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Many businesses are finding themselves in a tricky spot: they’ve invested in new software, only to discover that their emails aren’t working as expected. This often boils down to issues with DMARC, DKIM, or SPF. These are security measures designed to stop people from pretending to be you via email and sending messages from your domain name. While they don’t stop every single attempt, they significantly cut down the risk of things like invoice fraud.
The Trade-Off: Security vs. Functionality
However, these security controls come with a catch. If you introduce a new system that needs to send emails on your behalf, it must be configured correctly. If it’s not, those emails might just get deleted, which is usually not the outcome anyone wants. This is a classic example of security clashing with practicality. Email, in its early days, had no security at all, and we’ve been adding layers ever since.
Key Takeaways
- When enabling DMARC, DKIM, or SPF, proper configuration is essential.
- New software sending emails requires setup for these security protocols.
- Incorrect setup can lead to emails being silently rejected.
- IT teams need to monitor these settings, which adds to their workload.
- The effort is worthwhile for business safety and preventing fraud.
Why Configuration Matters
When your IT team enables something like DKIM, it needs ongoing monitoring. If new systems are set up to send emails and the configuration isn’t quite right, those messages can end up in the digital bin. If you’re unaware of this and complain to your IT team, it can lead to frustration on both sides. The main point is that getting DKIM set up is important, but it needs to be done properly. It’s designed to discard emails that aren’t genuinely from your business, but this requires active monitoring, which is an extra task for the IT department.
What Management Needs to Know
So, for the management team, it’s important to be aware: if you’re bringing in any new software that sends emails, there will be a setup process involved. The DMARC, DKIM, and SPF elements need to be configured correctly. Yes, this means extra work, but it’s a necessary step to keep your business safe and protect it from serious fraud risks. If you need a hand figuring all this out, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can help you walk through the process.
Watch: New Software in Place but Emails Keep Failing DMARC
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do emails start failing DMARC after new software is put in place?
New software can change how your emails are sent, which can break the checks that prove the message is genuine. If the software sends emails using a different domain, server or service, DMARC may see them as unauthorised and reject them.
Can this affect project emails and supplier communications?
Yes. It can stop site updates, quotes, invoices and supplier emails from reaching the right people. That can cause delays, missed messages and extra admin for your team.
What should a construction MD do first if DMARC failures start?
