DMARC: Everything you need to know

In today’s digital landscape, email scams, including phishing and ransomware attacks, have seen a significant surge, making robust email security a critical concern. While email authentication technologies like DKIM and SPF have been effective in combating such threats, cyber attackers continuously evolve their tactics to bypass these defenses. This is where DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) comes into play as a powerful tool to fortify email communication.

DMARC provides a more robust layer of security, ensuring enhanced email deliverability and safety. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about DMARC, from understanding the differences between DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to its benefits and implementation considerations.

DMARC, SPF, and DKIM: What’s the Difference?

DMARC, SPF, and DKIM are all email authentication protocols used to improve email deliverability and, ultimately, email security.

● SPF (Sender Policy Framework—not sunscreen) is an email authentication protocol that prevents email spoofing by checking the sender’s IP address against a list of authorized IP addresses.

● DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) verifies the authenticity of the emails’ content by adding a digital signature to the message header.

● DMARC uses both SPF and DKIM to authenticate emails.

What is DMARC?

DMARC is designed to give email users the ability to protect their Domain Name System (DNS) from unauthorized use or cyberattacks.

DMARC uses a simple DNS entry to allow a domain owner to publish a policy on their domain—re: emails that fail authentication checks using SPF and DKIM.

How does DMARC work?

When an email is sent from one domain and arrives at the recipient domain, the SPF and DKIM authenticators check the email. If the email passes both authentications, then the recipient deems the email safe to open and interact with.

If it fails any authentication checks, DMARC comes into play with your preset reporting settings. DMARC allows the domain owner to specify a policy for handling emails that fail authentication checks. You can set the policy to take no action, send it to quarantine, or reject the email altogether.

Benefits of DMARC

Implementing DMARC could bring several benefits to a business, including:

• Enhanced Email Deliverability: DMARC policies can help authenticate the emails you send. It could prevent email hijacking and ensure your emails reach the intended inbox reliably.
• Reduce Email Fraud and Phishing: DMARC checks the authenticity of email senders so you can be confident that the emails you receive are genuine.
• Detailed Visibility: DMARC also provides detailed reporting so you can gain insights into email delivery and authentication.
• Improved Customer Experience: By protecting your customers’ inboxes, you also improve their experience by filtering out malicious or fraudulent emails.

Bottom Line: DMARC Offers Enhanced Email Security

DMARC is a precious tool for protecting your business’s emails from fraud. Not only can it protect information and property, but it also increases the trust between you and your customers or contacts.

There are a few considerations to make before implementing DMARC, such as ensuring you have valid SPF and DKIM records in place. These small steps may guarantee that you’re preventing potential misuse of your business’s emails.

If you’ve been considering additional security, opting for DMARC is a great idea—just be sure to double-check all other aspects of your email protection first to reap the benefits of solid email authentication!