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.

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

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • 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.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.