How do I properly set up DMARC records and reporting for email authentication?

Summary

Proper DMARC setup is a multi-faceted approach to email authentication. It involves creating a DMARC record in your DNS as a TXT entry named `_dmarc.yourdomain.com`, defining your policy (p=none/quarantine/reject), and setting up reporting with 'rua' and 'ruf' tags. It is crucial to have SPF and DKIM configured beforehand. A phased approach, starting with p=none and gradually increasing stringency, is recommended. DMARC applies primarily to the root domain but can extend to subdomains. While a DMARC vendor can aid in report analysis, it isn't essential, but `rua` reporting is required for Yahoo/Google compliance. Use online tools to validate your DMARC record syntax. DMARC helps protect against spoofing and phishing attacks.

Key findings

  • DNS TXT Record: DMARC record is a TXT entry named `_dmarc.yourdomain.com` in DNS.
  • SPF/DKIM Dependency: SPF and DKIM must be configured before implementing DMARC.
  • Policy Levels: DMARC policies (p=none, quarantine, reject) dictate how receivers handle failing emails.
  • Reporting with RUA/RUF: 'rua' and 'ruf' tags enable aggregate and forensic reporting, respectively.
  • Subdomain Applicability: DMARC policies can extend to subdomains.
  • Root Domain Setup: The DMARC record is primarily setup on the root domain.

Key considerations

  • Phased Implementation: Start with 'p=none' and gradually increase stringency to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Vendor Assistance: DMARC vendors can simplify report analysis but aren't required for basic setup.
  • Syntax Validation: Validate the DMARC record syntax using online tools to prevent configuration errors.
  • New Compliance Requirements: Always set up rua= reporting due to new Yahoo/Google requirements.
  • Organizations Risk Tolerance: Organizations should select policy (p=none/quarantine/reject) on their risk tolerance.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Proper DMARC setup involves creating a DMARC record in your DNS settings, specifying your policy for handling emails that fail SPF and DKIM authentication. Key steps include setting up SPF and DKIM first, choosing a DMARC policy (p=none, quarantine, or reject) based on your risk tolerance, and configuring DMARC reporting using 'rua' and 'ruf' tags. Subdomain handling should also be considered. DMARC vendors can help with monitoring and analysis, but aren't always necessary to meet minimum Google and Yahoo requirements.

Key opinions

  • SPF/DKIM First: Implement SPF and DKIM before DMARC for proper email authentication.
  • DMARC Policy Options: DMARC policies (p=none, quarantine, reject) dictate how recipient servers handle failing emails.
  • Subdomain Considerations: DMARC policies can apply to subdomains, either explicitly or through wildcard policies.
  • Reporting Tags: 'rua' and 'ruf' tags enable DMARC reporting for monitoring email traffic.
  • Record Validation: Use online tools to validate DMARC record syntax and configuration.
  • Policy Evolution: Progressively transition from p=none to p=quarantine and p=reject as confidence in setup grows

Key considerations

  • DMARC Vendor: DMARC vendors can simplify report analysis but aren't essential for basic compliance.
  • Risk Tolerance: Choose a DMARC policy based on your organization's risk tolerance and authentication maturity.
  • Reporting Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address authentication issues.
  • Minimum compliance: At minimum Google and Yahoo now require p=none to be compliant.
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user shared that a common DMARC setup is v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com. This record tells recipient servers to send DMARC reports to the specified email address, without rejecting or quarantining any email.

July 2021 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeeks forum user responds that a DMARC vendor will allow you to aggregate, sort and analyse DMARC reports on your domains making changes easy to perform.

January 2023 - EmailGeeks Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares it is important to use a DMARC vendor. Otherwise, all the dmarc reports will go to your personal email or someone on your team, they won't be sent in a nice format and a DMARC Vendor will make it 1000X easier to understand and make decisions.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from MXToolbox explains the basics of setting up DMARC records, including the required fields and the importance of monitoring the reports generated by the DMARC policy. They also offer tools for checking the DMARC records and diagnosing issues.

November 2023 - mxtoolbox.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user explains to use online tools like DMARC record checkers to validate your DMARC record syntax and ensure it is correctly configured. Common mistakes include typos, incorrect tag values, and invalid email addresses for reporting.

July 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that the decision to have separate records for each subdomain is best decided by your own organization. By default, the DMARC record would inherit down onto subdomains from the root domain. He also recommends adding a rua tag for DMARC reporting and provides a link to dmarc.org.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Valimail explains that setting up DMARC reporting involves specifying the 'rua' and 'ruf' tags in your DMARC record. 'rua' defines where aggregate reports (daily summaries of authentication results) should be sent, while 'ruf' defines where forensic reports (detailed information about individual failed messages) should be sent. These reports help you monitor your email authentication performance and identify any potential issues.

October 2022 - Valimail.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora user responds that a common DMARC policy starts with 'p=none' to observe traffic, then moves to 'p=quarantine' to send failing emails to spam, and finally to 'p=reject' to block them altogether. This phased approach minimizes disruptions.

March 2024 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares if planning to meet Google and Yahoo's requirements of minimum p=none, then you should be fine without a DMARC vendor. However, if you are looking to enhance your security, you may wish to look into DMARC specialised partners.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailhardener shares to start with SPF and DKIM before implementing DMARC. After setting up SPF and DKIM, use a DMARC monitoring tool or service to analyze the reports and adjust your DMARC policy gradually.

August 2021 - Mailhardener
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC responds that choosing the right DMARC policy (p=none, p=quarantine, or p=reject) depends on your organization's risk tolerance and email authentication maturity. Starting with 'p=none' allows you to monitor your email traffic without affecting deliverability. Gradually move to 'p=quarantine' and then 'p=reject' as you gain confidence in your authentication setup.

July 2022 - easydmarc.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn user recommends applying DMARC policies to subdomains, either explicitly or through wildcard policies, to protect them from spoofing attacks. This is especially important for subdomains that are not actively used for sending email.

August 2024 - LinkedIn

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Properly setting up DMARC involves creating TXT records in your DNS zone, specifically under `_dmarc.yourdomain.com`. This record defines your DMARC policy (using tags like `p`), sets up reporting (`rua` for aggregate reports), and leverages SPF and DKIM for authentication. Records should be set up for the root domain. Including an `rua` value is necessary to comply with Yahoo and Google requirements. While a DMARC vendor is advisable, setting up the core DNS records is fundamental.

Key opinions

  • Root Domain: DMARC records should be set up for the root domain.
  • TXT Record: Create DMARC records as TXT entries in your DNS zone under `_dmarc.yourdomain.com`.
  • RUA Tag Required: Including an `rua` value (reporting URI) is necessary to comply with Yahoo and Google requirements.
  • SPF/DKIM: DMARC policies manage messages that fail SPF and DKIM checks, so ensure you have these set up beforehand.

Key considerations

  • DMARC Vendor: Using a DMARC vendor can simplify management and analysis, but is not strictly required.
  • DMARC Tags: Understand and configure the different DMARC tags (`v`, `p`, `rua`, `ruf`) to define your policy and reporting preferences.
  • Compliance: Be aware of the changing compliance requirements from email providers like Yahoo and Google. Always set rua= reporting.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks answers that the DMARC record should be setup for the root domain only.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC setup involves creating a TXT record in DNS with the name `_dmarc.yourdomain.com`. The content of the record defines your DMARC policy and reporting preferences. Key tags include `v` (DMARC version), `p` (policy), `rua` (aggregate report URI), and `ruf` (forensic report URI).

November 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks responds that using a DMARC vendor is advisable.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that to set up SPF and DMARC records properly, you should create the records as TXT entries in your DNS zone. SPF records specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain, and DMARC policies dictate how recipient mail servers should handle messages that fail SPF and DKIM checks.

August 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that you are required to have rua= reporting in place to comply with Yahoo and Google requirements.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that you should also add an rua:mailto:<mailto:email@domain.com|email@domain.com> value to your DMARC record.

July 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

DMARC is an email authentication protocol designed to protect domains from spoofing and phishing. Setting up DMARC involves publishing a DMARC record (a TXT record) in your DNS settings with the name '_dmarc'. This record specifies your policy for handling emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks and defines where to send reports. Important tags include 'v' (DMARC version), 'p' (policy), 'rua' (aggregate report URI), and 'ruf' (forensic report URI). DMARC works in conjunction with SPF and DKIM to provide comprehensive email authentication.

Key findings

  • DMARC Protocol: DMARC is an email authentication protocol protecting against spoofing.
  • DNS Record: A DMARC record is published as a TXT record in DNS under '_dmarc'.
  • Policy Specification: The DMARC record specifies how to handle emails failing SPF and DKIM.
  • SPF & DKIM: DMARC works with SPF and DKIM for comprehensive authentication.

Key considerations

  • Record Propagation: Allow up to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate after creating/modifying the DMARC record.
  • Tag Configuration: Carefully configure DMARC tags to define the appropriate policy and reporting.
  • Spoofing Prevention: DMARC helps to prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that for Microsoft 365, DMARC helps prevent spoofing and phishing attacks. It explains the importance of also setting up SPF and DKIM alongside DMARC for comprehensive email authentication.

May 2023 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from RFC7489 describes the technical specification for DMARC, outlining the protocol's mechanisms, record syntax, and reporting procedures in detail. It serves as the authoritative reference for understanding the DMARC standard.

February 2024 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help shares the steps to create a DMARC record. This includes generating the DMARC TXT record with the appropriate tags (v=DMARC1, p=none/quarantine/reject, rua, ruf, etc.), logging into your domain's DNS management console, adding a new TXT record with '_dmarc' as the hostname, and pasting the DMARC record value. After saving the record, allow up to 48 hours for the changes to propagate.

July 2023 - support.google.com
Technical article

Documentation from AuthSMTP explains that the DMARC DNS record tells receiving email systems what to do with messages claiming to be from your domain that fail authentication checks. The record contains various tags, each with a specific function. These are set by your organizations security parameters.

September 2021 - AuthSMTP
Technical article

Documentation from dmarc.org explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol. It allows domain owners to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing. To properly set up DMARC, you need to publish a DMARC record in your DNS settings, specifying your policy for handling emails that fail authentication checks (SPF and DKIM) and where to send reports.

June 2022 - dmarc.org