DMARC2 vs DMARC1 setup guide

Email fraud, phishing attacks, and spoofing incidents have spiked. They threaten both companies and their customers. One of the most effective methods you can use to overcome these issues is by implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance).

DMARC helps you as a domain owner to protect email senders and recipients, verify email authenticity, and provides a reporting mechanism to track email security. 

Over time, DMARC has changed; it has introduced DMARC1 and DMARC2. DMARC1 remains the standard, and DMARC2 gives futuristic features for better protection. 

But how do these two versions compare, and which one should you choose for your business?

What is DMARC1?

DMARC1, the first iteration of the DMARC protocol, was developed to overcome email spoofing, phishing, and impersonation. It helps you to validate email messages against two primary authentication protocols:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Helps you ensure that the email's sender IP address is authorized to send messages on behalf of the domain.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Helps you verify that the email content has not been altered in transit.

Important DMARC1 Features

Policy: DMARC1 helps domain owners to set policies (none, quarantine, or reject) for how email recipients should handle unauthenticated emails.

Reporting: DMARC1 provides aggregate reports that help domain owners to monitor email traffic and identify potential spoofing attempts.

DMARC Syntax:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

It is a basic setup that’s used to start monitoring email activity for a domain. The v=DMARC1 part specifies that the domain is using version 1 of the DMARC protocol. The p=none policy means that no action will be taken if an email fails DMARC checks; instead, it simply observes and logs those failures without rejecting or quarantining the messages.

What is DMARC2?

DMARC2 is a version of DMARC. It’s designed to address some of the limitations of DMARC1 and introduces features that help you improve email authentication and reporting. With DMARC2, you have:

• Advanced Policy Options: DMARC2 offers you more granular policy options.  Enables domain owners to implement customized solutions for specific email traffic types.

• Improved Reporting: Unlike DMARC1’s basic reporting, DMARC2 helps with detailed and actionable reports. It provides deeper insights into email authentication results.

• Support for Additional Authentication Protocols: DMARC2 introduces better support for emerging authentication methods. It expands protection against email fraud.

• Enhanced Analytics: With DMARC2, organizations gain access to improved analytics that help track the effectiveness of their email security measures.

• Better Alignment with Industry Standards: DMARC2 is designed to align with evolving email authentication standards, ensuring that it remains effective against modern phishing and spoofing techniques.

Feature	DMARC1	DMARC2
Policy flexibility	Basic policies (none, quarantine)	More Granular policy options for specific case uses
Reporting	Aggregate reports with basic insights	Detailed and actionable reports with enhanced insights
Authentication Methods	Supports SPF and DKIM	Supports SPF and DKIM with newer authentication methods
Analytics	Basic email authentication analytics	Advanced analytics for better tracking and reporting
Support for New Standards	Limited support for emerging standards	Stronger alignment with modern email security standards
Adoption	Widely used, well-established	Emerging standards, gradually adopted by industry

IS DMARC2 Better?

DMARC1 is effective as it removes many email security threats. DMARC2 provides several enhancements that can improve your organization’s protection:

• Better Reporting: DMARC2’s more detailed reporting provides clearer analysis of your email traffic. You will be more informed when making decisions about how to handle unauthenticated emails.

• Granular Policy Control: If your organization deals with a variety of email senders, DMARC2 allows you to set more specific policies, reducing the risk of legitimate emails being falsely flagged or rejected.

• Support for Evolving Standards: DMARC2 is built to accommodate new authentication protocols and modern phishing tactics, making it a future-proof choice for organizations looking to stay ahead of emerging threats.

• Increased Analytics: With enhanced analytics, DMARC2 enables organizations to fine-tune their email security strategy and ensure better alignment with email authentication protocols.

When Should You Transition from DMARC1 to DMARC2?

The transition to DMARC2 depends on your organization’s specific needs and goals:

1. Need for Detailed Reporting: If you require more granular data on email authentication and potential spoofing attempts, DMARC2 is the better option.

2. Increased Complexity: If your email system involves complex policies or multiple senders (e.g., different departments or third-party services), DMARC2 offers better control over email handling.

3. Staying Ahead of Emerging Threats: If your organization is focused on staying ahead of evolving phishing and spoofing techniques, DMARC2’s support for newer protocols is an important consideration.

4. Industry Adoption: While DMARC2 is still emerging, its adoption is expected to increase. If you’re looking to stay ahead of industry standards, transitioning to DMARC2 sooner rather than later could be beneficial.

How to Implement DMARC2?

1. Evaluate Current Infrastructure: Review your existing DMARC1 records and identify areas for improvement.

2. Update DNS Records: Modify your DNS settings to include the new DMARC2 policy, adjusting the level of reporting and analytics as needed.

3. Monitor Reports: Use the enhanced reporting capabilities of DMARC2 to continuously monitor and optimize your email security setup.

4. Gradual Transition: If you’re transitioning from DMARC1, consider a phased approach to ensure that the new setup works smoothly without disrupting email deliverability.

Conclusion

Both DMARC1 and DMARC2 offer essential protection against email fraud, phishing, and spoofing. While DMARC1 remains the widely adopted standard, DMARC2 provides enhanced features that can improve email security and provide deeper insights into your email traffic.

If your organization needs more detailed reporting, granular policy control, or support for emerging email authentication methods, DMARC2 is the better choice. For organizations that are still new to DMARC or have simpler email security needs, DMARC1 can be an effective starting point.

In the evolving landscape of email security, adopting DMARC2 ensures that your organization stays ahead of threats and maintains strong protection against the ever-growing risk of email-based attacks.

FAQs

Can I switch from DMARC1 to DMARC2? Yes, you can switch from DMARC1 to DMARC2 by updating your DNS records to include the enhanced features of DMARC2. Make sure to monitor the results and ensure compatibility with your email infrastructure.

Is DMARC2 more secure than DMARC1? DMARC2 offers enhanced reporting, better policy control, and stronger support for emerging security standards, making it more effective in protecting against modern email threats.

Do I need to transition to DMARC2 right away? If your email security needs are basic, DMARC1 may still suffice. However, if you require more advanced reporting, analytics, and protection, transitioning to DMARC2 is recommended.

Will DMARC2 improve email deliverability? While DMARC2 improves email security, its reporting and analytics features can help optimize email deliverability by reducing false positives and ensuring that legitimate emails pass authentication checks.

How can I implement DMARC2? To implement DMARC2, update your DNS records with the new DMARC2 policy and enable enhanced reporting and analytics features. Monitor your email traffic to ensure the new configuration is effective.