The Challenge: Email Deliverability Crisis Amid New Security Rules
In February 2024, Google and Yahoo jointly enforced stricter email authentication and deliverability standards - In March 2025 Microsoft applied these same restrictions - Organisations sending over 5,000 daily emails to addresses on these platforms are required to:
- Authenticate all outbound emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
- Honour one-click unsubscribe requests within two days
- Maintain a spam complaint rate below 0.3%
SCCAC, like many Australian aged care providers, used multiple domains and third-party applications to send vital communications-ranging from care updates to compliance alerts. Suddenly, emails began bouncing with error codes, landing in spam folders, or failing to send altogether. Staff reported missed notifications, while families expressed concern over lost updates.
In short, SCCAC was suffering from an email reputation situation!
The Solution: Comprehensive Email Authentication & Reputation Overhaul
Technology + Implementation Process
= Tangible Benefit
Email Service Discovery & Audit
Microsolve’s team, drawing on 30+ years of IT support for Australian SMEs, began with a full audit of SCCAC’s email ecosystem. This included all registered domains, line-of-business (LoB) applications (e.g., care management platforms), embedded technology devices and third-party (SaaS) senders.
Advanced DNS Authentication
Leveraging Microsolve’s partnership with PowerDMARC-a global leader in email authentication-SCCAC’s domains were enrolled in a real-time monitoring and reporting platform providing confirmation of audit results and visibility of non-compliant systems requiring attention.
Vendor Coordination and Application Remediation
A number of Line of Business applications were sending emails on SCCAC’s behalf but lacked proper authentication, used outdated settings or had other inherent issues - these were independently addressed, either through configuration updates, component replacement or technological retirement. Throughout this phase monitoring and reporting kept track of the improvements in compliance.
Policy Posture Improvement and BAU Status
Upon satisfying email authentication compliance requirements, DMARC policy settings were moved firstly from monitoring to quarantine and finally to reject. This progression of settings ensured no interruption to outbound email during implementation and maximise the protection offered once implementation was complete.
Ongoing monitoring, reporting and investigation services are provided by the Microsolve Support Centre ensuring the SCCAC email environment is compliant and not subject to delivery restrictions.
The Results
SCCAC’s experience is a powerful example of how proactive, expert-led IT support can turn a compliance-driven crisis into an opportunity for lasting operational improvement. By partnering with Microsolve, SCCAC not only restored their email communications but also future-proofed their systems against evolving threats and regulatory changes.
Why Microsolve?
With over 30 years of experience delivering IT support to the Australian aged care sector, Microsolve brings deep expertise in:
- Complex, multi-domain email environments
- Regulatory compliance for health and aged care
- Seamless vendor management and change coordination
- Industry-leading partnerships (Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, PowerDMARC)
Microsolve’s tailored solutions ensure that critical communications are delivered securely, reliably, and in full compliance with the latest industry standards.
