DMARC Analyzer 2.0 - Improving Reputation Using DMARC

This article contains information on how DMARC enhances email security by leveraging SPF and DKIM, providing reporting functions, and improving email deliverability and domain reputation through policy enforcement.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance) is an email validation system designed to protect domains from being used for email spoofing, phishing scams, and other cybercrime. 

The benefits of using DMARC include the following:

• Leveraging existing email authentication techniques: SPF and DKIM.
• Adding a vital reporting function. For example, if a domain owner publishes a DMARC record into their DNS record, they gain an insight into who is sending messages on behalf of their domain. This exposes detailed information about the email channel, and a domain owner gains control over the messages sent on their behalf.
• Protecting domains against phishing or spoofing attacks. 

As a domain owner, it is vital to ensure that customers and suppliers only receive emails from trusted sources permitted to send emails. Enabling DMARC reassures email receivers that an email is legitimate and originating from your domain. 

How DMARC Influences Email Delivery and Domain Reputation 

Publishing a DMARC record

• To enable DMARC, you must publish a record in the DNS record of the domain for which DMARC will be deployed. By placing a DMARC record, the domain owner requests ISPs (who support DMARC) to send feedback on the messages they receive for that domain. This alerts receivers that an organization wants to improve its email authentication.

Using the DMARC results to improve the authentication results

• When a DMARC record is published, valued DMARC reports that give insight into the email channel are received. The DMARC reports show which sources and IPs send out messages on behalf of a domain. It also provides additional results of the SPF and DKIM verification. Once these results have been reviewed, the domain owner can improve the SPF and DKIM verification messages. These steps increase the trustworthiness of a domain and can lead to ISPs being more willing to place messages in the primary inbox of the receiver. This has the effect of improving email deliverability. 

Enforcing the DMARC policy

• When SPF and DKIM are set up correctly, a domain owner can start by enforcing a DMARC policy. Enforcing the DMARC policy mitigates the impact of malicious messages that are sent on behalf of the domain, thereby preventing spoofing. This shows ISPs that a domain owner guarantees the security of the email channel and receivers can trust the messages originating from the domain. These steps increase the trustworthiness of a domain and can lead to ISPs being more willing to place messages in the primary inbox of the receiver. This has the effect of improving email deliverability.