What is DMARC and how is it implemented?
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 4:17 am
In our digital age, email threats are looming large, with phishing and spoofing becoming increasingly sophisticated. DMARC is the powerful shield that businesses and individuals need. This authentication protocol ensures the integrity of emails, protecting against domain spoofing and cyberattacks. In this article, we demystify DMARC, explaining its importance in strengthening email security.
Sergey Syerkin
Sergey Syerkin
,
Lead Deliverability and Anti-Abuse
SUMMARY
What is DMARC?
How to implement DMARC?
Perform an audit of your domain's email infrastructure
Configure SPF and DKIM
Publish a DMARC policy
Monitor DMARC reports
Acting on DMARC Reports
Monitor and update your DMARC policy
Keep DNS records up to date
How to Create a DMARC Record
What is a DMARC report?
On October 3, 2023, Google and Yahoo announced new email delivery requirements that will be mandatory by February 2024. For senders sending more than 5,000 emails per day to Gmail addresses, Google will require a set of authentication measures to ensure secure delivery of emails to Gmail inboxes. While Yahoo did not specify a minimum sending threshold, it will comply with Google’s criteria.
The prescribed requirements include:
Implementing both SPF and DKIM
Sending emails with a 'From' domain matching SPF or DKIM domains
Sending from a domain with a DMARC policy of at least p=none
Valid and reverse DNS (FCrDNS)
Incorporating a one-click unsubscribe mechanism (RFC 8058)
Maintaining a low spam reporting rate
For a detailed list of requirements, you can refer to Google's help article . While CM.com will oversee most of the mandatory requirements, we need your help to add DMARC.
What is DMARC?
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, known as email spoofing. DMARC allows a domain owner to publish a policy in their DNS records specifying the mechanisms (e.g., SPF, DKIM) used to authenticate email messages sent from their domain, and also provides a mechanism to receive reports of messages that pass or fail DMARC evaluation.
How to implement DMARC?
Implementing DMARC involves several steps:
Perform an audit of your domain's email infrastructure
Before you can implement DMARC, you need to have a good understanding of how email is sent from your domain. This includes identifying all servers and applications that send email on behalf of your domain, as well as any third-party services used to send email.
Configure SPF and DKIM
DMARC builds on existing email authentication mechanisms such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM). These protocols allow you to specify which servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain, and cryptographically sign email messages to prove that they were sent from your domain.
Publish a DMARC policy
Once you have configured SPF and DKIM, you can create a DMARC policy that s coo email list DMARC evaluation. The policy is published in your domain's DNS records.
Monitor DMARC reports
Once you publish a DMARC policy, email recipients will start sending you reports about how emails from your domain are handled. These reports will provide information about which messages pass or fail DMARC evaluation, as well as other details about the messages.
Acting on DMARC Reports
Analyze DMARC reporting data to identify potential email spoofing issues and take appropriate action.
Monitor and update your DMARC policy
Monitor the effectiveness of your DMARC policy over time and make adjustments as needed.
Sergey Syerkin
Sergey Syerkin
,
Lead Deliverability and Anti-Abuse
SUMMARY
What is DMARC?
How to implement DMARC?
Perform an audit of your domain's email infrastructure
Configure SPF and DKIM
Publish a DMARC policy
Monitor DMARC reports
Acting on DMARC Reports
Monitor and update your DMARC policy
Keep DNS records up to date
How to Create a DMARC Record
What is a DMARC report?
On October 3, 2023, Google and Yahoo announced new email delivery requirements that will be mandatory by February 2024. For senders sending more than 5,000 emails per day to Gmail addresses, Google will require a set of authentication measures to ensure secure delivery of emails to Gmail inboxes. While Yahoo did not specify a minimum sending threshold, it will comply with Google’s criteria.
The prescribed requirements include:
Implementing both SPF and DKIM
Sending emails with a 'From' domain matching SPF or DKIM domains
Sending from a domain with a DMARC policy of at least p=none
Valid and reverse DNS (FCrDNS)
Incorporating a one-click unsubscribe mechanism (RFC 8058)
Maintaining a low spam reporting rate
For a detailed list of requirements, you can refer to Google's help article . While CM.com will oversee most of the mandatory requirements, we need your help to add DMARC.
What is DMARC?
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, known as email spoofing. DMARC allows a domain owner to publish a policy in their DNS records specifying the mechanisms (e.g., SPF, DKIM) used to authenticate email messages sent from their domain, and also provides a mechanism to receive reports of messages that pass or fail DMARC evaluation.
How to implement DMARC?
Implementing DMARC involves several steps:
Perform an audit of your domain's email infrastructure
Before you can implement DMARC, you need to have a good understanding of how email is sent from your domain. This includes identifying all servers and applications that send email on behalf of your domain, as well as any third-party services used to send email.
Configure SPF and DKIM
DMARC builds on existing email authentication mechanisms such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM). These protocols allow you to specify which servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain, and cryptographically sign email messages to prove that they were sent from your domain.
Publish a DMARC policy
Once you have configured SPF and DKIM, you can create a DMARC policy that s coo email list DMARC evaluation. The policy is published in your domain's DNS records.
Monitor DMARC reports
Once you publish a DMARC policy, email recipients will start sending you reports about how emails from your domain are handled. These reports will provide information about which messages pass or fail DMARC evaluation, as well as other details about the messages.
Acting on DMARC Reports
Analyze DMARC reporting data to identify potential email spoofing issues and take appropriate action.
Monitor and update your DMARC policy
Monitor the effectiveness of your DMARC policy over time and make adjustments as needed.