How do you analyze DMARC reports using report-uri.com?

Summary

Analyzing DMARC reports using report-uri.com is a process with mixed reviews. While Report URI aims to aggregate and process DMARC reports for easier identification of authentication issues and spoofing, many users find its UI cumbersome and the raw XML data difficult to interpret, sometimes lacking easy export options or the ability to directly see sending IPs. Some experts suggest exploring alternatives if the UI is not intuitive or if the client isn't already familiar with the tool. The core of DMARC report analysis, regardless of the tool, involves parsing aggregate reports to identify sending sources, evaluate SPF and DKIM alignment, and assess authentication failure rates. Ultimately, the analysis should lead to adjusting email authentication configurations to block unauthorized senders and improve email deliverability.

Key findings

  • UI Challenges: Many users find report-uri.com's UI cumbersome and difficult to navigate, making data interpretation challenging.
  • Data Accessibility: Accessing and exporting raw data, particularly XML reports, can be limited, hindering integration with other reporting tools.
  • Alternative Options: Users suggest exploring alternative DMARC analysis tools if report-uri.com's UI is not intuitive or if specific functionalities are lacking.
  • Core Analysis: Regardless of the tool, effective DMARC report analysis involves identifying sending sources, evaluating SPF/DKIM alignment, and assessing authentication failure rates.
  • Ultimate Goal: The end goal of DMARC report analysis is to improve email deliverability by blocking unauthorized senders and correcting authentication issues.

Key considerations

  • Technical Proficiency: Assess the user's technical proficiency when choosing a DMARC analysis tool, as some tools may require a deeper understanding of XML and email authentication protocols.
  • Client Familiarity: Consider whether the client is already familiar with report-uri.com for other purposes before recommending its use for DMARC analysis.
  • Data Integration: Evaluate the need for data export and integration with other reporting systems when selecting a DMARC analysis tool.
  • Actionable Insights: Ensure that the chosen tool provides actionable insights that facilitate effective adjustments to email authentication configurations.
  • Underlying Principles: Understand the core principles of DMARC analysis – identifying sources, evaluating authentication alignment, and improving deliverability – regardless of the tool being used.

What email marketers say
6Marketer opinions

Analyzing DMARC reports using report-uri.com involves leveraging its interface, or other reporting tools, to identify email authentication issues and potential spoofing attempts by assessing the reports. However, users have noted that the UI can be cumbersome, and the platform may require some technical understanding. Some experts suggest that unless a client is already familiar with the platform, it may not be the best choice for DMARC analysis and there can be challenges exporting XML report from the tool. Despite these issues, report-uri.com aids in identifying sending sources that are not properly authenticated, which helps improve email deliverability by correcting authentication issues.

Key opinions

  • UI and Usability: report-uri.com's user interface can be cumbersome, making it challenging to interpret data, sometimes even more so than reading raw XML.
  • Authentication Issues: DMARC reports in report-uri.com are helpful in pinpointing sending sources that are not properly authenticated.
  • Alternative Tools: If the UI is not intuitive or the raw XML data is hard to interpret, exploring alternative DMARC analysis tools may be beneficial.
  • Benefits: DMARC reporting helps improve email deliverability by helping you correct authentication issues and reduce spoofing.

Key considerations

  • Technical Expertise: Using report-uri.com effectively might require some technical understanding of DMARC and XML data.
  • Client Familiarity: Consider whether the client is already using report-uri.com for other purposes before choosing it for DMARC analysis.
  • Data Export: If exporting XML reports is crucial, investigate whether report-uri.com supports this functionality or consider alternative tools that offer data export options.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions you cannot export the XML report from most platforms, also stating many smaller dashboard vendors see XML reports as something to be simplified, instead of the whole point. They then share they created a simple process for clients where reports are converted to CSV and emailed.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares their experience using report-uri.com, stating the UI was cumbersome and made interpreting the data as hard as reading the raw XML.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Report URI answers that Report URI aggregates and processes DMARC reports, providing a user-friendly interface to identify email authentication issues and potential spoofing attempts. It visualizes data and allows filtering by various criteria to pinpoint the source of failures.

February 2022 - Report URI
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests report-uri.com wouldn't be their first choice for DMARC analysis unless the client was already using it for other things.

February 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow mentions that DMARC reports in report-uri.com allow you to identify sending sources that are not properly authenticated. By analyzing the reports, you can improve email deliverability by correcting authentication issues and reducing spoofing.

December 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user u/DMARC_Analyst responds to a user mentioning difficulties using report-uri.com. They said the platform may require some technical understanding and suggest exploring alternatives if the UI isn't intuitive or the raw XML data is difficult to interpret.

July 2024 - Reddit

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Analyzing DMARC reports using report-uri.com presents mixed experiences. Some users have found that the platform primarily displays raw XML data without easy export options, making it difficult to identify sending IPs and integrate with reporting engines, requiring individual XML file analysis. Conversely, others find DMARC reporting tools like Report URI beneficial for visualizing and understanding DMARC aggregate reports. This eases the identification of authentication issues and sources of unauthenticated email, enabling prompt corrective actions. The utility of report-uri.com, therefore, seems to depend on the user's technical expertise and specific needs.

Key opinions

  • Data Presentation: report-uri.com mainly presents raw XML data, which can be challenging to analyze without additional tools or expertise.
  • Lack of Export: Exporting reports for integration into other reporting engines is not straightforward, requiring manual analysis of individual XML files.
  • Visualization Benefits: DMARC reporting tools like Report URI can aid in visualizing and understanding aggregate reports for easier issue identification.
  • Corrective Actions: Using such tools facilitates the identification of unauthenticated email sources, allowing for prompt corrective actions to improve email authentication.

Key considerations

  • Technical Skill: Assess the level of technical skill required to effectively analyze raw XML data if using report-uri.com without enhanced visualization features.
  • Integration Needs: Evaluate whether the inability to easily export data will hinder integration with other reporting tools or processes.
  • Reporting Requirements: Consider the need for clear visualizations and simplified understanding of DMARC reports when choosing a DMARC analysis tool.
  • Actionable Insights: Ensure that the selected tool provides actionable insights and facilitates effective responses to identified email authentication issues.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC reporting tools like Report URI help in visualizing and understanding DMARC aggregate reports, making it easier to identify potential issues with email authentication. They also state that using a tool helps in identifying sources of unauthenticated email and taking corrective actions.

November 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks describes that report-uri.com just shows the raw XML and there doesn't even seem to be a way to export the reports to drop it into a real reporting engine. Later adding that there's no way to see what IPs mail is coming out of, without reading each XML file individually in a drop down box.

June 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Analyzing DMARC reports involves parsing aggregate reports to identify email sources, assess authentication rates, and detect malicious activity. These reports summarize authentication results (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), with key sections detailing sending IPs and policy evaluations. The analysis process includes identifying sending sources, evaluating SPF and DKIM alignment, and adjusting email configurations to block unauthorized senders and improve deliverability.

Key findings

  • Report Summary: DMARC aggregate reports provide a summary of email authentication results.
  • Key Identifiers: The `<row>` section identifies IPs, and `<policy_evaluated>` provides DMARC results.
  • Authentication Alignment: Analyzing DMARC reports includes evaluating SPF and DKIM alignment.
  • Purpose of Analysis: Analyzing DMARC reports helps to block unauthorized senders and improve email deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Parsing Requirement: DMARC reports need to be parsed to derive insights.
  • IP Identification: Focus on the `<row>` section to identify sending IPs.
  • Policy Evaluation: Assess the `<policy_evaluated>` section to understand DKIM, SPF, and DMARC outcomes.
  • Configuration Adjustment: Be prepared to adjust email authentication configurations based on the analysis.
Technical article

Documentation from AuthSMTP states that analyzing DMARC reports involves identifying sending sources, evaluating SPF and DKIM alignment, and adjusting email authentication configurations. This process helps to block unauthorized senders and improve email deliverability.

March 2022 - AuthSMTP
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC aggregate reports provide a summary of email authentication results, allowing domain owners to identify sources of email claiming to be from their domain, authentication failure rates, and potential malicious activity. These reports need to be parsed to derive insights.

November 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from URIports details how to interpret DMARC aggregate reports, focusing on the `<record>` section. It describes how the `<row>` identifies IPs and the `<policy_evaluated>` provides dmarc results. This allows an understanding of DKIM, SPF and DMARC outcomes.

January 2024 - URIports