DMARC is a security implementation for your email domain that helps ensure only legitimate emails are delivered and provides valuable insights into your email traffic; enhancing trust, security, and deliverability.
DMARC stands for: Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance.
For a more technical overview, visit dmarc.org/overview
The gist of DMARC
Think of DMARC as a system that verifies the identity of the mailman (email sender) before delivering the mail (email) to your mailbox (inbox). It’s like having a security guard at your mailbox who checks the ID of every mailman to ensure they are who they claim to be.
DMARC builds on two existing email verification technologies:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework), and
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
SPF verifies that the email comes from an authorized server, while DKIM ensures that the content of the email hasn’t been tampered with during transit.
As a domain owner, you can set DMARC policies. These policies tell email providers (like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc.) how to handle emails that don’t pass the SPF and DKIM checks. You can choose to do nothing (monitor), quarantine the email (put it in spam), or reject it completely.
As an example, here is the DMARC policy for my company Code Syncro:
https://www.uriports.com/tools?method=dmarc&domain=codesyncro.com
If you click the link above, try changing the `domain` value to your business’ domain to view the DMARC policy.
If your domain doesn’t have a DMARC policy at all yet, consider getting this configured by your IT support team as soon as possible. Or reach out to Code Syncro.
DMARC also provides a feedback mechanism. It sends reports back to the domain owner, giving insights into who is sending emails on behalf of the domain and whether those emails are passing or failing DMARC checks.
The main benefits
Helps prevent email spoofing. DMARC helps prevent bad actors from spoofing your email domain. This means they can’t send emails pretending to be you, which protects your brand’s reputation and your recipients’ security.
Increases email deliverability. Emails that pass DMARC checks are more likely to be delivered to the recipient’s inbox instead of the spam folder. This is because DMARC adds a layer of trustworthiness to your emails.
Visibility and control. DMARC gives you insights into your email ecosystem. You can see who is sending emails on behalf of your domain and if those emails are authentic. This control helps in managing your email communication more effectively.
For your recipients, knowing that you use DMARC will increase their trust in your emails. They’ll be more confident that the emails they receive from you are legitimate and not phishing attempts.
In some industries, using DMARC can help meet certain regulatory requirements related to email security and privacy.