California SIMM 5315-A and the importance of DMARC compliance

Overview of SIMM 5315-A & DMARC

The California Department of Technology’s Statewide Information Management Manual (SIMM) 5315-A email threat protection standard, released in October 2018, mandates that state entities implement security measures to protect against email-based threats. A key requirement of this standard is the use of Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) for email authentication and policy enforcement.

DMARC, along with Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), enhances the chance that only authorized senders use an organization’s domain for email communications. Implementing DMARC helps reduce email spoofing, safeguarding sensitive state data, and protecting individuals from cyberthreats.

SIMM 5315-A requirements

According to SIMM 5315-A, state entities must:

Use DMARC for email authentication and policy enforcement
Provide protections against email spoofing for both internal and external domains
Implement domain reputation protection and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities

Challenges in DMARC implementation

DMARC implementation has specific challenges, especially for large organizations with complex email systems. These challenges range from the initial setup of authentication protocols to the ongoing management of DMARC policies.

Complex setup: Setting up DMARC requires configuring various settings and a deep understanding of email authentication mechanisms, which can be difficult for organizations without IT teams.
Risk of blocking legitimate emails: Incorrect DMARC configuration can lead to legitimate emails being rejected or sent to Spam.
Monitoring & management: DMARC requires regular monitoring and management to identify and address issues, often needing significant resources.

Benefits of using Sendmarc for SIMM 5315-A DMARC compliance

Sendmarc provides a comprehensive DMARC solution that helps organizations achieve and maintain compliance with SIMM 5315-A. At Sendmarc, we offer:

Ensure your organization meets California’s email security standards with Sendmarc’s trusted DMARC solution.

Resources

DMARC compliance

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