What are the new DMARC RUA requirements for 2024?

Summary

The consensus regarding the new DMARC RUA requirements for 2024, largely influenced by Google and Yahoo's policies, is that while not always strictly mandatory, implementing a DMARC policy with a RUA tag is highly advisable for enhanced email authentication and security. RUA enables senders to receive aggregate reports, offering insights into email authentication, potential spoofing, and unauthorized domain usage. This proactive monitoring facilitates timely responses to delivery issues and domain abuse. While some suggest RUA isn't needed if already using `p=reject`, the majority emphasize its importance for visibility and control. ESPs are expected to simplify DMARC management, potentially offering unique subdomains. Setting up RUA involves creating a DNS TXT record pointing to a designated email address. Concerns include the complexity of interpreting XML reports and choosing appropriate tools or providers.

Key findings

  • Google & Yahoo's Influence: New requirements are driven by Google and Yahoo's stricter authentication policies.
  • RUA for Monitoring: RUA is crucial for monitoring email authentication, identifying issues, and preventing spoofing.
  • Visibility & Control: RUA provides essential visibility into how emails are being handled and allows for proactive control.
  • ESP's Role: ESPs are expected to simplify DMARC management for domain owners.
  • Not Always Mandatory: While highly recommended, RUA might not be strictly mandatory in all cases, particularly with a p=reject policy, but best practice would still be to use it.

Key considerations

  • Implementation Complexity: Implementing DMARC and RUA can be technically challenging, involving DNS record configuration.
  • Report Analysis: Analyzing XML-based DMARC reports can be complex, often requiring specialized tools or services.
  • Actionable Insights: The value of RUA hinges on the ability to understand and act upon the information provided in the aggregate reports.
  • Balance of Enforcement: Even with an enforcement policy, monitoring provides insight into any DKIM or SPF failures.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

The new DMARC RUA requirements for 2024, primarily driven by Yahoo and Gmail, emphasize the importance of email authentication and monitoring. While not always a strict requirement, having a DMARC policy with a RUA (reporting URI for aggregate reports) tag is highly recommended. It allows senders to receive aggregate reports about their email authentication status, helping them identify potential issues, spoofing attempts, and unauthorized use of their domain. ESPs are also encouraged to step up their game and provide easier ways for domain owners to manage DMARC, possibly through unique subdomains managed by the ESP. Setting up a RUA tag involves creating a TXT record in the domain's DNS settings, specifying the email address for receiving the reports. Without RUA, senders are essentially flying blind, unable to see how their email is being handled by receivers and react to any potential delivery issues.

Key opinions

  • Authentication: Yahoo and Gmail are requiring DMARC authentication.
  • Monitoring: RUA is essential for monitoring email authentication and identifying issues.
  • RUA Tag Purpose: The RUA tag specifies the email address for receiving aggregate DMARC reports.
  • ESP Role: ESPs may need to manage DMARC on behalf of customers.
  • Visibility: Without RUA, senders lack visibility into how their emails are being handled.

Key considerations

  • Implementation Effort: Setting up DMARC and RUA requires technical knowledge and DNS configuration.
  • Report Monitoring: Regularly monitoring DMARC reports is crucial for identifying and addressing issues.
  • ESPs Involvement: Domain owners should ensure their ESPs provide adequate DMARC support.
  • Alternative solutions: For p=reject, you don't need RUA
  • Aggregation reports: Aggregate reports give summaries
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks adds that this is only the first step for authentication enforcement and senders should monitor reports with the p=none policy and rua, before transitioning to actually protecting their mail.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from URIports explains that a key aspect of the new DMARC guidelines is the use of the RUA tag to collect aggregate reports. These reports help senders monitor their email authentication results, identify unauthorized use of their domain, and improve their overall email security. Having a RUA setup is essential to be able to action anything found.

July 2021 - URIports
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark explains that including an RUA tag is an important step in a properly setup DMARC record, allowing you to monitor and track how your domain's email is being handled by receivers. This visibility makes it an important part of any email setup.

February 2025 - Postmark
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that if senders are already at p=reject (policy=reject) they are fine and don't need to worry about the rua tag. Also says that even if not required people should still read DMARC reports.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC explains that while a RUA tag isn't strictly required for DMARC to function, it is essential for monitoring and improving email authentication. The RUA tag specifies an email address to which aggregate DMARC reports are sent, providing valuable insights into email authentication results and potential security issues. While enforcement policies are becoming more common, implementing RUA allows a sender to see whats happening before setting up a stricter policy.

March 2021 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user emphasized that RUA allows you to see who is sending email on behalf of your domain, and whether those emails are passing authentication checks. Not using RUA would be like setting up a security system but never checking the logs - you wouldn't know if it's actually working or if someone is trying to break in.

November 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Red Sift shares that the new DMARC requirements emphasize the importance of monitoring and reporting. Setting up a RUA tag to receive aggregate DMARC reports is critical for understanding how your emails are being authenticated and identifying any potential authentication issues. This allows senders to take corrective actions and improve their email deliverability and security posture. Monitoring allows brands to be proactive and catch issues that might affect deliverability.

May 2024 - Red Sift
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that the main change involves Yahoo and Gmail requiring senders to have DMARC authentication. Implementing a DMARC policy with a RUA record helps in monitoring email authentication and detecting potential issues or spoofing attempts. They highly recommend implementing RUA records for senders to gain visibility into their email authentication performance.

April 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from MXToolbox explains that the RUA tag in DMARC records allows domain owners to receive aggregate reports about the emails sent using their domain, giving senders data about whether emails are authenticating and how they are being handled, so you can respond to any problems that arise.

July 2024 - MXToolbox
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks emphasizes that domain owners sending bulk emails need to care about DMARC and that ESPs and tool providers need to improve their services to make it easier.

July 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that large ESPs may need to require users to send from a unique subdomain specific to that ESP to manage auth and DMARC records on behalf of customers.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that DMARC without paying attention to the R (reporting) is not worth much. He acknowledges it's a hassle but emphasizes the importance of starting now rather than later.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow shares that to set up DMARC, including the RUA tag, you need to create a TXT record in your domain's DNS settings. The RUA tag specifies the email address where you want to receive aggregate DMARC reports. These reports provide valuable information about your email authentication status and help you identify any potential issues. RUA isn't necessary but without it you are driving blind.

October 2024 - Stack Overflow

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts emphasize the importance of DMARC aggregate reports (RUA) for understanding email sending practices and authentication. RUA is seen as a positive step, particularly given the prevalence of 'p=none' policies, and is crucial for monitoring and identifying potential issues like spoofing. Configuring DMARC with RUA enables timely reactions to delivery problems and domain abuse. While aggregate reports are valuable, they are summaries, and for detailed failure analysis, forensic reports may be necessary. The reports are in XML, but third parties can automate translation.

Key opinions

  • RUA Importance: DMARC RUA is crucial for understanding email sending and authentication practices.
  • Monitoring Benefits: RUA helps monitor and identify potential issues like spoofing.
  • Actionable Insights: RUA allows for timely reactions to delivery problems and domain abuse.
  • Report Format: DMARC reports are in XML, which can be automated via third parties.
  • Enforcement Policies: Requiring RUA is a positive step with prevalent 'p=none' policies.

Key considerations

  • Report Complexity: DMARC reports are in XML, requiring either manual processing or third-party tools.
  • Report Type: Aggregate reports provide summaries; forensic reports may be needed for detailed analysis.
  • Policy Implications: Publishing and monitoring aggregate reports is beneficial as an alert to any DKIM or SPF failures.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that DMARC aggregate reports (via RUA) are crucial for understanding where your email is being sent and if it's being properly authenticated. The reports provide insight into potential spoofing or misconfigurations. Aggregate reports, while helpful, are a summary and if there's a need to know why a particular message failed, forensic reports are needed instead.

August 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks notes the prevalence of "v=dmarc1; p=none" policies, suggesting that requiring RUA (reporting URI for aggregate reports) is a positive step.

June 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks questions why someone wouldn't publish an RUA tag, especially with an enforcement policy, to get alerts if DKIM or SPF fails.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that configuring DMARC with an RUA tag is essential for monitoring your email authentication results and identifying potential issues. The reports you get back are in XML format but this can be automated using 3rd parties that translate the data for you. DMARC with RUA allows you to react to delivery issues and domain abuse in a timely manner.

October 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Documentation from Google, Yahoo, RFC Editor, and Microsoft emphasizes the importance of DMARC and, specifically, the RUA tag for 2024. Google requires senders to authenticate emails with SPF or DKIM and recommends setting up a RUA tag. Yahoo is enforcing stricter email authentication requirements and strongly recommends RUA for monitoring, noting that its absence hinders issue detection. The RFC specifies the RUA tag's purpose for aggregate feedback reports, deeming it crucial for DMARC implementation monitoring. Microsoft highlights RUA's role in protecting against spoofing and phishing, advocating for aggregate reports to gain insights and address issues.

Key findings

  • Google Requirement: Google requires SPF or DKIM authentication and recommends RUA.
  • Yahoo Enforcement: Yahoo is enforcing stricter authentication and recommends RUA for monitoring.
  • RFC Specification: The RFC defines the RUA tag for aggregate feedback reports.
  • Microsoft Protection: Microsoft highlights RUA for protection against spoofing and phishing.
  • Monitoring Tool: The consistent message is that aggregate reports received using RUA is a key monitoring tool.

Key considerations

  • Not Always Required: While strongly recommended, RUA is not always a strict requirement, but omitting is not advisable.
  • Implementation: Proper implementation is essential to protect from attacks.
  • Insights: Reports offer insights into authentication status, helping identify and address issues.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that implementing DMARC, including the RUA tag, is essential for protecting your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks. By configuring the RUA tag, you can receive aggregate reports that provide insights into your email authentication status and help you identify and address any issues. Sending these reports to an external provider will give visibility for senders who are not able to do this in-house.

November 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster announced that starting Q1 2024, they would be enforcing stricter email authentication requirements, including DMARC. Yahoo strongly recommends senders implement a DMARC policy with a RUA tag to receive reports and monitor their email authentication status. Not having an RUA tag isn't an instant block, but prevents senders from monitoring authentication issues.

April 2022 - Yahoo Postmaster
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor specifies the format of the DMARC record, including the rua tag. The rua tag designates the URI(s) to which aggregate feedback reports should be sent. The reports detail the results of DMARC authentication checks performed by receiving mail servers. The RFC highlights that while the rua tag is optional, it is crucial for monitoring DMARC implementation.

June 2021 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that as of February 2024, Google requires senders to authenticate their email using SPF or DKIM. For DMARC reporting, Google recommends setting up a RUA tag to receive aggregate reports on email authentication results. While not a strict requirement to have RUA configured, it is highly recommended for monitoring and improving email authentication.

March 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help