Welcome to Taming Tech, The Podcast episode 7. To read the full transcript of this podcast and get additional information, head over to https://taming.tech/7 for the show notes.

Today, we're going to be talking about SPF DKIM and DMARC, an important tool for improving email security and deliverability. DMARC, which stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance, is a way to ensure that the emails you receive are coming from a legitimate source and not from a scammer. In this episode, we'll be discussing what DMARC is, why it's important, and how you can deploy it for your own benefit.

First, let's talk about what DMARC is. Essentially, it's a way to ensure that the emails you receive are actually coming from the domain they claim to be coming from. This is done by using a combination of other technologies like SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). These technologies work together to verify that the sender of an email is who they claim to be. For example, if you receive an email from "example@gmail.com," DMARC will check to make sure that the email was actually sent from a Gmail server and not from a server pretending to be Gmail.

Now, you may be wondering why this is important. After all, most of us have become accustomed to receiving spam and other unwanted emails in our inboxes. However, scammers and hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they're using these tactics to trick people into giving them sensitive information or money. By deploying DMARC, you can help protect yourself from these types of scams and ensure that the emails you receive are actually coming from the people or organizations they claim to be.

But how do you deploy DMARC? The first step is to create a DMARC record for your domain. This record is essentially a set of instructions that tell other email servers how to handle emails sent from your domain. For example, you can specify that all emails sent from your domain should be checked for SPF and DKIM, and that any emails that fail these checks should be rejected or flagged as suspicious.

Once you've created your DMARC record, you'll need to publish it to your domain's DNS server. This is typically done by adding a specific type of DNS record called a TXT record. Once the record is published, other email servers will be able to access it and use it to verify the authenticity of emails sent from your domain.

It's important to note that deploying DMARC alone may not be enough to protect your domain from all types of fraud or spoofing. However, it's an important first step in the right direction. Other steps include implementing SPF and DKIM as well. As well, you should consider using other services like mailgenius that can help you monitor your email deliverability and identify any issues that might be impacting it.

Now, if you're a business owner, you may be wondering how DMARC can benefit you. For one thing, it can help you improve the deliverability of your emails. When you deploy DMARC, you're essentially telling other email servers that your domain is legitimate, which can help ensure that your emails are delivered to the inboxes of your intended recipients. Additionally, by deploying DMARC, you can protect your brand and reputation by reducing the likelihood that your emails will be flagged as spam or rejected by other email servers.

In addition, since DMARC was first launched in 2012, many different services have been developed to help with DMARC deployment and management. For example, dmarcian is a website that provides a variety of tools and resources to help you deploy and manage DMARC. They can help you with everything from creating your DMARC record to monitoring your email deliverability and identifying any issues that might be impacting it.

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 6 – INTERVIEW WITH LYALL O’CARROLL

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/6

In today’s episode, our guest is Lyall O’Carroll, Technical Account Manager for Seidor Africa.

With a background in electronics and a passion for engineering, for the past 14 years Lyall has helped companies and business leaders unlock potential and revenue within their businesses.

Lyall shares how, with an effective software solution, like SAP Business One, and big data analytics companies can grow their profits without having to grow their staff compliment. And how this allows their customers to employ their personnel in more rewarding roles that grows their business.

Who should listen to this episode?

If your company structure is management heavy.

If your company is a generational business and you’re looking for an effective way to manage the transition between founders and the next generation.

If your managers are policemen and micromanagers and not leaders advancing your business’ goals.

If the ineffectiveness of disparate systems is holding your business back from reaching the potential you see for it.

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 5 – INTERVIEW WITH JENNA BURCHELL

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/5

In episode 5 we speak to Jenna Burchell  an award winning South African artist who fuses the digital with the natural world.

When we think of technology, art doesn’t ordinarily come to mind, which is one of the reasons why Jenna Burchell’s sculptures are extraordinary.

Jenna shares with us: 

how she works with technology to marry the tech with the organic

how the amalgamation of the organic and inorganic subverts expectation and takes on a transformative experience

her experience with the ghost in the machine

how including technology in her creations results in a long term relationship between creator and collector

how her work celebrates the joy of repair and rebuilding and how the process animates the artwork

We encourage you to listen to this episode if:

You are looking for inspiration on how you work with technology

You are looking for a way to rebuild after experiencing a fracture in your work or in your life

You are exploring ideas on how to use technology in a different way

You are interested in the behind the scenes process of creating art that reframes the narrative

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 4 – INTERVIEW WITH RUBEN BUIJS

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/4

The guest on this episode hails from the Netherlands. Ruben Buijs is a Dutch developer who developed a widget as a side hustle. He has been programming since he was twelve years old.

His widget, Boei, is the Dutch word for buoy. Boei is a quick life line that allows customers to get in contact with you using the platform of their preference. 

We started using Boei on our websites soon after its release and are such fans of the product that we reached out to Ruben, who graciously agreed to appear on this podcast.

Ruben’s day job is being an IT Consultant for EY where he works on projects in a wide variety of industries. His focus on efficacy is made visible in this service that he has developed.

Some of the topics covered in this episode are:

Benefits of using Boei.

The ideation behind Boei.

Boei versus live chat.

How Boei could replace contact us pages on websites.

What methods Ruben is pursuing to market his side hustle.

The growth and uptake Ruben has seen since he launched six months ago.

Who should listen to this episode?

Anyone who is:

Working on their own side hustle

Developers and programmers

Working on software roadmaps

Bloggers and business owners looking for a simple, effective means of communicating with their audience and customers.

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 3 – INTERVIEW WITH MARELI POTTAS

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/3

In this episode we speak to Mareli Pottas from Dube & Pottas Inc. 

Mareli is the Co-founder and Operations Manager of Dube & Pottas Inc., a private practice of medical social workers based in Johannesburg and operating from hospitals in Johannesburg and surrounding areas in Gauteng, South Africa.

Established in 2015, Dube & Pottas has grown from a few staff to 23 staff members in 28 hospitals in 5 years. 

In this podcast Paul Ogier and Mareli Pottas talk about:

How this private company has intelligently used technology to simplify operations, manage staff in multiple locations and scale with the growth of the company.

How as frontline staff at the forefront of the COVID fight they have expanded their use of technology to overcome restrictions and obstacles to maintain their company’s operational requirements.

How their existing technology solutions enable them to go above and beyond in their treatment and support of their patients and their families who are often separated by distance and COVID protocols.

How they have utilised online training to onboard staff.

Who should listen to this podcast?

Anyone who is interested in learning more about:

Ideas on how to start and grow a company without spending a fortune on IT infrastructure or IT support staff.

What a medical social worker does.

How health professionals are managing their stress levels and prioritising their mental health.

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 2 – INTERVIEW WITH DUGALD DU PLESSIS

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/2

Our guest in this podcast is Dugald du Plessis, a visionary and goal oriented person with 19 years of experience in planning, developing, and implementing cutting edge solutions in the field of Information Technology.

Dugald has been the IT Manager at Tourvest Destination Management (TDM) since 2008. TDM offers a diverse portfolio of travel products and is part of the Tourvest Holdings (Pty) Ltd group of companies.

In this episode Paul Ogier speaks to Dugald du Plessis about two recent IT projects:

How TDM planned and managed the untangling of shared IT infrastructure with their sister company, Tourvest Travel Services, to enable an autonomous structure that supported their operational requirements.

Their approach to migrating TDM from on-prem Microsoft Exchange to Microsoft 365.

Who should listen to this podcast?

Anyone who is considering, involved in or interested in:

How to go about separating shared IT infrastructure. 

The planning, testing, elements involved and the lessons learned in an unbundling of IT framework.

The lessons learned in migrating from on-prem Microsoft Exchange to Microsoft 365.

TAMING TECH, THE PODCAST EPISODE 1 – INTERVIEW WITH THOMAS MICHAEL

Full Show notes https://taming.tech/1

Thomas Michael, CEO of Michael Management Corporation, is the guest in this episode. 

Thomas speaks and writes widely about SAP training and implementation issues.

A native of Germany, currently residing in New York, he has been involved in SAP consulting and development since 1993. Considered to be one of the leading SAP experts in the world, he has worked with an impressive array of clients all over Europe and the US.

Thomas is a published author and has written numerous articles and white papers covering a variety of leadership topics. He has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, appeared in INC magazine, Entrepreneur's Organization and LinkedIn Pulse.

Topics covered in this podcast include:

The evolution of training. The traditional classroom bound training to online training. The financial and accessibility benefits of computer-based training. The trends we’re seeing in training today and where we expect it to end up.

An exploration of the entrepreneurial journey and what the future holds for Michael Management.

Who should listen to this podcast?

Anyone who is:

Interested in becoming an online course instructor.

Interested in what the future holds for corporate training and how to leverage training for your organisation.

Interested in becoming a certified SAP user.