deliverability

Another bonus of having a DMARC policy is that it can make sure your emails get delivered more reliably. 

When you set the policy to "p=none," you'll receive regular reports that show how well your email authentication is working. 

To make the most of those reports, use a platform that offers actionable insights to you. 

The beehiiv 3D analytics dashboard is an advanced analytics solution designed to help creators deeply understand their performance metrics related to subscribers and the content they're creating. 

This way, your email delivery also remains uninterrupted as you get used to the DMARC process.

Learn more about the basics of email deliverability here.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. 

Google and Yahoo are working together to make emails safer, and we're here to guide you through the process, step by step. 

It might sound technical, but it's not as complicated as it seems, and it will make your email communications safer, more reliable, and less prone to spam.

Stay on top of your emailing game, with beehiiv.