Gmail supports BIMI & VMC for advancing Email Security.
1 April, 2022
Now businesses can display their verified logo in Gmail messages to boost engagement and grow their brand.
G-Suite has more than 2 billion active users. That is exactly the reason why it is so useful, and at the same time, it is extremely vulnerable to attacks—especially identity-targeted attacks like phishing.
In fact, 96% of phishing attacks are delivered via email, and 75% of global companies were targeted in 2020.
Why? There was no reliable method to quickly identify and isolate malicious content posing as a legitimate email, particularly since organizations have not been able to immediately and concretely identify themselves to users.
Does Gmail Support BIMI & VMC?
Google has now fully rolled out Gmail’s overall support of the new Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) standard following its pilot program last year. BIMI is an industry-standard that aims to drive the adoption of strong sender authentication across the entire email ecosystem.
In simple words, the new standard refers to allowing recipients of emails to see “Trademarked logos” inside email clients after implementing email security standards such as DMARC, DKIM, and SPF.
Due to the use of digital certificates and advanced cryptography on all these security protocols, the verified logos will only appear for legitimate company emails, not spoofed messages sent by scammers or cybercriminals.
Make your mark on email marketing and display your secure identity.
How does verified email work?
DMARC enforcement + BIMI + VMC = Logo-verified Email
What are VMCs?
Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) are a new, innovative type of Digital certificate that allows companies to place a certified brand logo next to the “sender” field in customer inboxes— even before the message is opened. When you purchase a VMC, DigiCert® thoroughly validates the identity of the purchaser, including checking that the logo is officially trademarked.
What is DMARC?
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is an email authentication policy based on the SPF and DKIM protocols. It adds publisher links, published policies for recipient authentication error handling, and recipient-sender reports to improve visibility and provide additional domain protection against fraudulent phishing and spoofing attacks. ‘identity.
What is BIMI?
BIMI stands for Brand Indicators for Message Identification and is an email specification that enables the display of brand logos in supporting email clients to encourage the widespread implementation of DMARC protection.
How do they work together?
Your organization’s DMARC enforcement is validated by the email client via confirmation of your BIMI record and VMC-ensconced logo. If everything checks out, your logo is displayed, serving as a visual indicator of your message’s authenticity, increasing engagement, and building brand recognition.
Should you take advantage of BIMI & VMC?
Though Google’s partnership with BIMI Group is trying to make BIMI’s setup as user-friendly as possible it’s yet to offer ground-breaking updates! However, it will become a mandate to set up BIMI Record with VMC in order to display the logo next to the “sender” field in customer inboxes.
Well, wouldn’t you like the first mover’s advantage?
Get a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) to verify your brand logo’s ownership before the market.
The BIMI standard requires your brand’s logo to be a registered trademark to apply for a VMC. However, this standard is being expanded to include brand logos that aren’t trademarked yet.
Note: To display your BIMI logo in the Gmail inbox, Gmail requires that your brand has a VMC.