End-User Guide
Degarmo Technologies — Email Security
Your Guide to
INKY Email
Security
INKY Email
Security
Everything you need to know about your INKY email security banners — how to read them, what to do, and how to stay protected every day.
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security — End-User Guide
Table of Contents
What's Inside
Your Complete INKY User Guide
1
What Is INKY and How Does It Work?
An introduction to INKY and what it does in your inbox every day
3
2
Understanding Your Email Banners
What each banner color means and what you should do
4
3
Banner Color Quick-Reference Guide
Visual mockups and at-a-glance action guide for all four banner types
5
4
What INKY Protects You From
The full range of email threats INKY detects and stops
6
5
How to Report an Email
Step-by-step guide to using Quick Action Links and the reporting page
7
6
Clicking Links in Flagged Emails
What happens when INKY intercepts a suspicious link in real time
8
7
Sending Encrypted Emails
How to send encrypted emails using INKY, when to use encryption, and the encryption portal
9
7 cont.
What Your Recipients Experience
How recipients open and reply to encrypted messages, and how to recall a message
10
8
Top Tips for Staying Safe
Best practices and habits to get the most out of INKY protection
11
9
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about banners, reporting, encryption, and daily use
12
Degarmo Technologies has deployed INKY as your organization's email security platform. INKY scans every single email before it arrives in your inbox — catching phishing attacks, impersonation attempts, malware, and suspicious content that traditional email filters miss.
Nothing to Install
INKY works entirely in the cloud — it processes email in the mail flow before anything reaches you. There is no software to install, no plugin required, and no app to download. It works automatically on your desktop, browser, and phone.
How It Protects You
INKY uses a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning to analyze each email. It checks the sender's identity, scans all links, reads attachments in a sandbox environment, and even visually examines logos and email designs to catch brand impersonation.
What You'll See
A colored banner appears at the top of every email you receive. This banner tells you at a glance whether INKY considers the email safe, suspicious, or dangerous — and gives you one-click tools to take action.
INKY works on every device
- Outlook desktop (Windows & Mac)
- Outlook Web Access (OWA)
- Outlook mobile (iOS & Android)
- Gmail web & Gmail mobile app
- Any email client that displays HTML
No action required to activate INKY
Degarmo Technologies has already set everything up. INKY is protecting your inbox right now — every email is scanned automatically, 24/7. Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 2 — Banners
Understanding Your Email Banners
Every email you receive will have a colored banner at the top of the message. INKY uses four banner colors — each with a clear meaning and a recommended action. Here is what each one looks like in your inbox:
From: noreply@payroll-vendor.com To: you@yourcompany.com
Your March payroll summary is ready
Hi [Name], your March payroll summary is now available in the portal...
From: "IT Support" <helpdesk@micros0ft-support.net>
Urgent: Your Microsoft 365 account is about to expire
Your Microsoft 365 account requires immediate action. Click here to verify your credentials within 24 hours to avoid suspension...
From: "CEO - John Smith" <jsmith@extern-mailer.io>
Confidential: Wire transfer request
[Email content hidden — INKY has flagged this message as a high-confidence phishing attempt]
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 3 — Quick Reference
Banner Color Quick-Reference Guide
Use this guide as your daily reference. Every banner color tells a clear story — here's what each one means and exactly what you should do.
Remember: Yellow banners are not safe to ignore.
Many successful phishing attacks carry yellow warnings that users dismissed. A yellow banner means INKY found something worth pausing on — always verify the sender through another channel before clicking or responding. 
Cybercriminals use many different tactics to trick email recipients. INKY is trained to catch all of them — including novel attacks that have never been seen before.
Phishing & Spear Phishing
Deceptive emails designed to steal your credentials, personal info, or money. Spear phishing is targeted — using your name, role, or company.
Brand Impersonation
Emails that visually mimic Microsoft, Google, your bank, or your IT department — fake logos, fake login pages, fake alerts.
CEO Fraud / BEC
Emails pretending to be from your CEO or an executive, requesting urgent wire transfers, gift cards, or sensitive data.
Display Name Spoofing
The email shows a familiar name (e.g., "John, CEO") but the actual sending address is from a completely unrelated domain. INKY exposes the real address.
Lookalike Domains
Slightly misspelled domains like "micros0ft.com" or "paypa1.com" — designed to fool a quick glance. INKY's domain analysis catches these automatically.
Malware & Ransomware
Malicious attachments that install software on your device. INKY opens every attachment in an isolated sandbox to check for threats before delivery.
QR Code Phishing
Attackers embed QR codes to bypass link scanners — you scan with your phone and land on a malicious site. INKY's computer vision physically reads and checks every QR code.
Urgency & Social Engineering
"Your account will be closed in 24 hours." AI-generated pressure tactics that bypass human judgment. INKY's GenAI engine detects intent patterns, not just keywords.
Account Takeover
A legitimate colleague's email account has been compromised and is now sending malicious messages. INKY's behavioral analysis detects when someone is acting out of their normal pattern.
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 5 — Reporting
How to Report an Email
Reporting emails through INKY takes seconds and helps protect your entire organization. Every report you submit trains the detection engine — making INKY smarter and more accurate for everyone.
Option A — Quick Action Links (Fastest)
Quick Action Links appear directly inside the banner. One click — no additional page required.
Quick Actions visible in your banner
Safe
Spam (Block)
Phish (Block)
More...
1
Locate the Quick Action buttons in the banner
Look for colored buttons on the right side of the yellow or red banner at the top of your email.
2
Click the appropriate action
Safe — legitimate email misclassified. Spam (Block) — unwanted bulk mail. Phish (Block) — this is a phishing attempt.
3
Confirm your action
A brief confirmation screen appears. Click Confirm to submit — or More Options to add a note or adjust sender blocking settings.
Option B — Report This Email (Full Page)
For detailed reporting, click the "Report This Email" link in any banner to open the full reporting page.
Classify the email
Choose from Safe, Spam, Phish, or Graymail. Your classification helps INKY learn your preferences.
Add a comment (optional)
Provide additional context for your IT team about why the email seemed suspicious or legitimate.
Manage your sender list
Block a sender permanently or add them to your personal allow list. These preferences only affect your mailbox.
Note: Your reports only affect your personal mailbox. Blocking a sender prevents their future emails from reaching you — it does not affect your colleagues' inboxes. Contact your IT admin to request organization-wide blocking.
INKY doesn't just check links when the email arrives — it checks them again at the moment you click. This means INKY can catch links that were safe when delivered but later became malicious (a common attacker technique called "time-of-click" poisoning).
What You'll See
If INKY determines a link is suspicious or dangerous when you click it, you'll see a warning page like the one below — instead of going straight to the destination.
INKY Warning — Suspicious Link Detected
This link may be dangerous. Review before proceeding.
Destination: http://micros0ft-login.support/verify-account
Why INKY flagged this: The destination domain closely resembles microsoft.com but is not the official Microsoft domain. This type of lookalike URL is commonly used in credential phishing attacks.
← Go Back (Recommended)
I understand the risk — proceed
QR Code Protection
Attackers frequently embed QR codes in emails to bypass traditional link scanning. When you scan a QR code from a flagged email with your phone, the same real-time protection applies.
What triggers a link warning page?
Known malicious URLs, newly registered domains, lookalike domains, redirects to suspicious destinations, links from red-flagged emails, and QR codes from unknown or suspicious senders.
Should I ever click "proceed"?
Rarely. If you are 100% confident the link is legitimate — for example, you requested the email yourself and verified the sender through another channel — you may choose to proceed. When in doubt, contact Degarmo Technologies before clicking.
Section 7 — Email Encryption
Sending Encrypted Emails with INKY
Keep sensitive information protected from the moment it leaves your inbox
INKY's email encryption lets you send sensitive information — financial data, legal documents, personal records — so that only the intended recipient can read it. Messages are protected with 256-bit encryption and never travel over the public internet unprotected. The best part: it takes just one extra word added to your subject line.
How to Send an Encrypted Email
1
Compose your email as normal
Open a new email in Outlook (or your mail client) and write your message and add your attachments exactly as you normally would.
2
Add [ENCRYPT] to the subject line
Type [ENCRYPT] at the very beginning of the subject line, followed by a space, then your subject. INKY detects this tag and handles the encryption automatically before the email leaves your mail server.
3
Send the email as normal
Press Send. INKY intercepts the message, encrypts the contents, and routes it through the secure portal. Your recipient receives a notification email — not the message itself — guiding them to read it securely.
Subject Line Format
⚠ Important: Always include a space between
[ENCRYPT] and the rest of your subject text. When Should You Encrypt an Email?
- Financial information — account numbers, invoices, payment details
- Personal identifiers — Social Security numbers, date of birth, ID numbers
- Health information — anything covered by HIPAA or medical records
- Legal documents — contracts, agreements, legal correspondence
- HR and payroll data — salaries, reviews, employee records
- Passwords or credentials — never send these unencrypted
- Anything marked "confidential" — when in doubt, encrypt it
Viewing Your Encrypted Sent Messages
All encrypted emails you've sent and received live in the INKY Encryption Portal. You can view them, reply securely, or delete them at any time.
INKY Encryption Portal
▸ View all sent and received encrypted messages
▸ Reply securely via "Send Secure Reply"
▸ Delete: click "…" → Remove from INKY Servers"
app.inkyphishfence.com/encryption
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 7 — Email Encryption (continued)
What Your Recipients Experience
When you send an encrypted email, your recipient does not receive the message directly in their inbox. Instead, they get a notification directing them to read it securely through the INKY portal. Here is exactly what they'll see — so you can prepare them if needed.
1
They receive a notification email
An email arrives in their inbox from your email address — not a generic noreply — with the subject "Email Encryption by INKY" and a blue "View Encrypted Message" button.
2
They click "View Encrypted Message"
Clicking opens INKY's secure portal in their browser. No plugins, downloads, or account creation needed. They'll see a sign-in page.
3
They sign in with "Sign in with email"
The recommended method. They enter their email address; INKY sends a one-click verification link. They open that second email from Inky Encryption and click the link in the same browser window. Microsoft and Google sign-in buttons are also available.
4
They read and reply from the portal
The full encrypted message opens. They can read it, download any attachments, and click "Send Secure Reply" to respond. Their reply comes back to your inbox fully encrypted.
Recipient notification email (what they receive)
Is this legitimate? What if they're suspicious?
The notification comes from your actual email address, not a generic sender. The portal URL is app.inkyphishfence.com — a verified INKY domain. Reassure recipients in advance that they'll receive a secure message notification from INKY if they need to expect it.
Recalling an encrypted message
Sent to the wrong person? Log in to the Encryption Portal, find the message, click the "…" menu → "Remove from INKY Servers." This hard-deletes the message — the recipient's link will no longer work.
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 8 — Best Practices
Top Tips for Staying Safe with INKY
INKY does the heavy lifting — but these habits will maximize your protection and help keep your entire organization secure.
01
Always read the banner before acting
Before clicking any link, opening any attachment, or replying to any unusual request — glance at the banner color and read what it says. This takes two seconds and can prevent a serious breach.
02
Never ignore a yellow banner
Yellow means "something is off." Many successful phishing attacks carry yellow warnings that users dismissed. If you get a yellow banner, verify the sender through a completely separate channel — phone call, Slack, or in person — before responding.
03
Delete red-banner emails immediately
A red banner means INKY is highly confident this email is dangerous. Delete it without clicking anything. If it appears to be from someone you know, call them directly to confirm — do not reply to the email.
04
Use the "Details" link to learn
When you receive a yellow or red banner, click "Details" to see exactly what INKY found. This is one of the best ways to train yourself to spot threats — INKY explains in plain language why it flagged the email.
05
Report emails — it helps everyone
Every report you submit trains INKY and helps protect your colleagues. If you receive something suspicious, report it using the Quick Action links in the banner. It takes one click.
06
Banners disappear on forwarded email — that's normal
When you forward or reply to an email, INKY automatically removes the banner. This is intentional — the banner is for your eyes only and should not be shared with external recipients. The message itself is still safe to forward.
07
Be extra skeptical of urgent requests
"Act now," "your account will be suspended," "confidential wire transfer required" — urgency is a manipulation tactic. Slow down. Legitimate organizations never require immediate action under threat of permanent consequences via email.
08
Contact Degarmo when in doubt
If you're unsure about an email — even with a gray banner — reach out to your Degarmo Technologies support contact. It is always better to ask and be safe than to assume and be compromised.
Degarmo Technologies | INKY Email Security
Section 9 — FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about your INKY email security experience.
Why does every email have a banner — even ones from my coworkers?
INKY scans all incoming email, including internal messages. This protects against account takeover scenarios — situations where a colleague's email account has been compromised and is being used to send malicious messages. Internal emails from trusted senders typically receive a neutral gray banner. If you see a yellow or red banner on an email from a colleague, contact them directly to verify their account hasn't been compromised.
I received a lot of yellow banners in my first few weeks. Is something wrong?
This is completely normal. During the first 30 days ("Learning Mode"), INKY is learning your organization's normal communication patterns. Yellow banners are more frequent during this period because INKY hasn't yet established a baseline for your email traffic. Frequency decreases significantly after Learning Mode completes. Use the "Safe" Quick Action link to help train INKY on legitimate senders you recognize.
Can I turn off the banners or hide them?
No — banners cannot be dismissed or hidden by end users. This is intentional. INKY's effectiveness depends on the warning being visible at the moment you're reading the email. If you find banners disruptive on emails from specific trusted senders, you can use the "Safe" Quick Action to help train INKY, or contact your IT admin to add that sender to the organization-wide Known External Senders list (which shows a blue banner instead).
The banner disappeared when I forwarded an email. Did something go wrong?
No — this is expected behavior. INKY automatically removes banners when you forward or reply to messages. This prevents external recipients from seeing your organization's internal security warnings. The message itself is still processed and delivered safely. INKY will rescan the message as it flows through the mail system.
I accidentally clicked a link in a red-banner email. What should I do?
Contact Degarmo Technologies immediately at degarmo.tech. Do not enter any credentials or personal information on any page that opened. If the link opened a login page, change any passwords you may have used on that site right away. The faster you report it, the more options we have to contain any potential impact.
My legitimate marketing emails keep getting yellow banners. Can I fix this?
Yes. Click the "Not-Graymail" or "Safe" Quick Action link in the banner to tell INKY the email is legitimate. Over time, INKY learns your preferences and reduces banners on recognized senders. You can also contact your admin to add high-volume legitimate senders to the Known External list for a blue banner instead.
Does INKY work on my phone?
Yes. INKY works on all devices and email clients — Outlook mobile (iOS and Android), Apple Mail, Gmail app, and any client that renders HTML email. Banners appear in mobile email exactly as they do on desktop. The Quick Action links open a mobile-friendly webpage for one-click reporting.
Need help? Contact Degarmo Technologies.
If you have a question not answered here, or you're unsure about a specific email, reach out to your Degarmo Technologies support contact anytime. We're here to help — that's what same-day support means. degarmo.tech 
Veteran-Owned | Oklahoma City, OK
Secure. Confident.
Protected by Degarmo.
Protected by Degarmo.
Degarmo Technologies manages your INKY email security deployment end-to-end — from initial configuration and ongoing tuning to user support and incident response. You don't have to be a security expert. That's our job.
If you ever receive an email that concerns you, spot a threat, or have a question about your email security, contact Degarmo Technologies directly. We're your security partner — not just a software vendor — and we're committed to keeping your organization safe.
Contact Degarmo — degarmo.tech If you ever receive an email that concerns you, spot a threat, or have a question about your email security, contact Degarmo Technologies directly. We're your security partner — not just a software vendor — and we're committed to keeping your organization safe.