DMARC: What it is and how it works to protect your email
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2024 5:45 am
Nowadays, email security is essential to protect against fraud and identity theft. Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to trick users and gain access to confidential information. Hence the importance of implementing robust protection measures such as DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance), which has become essential to guarantee the integrity and authenticity of messages and whose objective is to prevent phishing.
In this article we will learn all about DMARC: what it is , how it works and how to configure it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DMARC What is it and how does it work?
How to configure DMARC
Using DMARC with MDirector
DMARC: What is it and how does it work?
DMARC is an acronym for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance. It is an email authentication protocol. This email authentication protocol has been designed with the aim of protecting domains against phishing and spoofing practices . DMARC works in conjunction with two other authentication protocols: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (domainKeys Identified Mail), both protocols being mandatory to configure.
SPF allows you to define which servers are authorized to marshall islands email list send emails on your behalf. DKIM , on the other hand, is responsible for adding digital signatures to emails to verify that they have not been altered during transit. And finally, DMARC uses the results of these two protocols to determine the validity of an email . It also adds how to handle if authentication fails.
Combining all three protocols significantly reduces the risk of phishing , improving overall email security.
How DMARC works
How DMARC works
How to configure DMARC
Implementing DMARC as a security measure for your emails may seem complicated, but following these steps will make it easier:
1. Set up SPF and DKIM . In order to properly run DMARC, you must have both SPF and DKIM records enabled. For the former, go to your hosting or domain provider's DNS management panel. Add a TXT record in your domain host's DNS that you're going to use as a custom sender for sending your email marketing campaigns.
For the second one, generate a DKIM key using a DKIM key generation tool provided by your email service provider. Now add a TXT record in your DNS for the DKIM public key. Next, add the DKIM record to your DNS, this is done by adding a TXT record in your DNS.
In MDirector, the use of this public key cryptography in DKIM is already configured. Therefore, you only have to insert the TXT with the md2 selector and the public key in the DNS host of the domain to use as your custom sender. For more information on how to configure your custom sender with our platform, access this link .
2. Create a DMARC record. Once you have SPF and DKIM set up, you can proceed to implement DMARC. You will first need to log in to your DNS provider and go to the admin panel. Next, create a new TXT record in your DNS that will specify how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM authentications.
A basic example might be: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]; ruf=mailto:[email protected]; sp=none; adkim=s; aspf=s where “p=none” is used to monitor without affecting email delivery; “rua” and “ruf” would be the email addresses to which the reports will be sent; “sp” is the policy for subdomains (similar to “p”); and “adkim” and “aspf” indicate how DKIM and SPF alignment should be handled (strict or relaxed).
3. Monitor DMARC reports. Once you've set it up, you'll be able to receive reports on the authentication of emails sent from your domain. This will help you identify and fix potential issues before you have to implement stricter policies. Specify an email address where you'll receive DMARC reports on email authentication.
In this article we will learn all about DMARC: what it is , how it works and how to configure it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DMARC What is it and how does it work?
How to configure DMARC
Using DMARC with MDirector
DMARC: What is it and how does it work?
DMARC is an acronym for Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance. It is an email authentication protocol. This email authentication protocol has been designed with the aim of protecting domains against phishing and spoofing practices . DMARC works in conjunction with two other authentication protocols: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (domainKeys Identified Mail), both protocols being mandatory to configure.
SPF allows you to define which servers are authorized to marshall islands email list send emails on your behalf. DKIM , on the other hand, is responsible for adding digital signatures to emails to verify that they have not been altered during transit. And finally, DMARC uses the results of these two protocols to determine the validity of an email . It also adds how to handle if authentication fails.
Combining all three protocols significantly reduces the risk of phishing , improving overall email security.
How DMARC works
How DMARC works
How to configure DMARC
Implementing DMARC as a security measure for your emails may seem complicated, but following these steps will make it easier:
1. Set up SPF and DKIM . In order to properly run DMARC, you must have both SPF and DKIM records enabled. For the former, go to your hosting or domain provider's DNS management panel. Add a TXT record in your domain host's DNS that you're going to use as a custom sender for sending your email marketing campaigns.
For the second one, generate a DKIM key using a DKIM key generation tool provided by your email service provider. Now add a TXT record in your DNS for the DKIM public key. Next, add the DKIM record to your DNS, this is done by adding a TXT record in your DNS.
In MDirector, the use of this public key cryptography in DKIM is already configured. Therefore, you only have to insert the TXT with the md2 selector and the public key in the DNS host of the domain to use as your custom sender. For more information on how to configure your custom sender with our platform, access this link .
2. Create a DMARC record. Once you have SPF and DKIM set up, you can proceed to implement DMARC. You will first need to log in to your DNS provider and go to the admin panel. Next, create a new TXT record in your DNS that will specify how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM authentications.
A basic example might be: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]; ruf=mailto:[email protected]; sp=none; adkim=s; aspf=s where “p=none” is used to monitor without affecting email delivery; “rua” and “ruf” would be the email addresses to which the reports will be sent; “sp” is the policy for subdomains (similar to “p”); and “adkim” and “aspf” indicate how DKIM and SPF alignment should be handled (strict or relaxed).
3. Monitor DMARC reports. Once you've set it up, you'll be able to receive reports on the authentication of emails sent from your domain. This will help you identify and fix potential issues before you have to implement stricter policies. Specify an email address where you'll receive DMARC reports on email authentication.