Only Two-Thirds of Federal Domains Meet Email Security Deadline

Only Two-Thirds of Federal Domains Meet Email Security Deadline

In addition to the relatively low install rate, after a year of staggered deadlines to implement the tool, one-fifth of government agency web domains appear not to have even begun installing it, according to the Global Cyber Alliance.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Oct 18, 2018

About two-thirds (67 percent) of federal email domains met a Department of Homeland Security deadline Tuesday to install and be fully protected by a tool that guards against email phishing scams, according to research from the Global Cyber Alliance.

In addition to the relatively low install rate, after a year of staggered deadlines to implement the tool, one-fifth of government agency web domains appear not to have even begun installing it, according to the GCA.

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance, known as DMARC, verifies an email sender’s identity by pinging a sender’s email domain to ask if the sender actually belongs to that organization. If the domain reports that the sender is illegitimate, DMARC can automatically deliver the email to the intended recipient’s spam folder or decline to deliver it at all.

In order to work, DMARC must be installed on both the sending and receiving inbox. More than 80 percent of commercial email inboxes have DMARC installed, as it is standard among major email providers like Google and Microsoft.

The tool is especially vital for federal government email domains, which could be used by phishers to try to scam citizens into giving them sensitive personal information related to taxes or government benefits like Medicare.

The 67 percent of government domains that had DMARC installed by the Tuesday deadline is a major increase from the 8 percent that were using the tool when Homeland Security issued the order to install it in 2017, according to Tom McDermott, the department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber Policy.

Homeland Security plans “to get very close to 100 percent” adoption of the tool “in the near future,” McDermott said.

Defense agencies are not required to comply with Homeland Security’s 2017 DMARC order but were directed to install it whenever possible as part of a defense policy bill passed by Congress in August.

DMARC should be installed across defense domains by the end of the year, according to Defense Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.