What is DMARC?
DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance. It is an email authentication protocol designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as
email spoofing. DMARC builds on the widely used SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) protocols, adding a layer of policy enforcement and reporting.
Improved Deliverability: By implementing DMARC, you can improve your email deliverability rates as ISPs (Internet Service Providers) are more likely to trust your emails.
Brand Protection: DMARC helps protect your brand from being used in phishing and spam attacks.
Visibility: DMARC provides visibility into who is sending email on behalf of your domain, allowing you to identify and block malicious actors.
How Does DMARC Work?
DMARC works by aligning two existing email authentication mechanisms,
SPF and
DKIM, and adding a reporting function that allows domain owners to receive feedback about email that fails authentication. Here’s a simplified workflow:
The sender publishes a DMARC policy in their DNS records.
When an email is sent from the domain, the receiving mail server checks the email against the sender's SPF and DKIM records.
If the email fails these checks, the receiving server refers to the sender's DMARC policy to decide what to do with the email (e.g., reject, quarantine, or accept).
The receiving server sends a report back to the sender with details of any failures.
Types of DMARC Policies
There are three main types of DMARC policies that a domain owner can specify: None: This policy means that no specific action is taken, but reports are still sent to the domain owner. It is often used during the initial setup phase.
Quarantine: Emails that fail DMARC checks are sent to the recipient's spam or junk folder.
Reject: Emails that fail DMARC checks are outright rejected and not delivered to the recipient.
Set Up SPF and DKIM: Make sure your domain has SPF and DKIM set up correctly. These are prerequisites for DMARC.
Create a DMARC Record: Publish a DMARC record in your DNS. This record will define your policy and where to send reports.
Monitor and Adjust: Start with a 'none' policy to gather data and analyze reports. Once you are confident, you can switch to a more stringent policy like 'quarantine' or 'reject'.
Common Challenges and Solutions
There are several challenges that marketers might face when implementing DMARC: Complex Setup: Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can be complex. Using tools and services that specialize in email authentication can simplify this process.
Monitoring Reports: The reports generated by DMARC can be overwhelming. Consider using a
DMARC reporting service to analyze and interpret these reports.
Third-Party Senders: If you use third-party email services, make sure they are also DMARC compliant. This may involve updating SPF records to include those services.
Conclusion
DMARC is a powerful tool for enhancing email security and deliverability in email marketing. While its setup can be complex, the benefits of improved deliverability, brand protection, and visibility make it a worthwhile investment. By understanding and implementing DMARC, marketers can significantly reduce the risk of their emails being marked as spam or being used in phishing attacks.