Securing our world: For a safer internet

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time for industries to unite in promoting digital security within today’s complex landscape. Bad actors are leveraging increasingly sophisticated methods—such as email phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC)—to exploit vulnerabilities, impersonate legitimate contacts, and access sensitive information. CISA Director Jen Easterly advises us to “always think before you click […] be cautious of unsolicited communications and avoid opening links from unknown sources,” highlighting the importance of vigilance in combatting these evolving threats.

Enhancing your security

To secure your digital environment, it’s essential to have a comprehensive strategy that includes strong Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) policies, automated threat detection, and complete visibility across the attack surface. Technical and non-technical teams must collaborate to ensure everyone is prepared to protect and respond effectively.

“Our 1,000+ customers secure their digital presence with proactive, resource-efficient strategies that prevent threats before they materialize. By tackling everything from impersonation to man-in-the-middle attacks, they protect their attack surfaces with internet safety protocols like TLS and DMARC.

Yet, security is not only about protocols—it requires ongoing assessment and adaptability. Cybersecurity Awareness Month emphasizes the need for technical excellence paired with a shared, organization-wide commitment to best practices, ensuring security is active, evolving, and resilient.”

Rebecca Warren

Sr. Director of Marketing

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and an expanding attack surface are creating challenges that security teams couldn’t have foreseen even a year ago. In 2024, new methods to bypass email security protocols, such as SubdoMailing, exposed gaps in DNS hygiene, allowing malicious actors to launch phishing campaigns and distribute malware, which severely impacted affected organizations’ brands.

“Attackers are small, nimble, and focused, exploiting vulnerabilities in a fraction of the time it takes larger organizations. But with proactive, resource-efficient strategies focused on perimeter security and email protection, we can stay ahead. Today’s sophisticated attacks use combined vectors, such as the SubdoMailing attacks exposed last spring.

This is an example of hijacking a dangling CNAME or MX record to send legitimate emails with links to lookalike sites, collecting user data or funds in the process. Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us to unite internally to combat these evolving threats.”

Nancie Williams

SVP North America

How to stay protected

The CISA outlines four key steps to improve your cybersecurity:

1. Use strong passwords.
2. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA).
3. Recognize and report phishing attempts.
4. Regularly update your software.

At Red Sift, our mission is to make the internet safer. This includes equipping security teams with advanced tools to protect users from threats. The latest threat advancements underscore the urgency of going beyond traditional security measures and implementing real-time solutions.

“Viewing cybersecurity as a simple box-ticking exercise plays into attackers’ hands, as they exploit gaps between standards. To secure our world resiliently, we must go beyond protocols and implement proactive, automated remediation to prepare for tomorrow’s threats.”

Nadim Lahoud

SVP Revenue and Business Operations

Implementing an effective DMARC policy through Red Sift OnDMARC is a key step in combating today’s threats. OnDMARC is an award-winning, cloud-based DMARC, DKIM, and SPF management tool that provides security teams with complete email visibility, helping to protect reputations. Its automation streamlines traditional manual processes, enabling faster protection against phishing and BEC attacks while improving deliverability and ensuring compliance.

To mitigate today’s threats, cybersecurity demands a proactive, multi-layered approach. While protocols like DMARC and TLS are essential, safeguarding our digital world requires constant vigilance and adaptability. Cybersecurity Awareness Month reinforces the need to integrate evolving strategies into our security frameworks.