DMARC record setup guide

Have you ever received a suspicious email that looks like it came from your bank or favorite online store? If that’s so, you're not alone. The ease of email comes with risks.

Email spoofing and phishing attacks have become rampant and they target individuals and businesses. Email authentication protocols such as DMARC, SPF, and DKIM are important to cope with this. 

What is DMARC?

DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance. It's a security pistol that helps you prevent email-based attacks, such as email spoofing and phishing.

DMARC puts an end to verification as it verifies the alignment of SPF and DKIM. It also provides you with a reporting mechanism that gives you track of your email performance.

It helps domain owners and businesses and defines how email providers should handle messages.

How DMARC Works? How DMARC Protects Your Domain from Spoofing and Phishing

DMARC looks at two other security protocols that are SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). These protocols are also made to prevent email faking.

• SPF checks if the server sending the email is authorized to do so.

• DKIM ensures that the email is genuine and hasn't been altered by adding a digital signature.

SPF and DKIM Authentication

The receiving email server checks the SPF record to see if the email comes from a legitimate IP address. Then, it checks the DKIM signature to ensure the email isn’t altered in transit.

DMARC Verification

After  SPF and DKIM, DMARC steps in. It checks whether your email aligns with both SPF and DKIM rules. This is called "alignment." DMARC ensures that the "From" address in the email header matches the domain in the SPF and DKIM checks. If everything lines up, this means your email is authentic.

DMARC Policy

If the email passes, it's then delivered to the recipient. But what if something doesn't match up? This is where your DMARC policy comes into play. You, as the domain owner, can tell DMARC what to do when an email fails these checks:

• None: Takes no action but reports the failure.

• Quarantine: Sends the email to the recipient's spam or junk folder.

• Reject: Blocks the email altogether so it never reaches the inbox.

Report

One of DMARC's finest features is its reporting system. DMARC sends a report to the domain owner which shows all the attempts to send emails from your domain. This step helps to ensure that the email is legitimate. 

Why does DMARC matter?

Without DMARC, suspicious emails might reach your customers' inboxes. This results in confusion or potential data breaches.

DMARC works as the final piece of a puzzle that includes SPF and DKIM. It analyzes the results of SPF and DKIM and depends on your policy. It either lets the email through or stops it in its tracks.

How to Generate and Lookup DMARC record?

If you want to generate or check your existing DMARC policy, DmarcDkim.com is an excellent tool. You enter your domain name and the tool gives you a detailed report of your DMARC setup.

How to Locate DMARC Records in DNS Lookups?

DMARC records are stored in your domain's DNS settings. DNS works like the phonebook of the internet. It tells other servers where to find different things that include your DMARC settings. Here's how you can find them:

1. Access Your DNS Records Start by logging in to your DNS management platform. You can do this through your domain registrar or a hosting provider.

2. Look for TXT Records DMARC records are stored as TXT (text) records in your DNS settings. Search for any TXT records starting with "_dmarc." The format looks like this:

3. Go for the Correct Setup Once you've located the DMARC record, it’s time to check if it's configured correctly. You can look for important tags like v=DMARC1 (version), p= (policy), and rua=. If you don't see these it means DMARC isn't set up yet.

Basic DMARC Syntax

A DMARC record starts with a version tag and is followed by different tags. The tags define the policy for your domain. Here’s a basic example of a DMARC record:

v=DMARC1: This specifies the version of DMARC that’s used. Presently, the only version is DMARC1, so you’ll always see this at the beginning of the record.

p=reject: This is the policy tag. It tells receiving email servers what to do with emails that fail the DMARC check. In this case, it’s set to reject emails that don’t pass.

• rua=mailto @yourdomain.com: This tag specifies the email address where you want to receive aggregate reports about your DMARC performance.

• ruf=mailto @yourdomain.com: This is for forensic reports that provide more detailed information about failed messages.

What Are DMARC Policy Tags?

Tag	Description	Column
v	Version of DMARC protocol. This will always be DMARC1.	v=DMARC1
p	Policy for messages that fail DMARC checks: none, quarantine, or reject.	p=reject
sp	Subdomain policy. This defines a separate policy for subdomains if needed.	sp=quarantine
rua	Aggregate reports URI. Where to send daily aggregate reports.	rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@domain.com
ruf	Forensic reports URI. Where to send detailed forensic failure reports.	ruf=mailto:forensics@domain.com
pct	Percentage of emails to apply the DMARC policy to (0-100%).	pct=100
adkim	Alignment mode for DKIM (r for relaxed, s for strict).	adkim=s
aspf	Alignment mode for SPF (r for relaxed, s for strict).	aspf=r

Conclusion

If you receive malicious emails there’s a high chance of personal data theft, financial fraud, or even identity theft. The solution is that you implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM. It helps you create a safer digital environment for your business and customers.  

FAQs

Who Requires DMARC? DMARC is essential for any organization that sends emails from its domain. If you want to protect your brand, customers, and reputation from email spoofing or phishing attacks, DMARC is a must. 

Is DMARC Better Than SPF? DMARC, SPF, and DKIM work together for complete email security. SPF alone only checks if an email comes from an authorized server but it doesn't stop all forms of spoofing. 

Does Gmail Use DMARC? Yes, Gmail supports and uses DMARC for sending and receiving emails. Gmail also encourages domain owners to implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to prevent email spoofing.

Is DMARC Free? Yes, DMARC is free to implement!  Most domain check tools allow you to set up DMARC records at no extra cost, like Dmarcdkim.com. It also provides you with futuristic reporting and analysis. If you want a personalized consultation, contact DmarcDkim.com to get a quote today.