Digicert unveils new certificate to boost email security

DigiCert has introduced its Common Mark Certificate, a tool aimed at enhancing the security and branding of email communications for organisations.

The Common Mark Certificate is designed to improve brand recognition and bolster email deliverability while aligning with email authentication standards such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. It specifically meets the latest requirements laid out by Google and Yahoo for bulk email senders, helping organisations adapt to evolving email security demands.

Recent findings from the 2024 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research indicate that U.S. adults suffered losses of USD $43 billion due to identity fraud in 2023, an increase of 13% from the previous year. Phishing attacks remain a significant issue, exploiting individuals to divulge sensitive data or click on malicious links. To address such threats, Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) has been instrumental since its introduction in 2012. The adoption of Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) by major email providers has further supported this effort by requiring logo verification via mark certificates.

DigiCert's Senior Director of Digital Trust Services, Dean Coclin, commented, "DigiCert's new Common Mark Certificates are a game-changer for organisations looking to enhance the security and branding of their email communications. By removing the trademark requirement, we're opening the benefits of BIMI to a broader range of businesses, allowing them to build trust and visibility in their customers' inboxes. This offering aligns with DigiCert's commitment to simplifying digital trust while helping organisations meet critical email authentication standards that are becoming increasingly important for both security and brand reputation."

The certificate enables companies to display their logos in the recipient's inbox even before the message is opened, benefiting organisations with logos protected under prior usage rather than registered trademarks. This flexibility allows businesses to make use of various logo adaptations, such as for seasonal or cause-oriented themes, without the need for formal trademark registration.

Seth Blank, Chief Technology Officer of Valimail and Chair of the AuthIndicators Working Group, stated, "Common Mark Certificates are a significant step forward in making email authentication and BIMI more broadly accessible, empowering businesses of all sizes to leverage this powerful technology. At Valimail, we understand the importance of building trust and ensuring security in email communications. DigiCert's new offering will enable more businesses to take advantage of BIMI, helping them boost brand visibility while reinforcing their commitment to email security and DMARC enforcement."

Organisations seeking to deploy Common Mark Certificates must still undergo a validation process to confirm ownership of their email domain and logo. This requirement ensures that the logos used in email communication enhance authenticity and security while conforming to industry standards.