Cyber insurance is now a core part of enterprise risk management. But here’s the part most businesses miss: if you can’t prove you’ve secured your email domain, your policy may not protect you.
Without proper email authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM), coverage can be reduced, premiums can rise - and claims can be denied.
The Real Threat: Phishing and Spoofing
Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing remain top drivers of incidents. Attackers exploit unauthenticated domains to impersonate trusted brands and extract money or data.
Insurers know this. That’s why missing email authentication controls can:
- Increase your premiums
- Reduce your coverage
- Lead to denial of claims after an incident
If your domain can be spoofed, insurers treat it as a known vulnerability - and they’ll scrutinize it.
DMARC, SPF, and DKIM: The Three Pillars of Email Trust
What each control actually does:
- SPF - Defines which IPs are authorized to send on behalf of your domain.
- DKIM - Adds a cryptographic signature so recipients can verify integrity.
- DMARC - Aligns the visible From domain with SPF/DKIM results and tells receivers how to handle failures.
A DMARC policy set to p=none is monitoring only. Insurers look for enforcement -
p=quarantine or p=reject.
Cyber Insurance Denials Are Rising
Recent data shows growing friction between incidents and payouts.
- 40%–54% of cyber insurance claims are denied
- 44% are linked to missing or misconfigured email security controls
Major mailbox providers (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) already require strict authentication. That pressure is reaching insurers.
Failing to meet these requirements leaves you exposed twice - to attackers and to post-incident financial risk.
For Founders, CTOs, and Risk Officers: What To Do
If you’re paying for cyber insurance, you should also be doing this:
- Set up SPF, DKIM, and enforce a DMARC policy (quarantine/reject)
- Continuously monitor your domain for changes or gaps
- Retain logs and DMARC reports to prove compliance and posture
Security isn’t a checkbox - it’s continuous responsibility.
How DMARCFlow Helps You Meet Requirements
DMARCFlow moves you from risk to resilience:
- We correctly set up and enforce SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
- We provide continuous monitoring and instant misalignment alerts
- We supply insurer-ready reports that validate your security posture
Founders, CISOs, and compliance leads get protection - and proof.
Final Thoughts
Cyber insurance can save you from disaster - but only if you meet the conditions. If DMARC is still set to “p=none,” your domain is unprotected and your policy may not hold.
Don’t wait for the breach. Check your domain now at dmarcflow.com and make sure your policy actually protects you.