In February 2024, Gmail and Yahoo are changing their email rules, making DKIM and DMARC authentication mandatory. Digital Marketing Hub (DMH) strongly advises all senders to establish DKIM and DMARC authentication for enhanced security and compliance.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) serves as a critical layer in email security. It builds upon existing protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to fortify the authentication process for your emails.
How does DMARC work
A DMARC policy allows email senders to confirm that their emails are protected by security measures like SPF and/or DKIM. It guides the email receiver on what to do if these protection methods fail, such as marking the email as spam or rejecting it. In simpler terms, DMARC helps reduce the chances of receiving unsafe or misleading emails. Additionally, it provides a way for the receiver to give feedback to the sender about the emails that either meet or don't meet the security standards.
DMARC supports three main policy levels:
"None": This setting allows emails to be processed normally even if they fail DMARC checks. It facilitates monitoring without immediate impact on email delivery.
"Quarantine": When set to quarantine, emails that fail DMARC checks are diverted to the recipient's spam or junk folder. This level provides a middle ground between leniency and strict rejection.
"Reject": The most stringent setting, "Reject" instructs email providers to outright block emails (bounced) that do not pass DMARC authentication. This ensures that only authenticated emails reach recipients.
To use a "Quarantine" or "Reject" DMARC policy, you must set up a proper DKIM record for your sending domain. Without this, all emails from your DMH will fail the DMARC test, ending up in the spam folder ("Quarantine") or getting blocked entirely ("Reject"). Make sure to set up DKIM for all your sending domains before applying a strict DMARC policy.
Some of the many benefits of setting up DMARC include:
DMARC records prevent someone from spoofing your domain, safeguarding against phishing and other forms of email fraud.
DMARC is necessary for setting up BIMI. Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) allows domain owners who implemented DMARC in Enforcement mode to purchase a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) to display a BIMI logo for their brand in email messages.
DMARC is a requirement for basic delivery to many email providers like Gmail and Yahoo.
Getting started with DMARC
Follow these steps to implement DMARC and enhance your email protection:
1. Set up your DKIM/SPF: Lay a solid foundation by incorporating DKIM and SPF for email security. Think of them as the initial guards ensuring your emails are safe.
2. Create a DMARC record
Initially set your DMARC record with a "None" policy. This allows you to activate DMARC without immediately impacting your email delivery.
Creating a DMARC Policy
Setting up DMARC involves creating a TXT record in your DNS (Domain Name System). The TXT record contains specific directives for DMARC behaviour.
The provided code illustrates a basic DMARC record:
v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:[email protected]
v=DMARC1: Indicates the DMARC version.
p=none: Specifies the "None" policy.
pct=100: Instructs email receivers to apply DMARC to 100% of emails.
rua=mailto:[email protected]: Specifies the email address to which DMARC reports should be sent. Replace "[email protected]" with your designated email address.
3. Review your data
Regularly monitor DMARC reports to understand the authentication status of your emails and identify any issues that may arise.
4. Step up Security Gradually
Transitioning to stricter DMARC policies, particularly "Quarantine" or "Reject," demands a strategic and patient approach. Adequate time should be allocated for investigation, adjustment, and testing to ensure a seamless transition without compromising email delivery.
For enhanced security, consider "Quarantine" or "Reject" policies. Visit dmarc.org for recommendations on properly configuring strict DMARC records.