Starting May 2025, Microsoft will strictly enforce DMARC policies across Outlook and Exchange Online. This isn't just another update—it’s a major move in the war against email spoofing, phishing, and impersonation. ✅ DMARC protects your brand. ✅ Improves email deliverability. ✅ Shuts the door on impersonators. If your SPF/DKIM/DMARC isn’t configured properly? Your emails might get quarantined or blocked entirely. Here’s what to do now: 1️⃣ Set up SPF & DKIM – cover all sending services (like Mailchimp, Google, M365) 2️⃣ Publish a DMARC record – start with p=none to monitor 3️⃣ Analyse reports with tools like EasyDMARC or Valimail 4️⃣ Gradually enforce (move from quarantine → reject) 5️⃣ Audit every third-party sender – your CRM, invoicing, and marketing tools 🔍 Doing nothing = broken campaigns, lost trust, compliance headaches. This isn’t just an IT task. It’s a brand protection move. It’s a compliance step for frameworks like PCI DSS 4.0.1 and ISO 27001. Let’s make sure your emails hit inboxes—not junk folders. Got questions? Drop them below 👇 or DM me for help getting your domain ready.

Heads up, team! If you’re a merchant, service provider, or anyone handling cardholder data, this update is 🔥. PCI DSS 4.0.1 is here—and it's not just a patch. It’s a signal. For the first time, DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) has made it into the PCI DSS glossary. That’s not a random footnote—it’s a clue about where compliance is headed: ➡️ Email threats are now a compliance concern, not just a security best practice. Here’s why this matters: - Phishing is still the #1 way criminals breach systems. - PCI DSS 4.0.1 is making it clear: You can’t protect cardholder data if you don’t protect your domain. - DMARC (plus SPF & DKIM) builds a “proof-of-origin” for your email—so attackers can’t spoof your domain and trick customers or suppliers. 🔐 What to do now: If you haven’t deployed DMARC with enforcement, now’s the time. Start with: 1. SPF/DKIM aligned 2. Monitor-only DMARC 3. Gradually enforce (quarantine > reject) Let this update be your nudge to take action before auditors make it mandatory. 📥 I’ve broken this down in a quick guide on the blog: 👉 How DMARC Fits Into PCI DSS 4.0.1

🚨 Security Playbooks Are Coming 🚨 Why are playbooks so important? 🔐 Because when the pressure hits, clarity beats chaos. Whether it’s a ransomware incident, phishing attack, or onboarding new staff, a playbook gives your team the confidence, consistency, and control they need to respond fast and stay secure. ✅ No more guesswork. ✅ No more scattered emails or outdated PDFs. ✅ Just clean, proven processes that work. Keep an eye out here. Click --> Playbooks - Free Content · Protect Your Business

👉Before Working with Me A growing company with 200 hosts in its network was aware of the increasing risk of cyber threats but lacked visibility into their security weaknesses. Their IT team had been managing updates and security internally, but they hadn’t conducted a structured vulnerability scan to assess their risks comprehensively. 👉The Problem They knew cybercriminals constantly look for weak points—outdated software, misconfigurations, or security gaps—but without a proper scan, they couldn’t identify or prioritise vulnerabilities. This left them exposed to potential breaches, regulatory fines, and operational downtime. 👉The Root Cause Like many businesses, their security strategy was reactive rather than proactive. They relied on general IT maintenance rather than a structured approach to vulnerability management. Without a clear view of their security posture, they were operating with blind spots that could be exploited. 👉The Impact of the Problem By not identifying vulnerabilities, they faced: 🚨 The risk of hackers exploiting weaknesses to gain access to sensitive data. 💰 Potential financial losses from cyber incidents, fines, and downtime. ⚠️ Compliance risks with security standards like Cyber Essentials and PCI-DSS. 🔍 A lack of clarity on where their security priorities should be. 👉The Lost Opportunity Without addressing these risks, they were missing the chance to strengthen their security posture, build customer trust, and meet compliance requirements. More importantly, they were unknowingly leaving the door open to cybercriminals who could cause significant disruption to their business. 👉The Solution: A Comprehensive Vulnerability Scan I provided a two-day vulnerability scan covering their entire network, identifying security weaknesses before exploiting them. The process included: ✅ Scoping and defining deliverables. ✅ Setting up and configuring vulnerability scanning tools. ✅ Running network-wide scans to detect risks. ✅ Eliminating false positives to ensure accuracy.