If you don’t feel like reading the 70+ pages of RFC 7489, but still you want to know more about DMARC, you came to the right place! I will simplify it for you and explain to you DMARC and the DMARC record in less than a few minutes!
What is DMARC?
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is a mechanism that an organization can use to define domain-level policies and preferences regarding email handling. For example, message validation, disposition, receiving, and reporting.
The companies require a method of authentication of the domain names of the messages (emails) that they are receiving. They need to have rules and procedures based on the values that the emails and domain names can provide. Thanks to that, the receivers can check the messages and provide valuable feedback to the domain’s owner about the way its domain is used. The owner can see if there was any abuse of its domain.
DMARC uses two factors to set policies:
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record. It is another email validation mechanism that offers to report. Using it, you can define who can send emails on the domain name’s behalf.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) record. DKIM is a method of email encryption and authentication of the sender of the email, using the domain name. The receiver could use it and validate that an email comes from the right domain name.
The purpose of DMARC is to reduce phishing attacks, reduce spoofing attacks, and provide better security for email communication. In general, having DMARC will ensure the delivery of your emails and stop other people from abusively use your domain name for attacks.
What is the DMARC record?
The DMARC record is a DNS TXT record that sets the policies about the domain name based on the SPF record, DKIM record, and other parameters. It sets behaviors that the receivers of the emails, sent by a particular domain, should have.
The purpose of the DMARC record is to allow you, as the domain administrator, to set up the policies regarding the handling of the emails coming from your domain name.
The tags that the DMARC record uses are:
Adkim – behavior based on the DKIM record.
Aspf – behavior based on the DKIM record.
Fo – Fail option. Defines what a server should do in case of failure.
P – Policy. Indicates the policies that the receiver should apply.
Pct – Percentage. To what amount of emails should the policy be applied.
Rf – Report format. Defines the type.
Ri – Report interval. Demands reports after the specified time.
Rua – Return feedback (aggregate). Indicates where the report should be sent.
Ruf – Return feedback (mail specific). Indicates where the report should be sent.
Sp – Subdomain policies. If you want to indicate different policies for the subdomains than those for the domain name, you need to use this one.
V – just a simple version indicator. Currently, it should be DMARC1 because there is still no DMARC2 or more.
Conclusion.
So, knowing what DMARC record is, it is now time to implement it. Each additional layer of security keeps you safer—fewer problems and easier to manage. Ensure a secure exchange of emails, outgoing and incoming, with the power of DMARC!