When it comes to cybersecurity training, precision and reliability are non-negotiable. Phishing simulations, in particular, require accurate email delivery to ensure realistic scenarios for employees. However, traditional email delivery methods often encounter obstacles that compromise the effectiveness of these simulations. Enter Cywareness Bridged Delivery, a groundbreaking solution designed to overcome these challenges and provide seamless, distortion-free email delivery.

In this blog, we’ll explore how Bridged Delivery works, the issues it solves, and why it’s a game-changer for organizations aiming to build a cyber-aware workforce.

How Emails Are Conventionally Sent

 

Email delivery seems simple: write an email, send it, and it lands in the recipient’s inbox. But behind the scenes, emails go through a complex journey:

 

1. Email Composition.
2. The sender drafts the email and specifies the recipient’s address.
3. Domain Lookup
The sender’s SMTP server identifies the recipient domain’s Mail Exchange (MX) record.
4. This step determines where the email will be delivered.
5. Delivery
The email is sent to the recipient’s SMTP server, where it is validated, scanned, and filtered before being placed in the inbox

 

While this process works efficiently in standard scenarios, organizations with third-party email gateways, like Mimecast or Proofpoint, face additional layers of complexity. These gateways introduce unintended challenges that can disrupt phishing simulations.

 

The Challenges of Third-Party Email Gateways

 

Third-party email gateways add security and filtering capabilities, but they also complicate the delivery of simulation emails. Common issues include:

• Modified Sender IP: The original sender’s IP address is replaced with the gateway’s IP, making it harder to trace the true origin of the email.
• Altered Email Headers: Critical metadata is often added, modified, or removed, affecting authentication and complicating allowlisting.
• Routing Complexities: MX records direct emails through the gateway, requiring additional configurations to maintain the correct delivery path.

These issues often lead to blocked or misclassified simulation emails, rendering phishing tests less effective and creating unnecessary troubleshooting for IT teams.

Introducing Cywareness Bridged Delivery

 

Cywareness Bridged Delivery eliminates the friction caused by traditional delivery methods. By connecting directly to your organization’s SMTP server, this innovative solution bypasses third-party gateways, ensuring emails are delivered intact and unaltered.

Here’s what sets Bridged Delivery apart:

• Header and IP Integrity > Emails retain their original headers and sender IP, enabling precise identification and seamless allowlisting.
• Direct Delivery >
Emails are sent straight to your SMTP server, ensuring that no external system interferes with the content or properties of the message.
• Improved Reliability
> With no intermediary gateways, simulation emails are less likely to be flagged as spam or altered, ensuring accurate testing.

 

Why Bridged Delivery Matters

Phishing simulations are only effective when they replicate real-world scenarios. Interference from third-party systems not only compromises the realism of simulations but also creates unnecessary technical challenges. Bridged Delivery provides a robust solution that ensures the integrity of your cybersecurity training efforts.

Key Benefits:

• Accurate Simulations
 Employees experience realistic phishing scenarios, improving the effectiveness of the training.
• Reduced False Positives
 By preserving original email properties, Bridged Delivery minimizes the chances of simulation emails being misclassified as spam.
• Simplified Configuration
 No need for complex allowlisting rules or additional configurations to accommodate third-party filters.

 

When Should You Use Bridged Delivery?

While Bridged Delivery benefits all Cywareness users, it’s particularly essential for organizations with advanced filtering systems. For example:

• Organizations Using Robust Gateways
Gateways like Mimecast or Proofpoint may block or alter simulation emails. Bridged Delivery ensures these emails are delivered as intended.
• Complex Security Environments
If your organization has multiple layers of email filtering, Bridged Delivery simplifies delivery paths and ensures reliability.

 

How to Set Up Bridged Delivery

 

Getting started with Bridged Delivery is straightforward. Here’s a quick overview of the setup process:

Step 1: Obtain SMTP Server Details

• Microsoft:
Log into the Admin Dashboard, navigate to Settings > Domains, and copy your MX record value.
• Google Workspace:
Use the universal MX record: aspmx.l.google.com.

Step 2: Configure Connectors or Inbound Gateways

• Microsoft:
Access the Exchange Admin Center and create a connector for Cywareness, adding the necessary IP addresses and defining security restrictions.
• Google Workspace:
Navigate to the Admin Center, enable inbound gateway settings, and add Cywareness IP addresses.

Step 3: Bypass Spam Filters

• Microsoft:
Use Advanced Delivery options in the Defender Admin Panel to add Cywareness domains, IPs, and simulation URLs.
• Google Workspace:
Adjust inbound gateway settings to disable Gmail spam evaluation for Cywareness emails.

Classic Allowlisting vs. Bridged Delivery

The difference between classic allowlisting and Bridged Delivery is stark. Traditional methods require navigating complex gateway settings, while Bridged Delivery streamlines the process by connecting directly to your SMTP server.

 

 

Unleash the Power of Cywareness

Phishing threats continue to evolve, and so must your defenses. With Cywareness Bridged Delivery, you can ensure that your phishing simulations are delivered accurately and securely, equipping your team with realistic scenarios to combat cyber threats.
Ready to elevate your cybersecurity training?
 Contact Cywareness Support today, and let us help you set up Bridged Delivery effortlessly.
Say goodbye to the challenges of traditional email delivery. Say hello to a future where phishing simulations are seamless, precise, and impactful.