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Introduction to Mail Posture

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Introduction to Mail Posture

In today’s digital landscape, email remains a primary communication tool for businesses and individuals alike. However, it is also a major target for cybercriminals who exploit weak security measures to launch phishing attacks, impersonate trusted organizations, and spread malware. Ensuring a strong mail posture is critical to protecting your domain, securing communications, and maintaining trust with recipients.

What is Mail Posture?​

Mail posture refers to the overall security and authentication measures in place to prevent email fraud, unauthorized use of your domain, and email-based attacks. A strong mail posture ensures that legitimate emails are delivered while blocking or flagging fraudulent messages. This is achieved by implementing authentication protocols such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

Key Components of Mail Posture​

  1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – Specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain, preventing spoofing attempts.
  2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – Uses cryptographic signatures to verify that an email has not been altered during transmission.
  3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) – Enforces policies on how to handle emails that fail authentication and provides reports on domain email activity.

Why Mail Posture Matters​

A weak mail posture can lead to severe consequences, including:

  • Email Spoofing and Phishing – Attackers can impersonate your domain to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information.
  • Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Fraudulent emails appearing to be from executives or vendors can lead to financial losses.
  • Reputation Damage – If your domain is used in cyberattacks, it may be blacklisted, affecting your email deliverability.
  • Regulatory Compliance Risks – Many industries require proper email security to comply with data protection regulations.

Steps to Improve Your Mail Posture​

  1. Publish and Maintain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records – Ensure these records are correctly configured to authenticate outgoing emails.
  2. Monitor DMARC Reports – Analyze authentication failures and take action against unauthorized senders.
  3. Gradually Enforce DMARC Policies – Start with p=none to monitor emails, then move to p=quarantine or p=reject to block malicious activity.
  4. Regularly Audit and Update Records – Keep DNS records up to date and monitor for any unauthorized changes.

Conclusion​

We at Rotate are here to help you configure and fix issues, ensuring your email security is robust and effective. Our goal is to make sure your domain is protected against spoofing, phishing, and other email-based threats, so you can communicate with confidence. Maintaining a strong mail posture is essential for safeguarding email communications against cyber threats. By properly configuring authentication protocols and continuously monitoring your domain’s email activity, you can reduce the risk of spoofing, phishing, and email fraud. Organizations should treat email security as an ongoing process, regularly reviewing and strengthening their defenses to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Add-On
What is the Email Add-On?

The Email Add-On is a tool designed for Gmail and Outlook that helps you identify and manage malicious emails, including spam, phishing attempts, and malware. It enhances your email security by reporting suspicious emails and managing your personal spam list.

Mail Rules
Why are mail rules a security risk?

Mail rules can be exploited to exfiltrate data, hide security alerts, or modify incoming messages. Attackers often use forwarding rules to silently send emails to external accounts or create rules that auto-delete security notifications, making it harder to detect compromises.

Posture
Why is email security important?

Email is a common attack vector for phishing, spoofing, and other cyber threats. Properly configured DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records help prevent unauthorized parties from sending emails on behalf of your domain, protecting your organization from email-based attacks.

Scanning & Detection
What actions can I take on a malicious email?

When a malicious email is detected, you can take the following actions:

  • Block the email to remove it from the user’s inbox.
  • Release the email after it’s been blocked, putting it back in the inbox.
Can I deactivate Rotate Mail Scanning on a specific mailbox?

Yes, you can exclude specific mailboxes from Rotate Mail Scanning. This can be configured in the Configurations tab in the Email Hub under the Users and choose the users to exclude.

Email Hub
What does Email Threats mean?
  • Phishing: A type of cyberattack where attackers impersonate legitimate organizations via email or websites to steal sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
  • Financial Fraud: Illegally obtaining money or assets through deceptive means, such as credit card fraud, investment scams, or identity theft.
  • BEC (Business Email Compromise): A type of cybercrime where attackers impersonate company executives or employees to trick others into transferring money or sensitive information, often through email.
  • Malware: Malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or otherwise compromise the data or functionality of a computer, network, or device. Examples include viruses, trojans, and ransomware.
  • Spam: Unsolicited and often irrelevant or inappropriate messages, typically sent in bulk, usually through email. Often used for advertising or spreading malicious content.

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