Ensure Secure Email Delivery with MTA-STS
Seamlessly Configure MTA-STS with PowerDMARC
PowerDMARC’s hosted MTA-STS helps you configure MTA-STS correctly and with ease. Most email today is secured with Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, an industry-standard adopted even by consumer email. But attackers can intercept your email even before it gets encrypted. If your email is not transported over a secure connection, your data could be stolen or even modified by an attacker. Mail Transfer Agent-Strict Transport Security (MTA-STS) fixes this, guaranteeing safe transit for your email.
How Does TLS Encryption Work?
When you send an email, your Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) checks if the recipient's server supports the STARTTLS command. If supported, it switches to an encrypted connection before sending the email securely.
However, cybercriminals can manipulate this process by:
- Rerouting emails to a malicious server.
- Forcing the STARTTLS query to fail, tricking your MTA into sending the email unencrypted.
Both methods give attackers full access to your emails, making encryption alone insufficient.
Why Do You Need MTA-STS?
MTA-STS is a security protocol designed to prevent Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks by enforcing secure email transmission.
Uses HTTPS-Enabled Servers
- Your MTA compares MX records from DNS with those stored in the MTA-STS policy file (retrieved via HTTPS).
- MTAs cache these policies, making DNS spoofing significantly harder.
Mandatory TLS Encryption
- Your domain can enforce a policy that requires encrypted TLS transmission.
- If the recipient’s server doesn’t support STARTTLS, the email won’t be sent—preventing SMTP downgrade attacks.
How PowerDMARC Helps
Hosted MTA-STS
TLS Reporting (TLS-RPT)
Take Control of Your Email Security with PowerDMARC
Don’t leave your emails vulnerable to attacks. With ExpertDMARC’s hosted MTA-STS and TLS-RPT, you can ensure secure, encrypted email delivery—effortlessly.
Start protecting your emails today
