Which ISPs deliver DMARC reports and what configuration is needed?

Summary

DMARC reporting is crucial for understanding how email is handled and for preventing spoofing. Major ISPs like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft (Outlook.com, Hotmail) and AOL generally provide these reports, sending them to the email address specified in the 'rua' tag of the DMARC record. Setting up DMARC involves creating a TXT record in your DNS settings, including 'v', 'p', and 'rua' tags with correct syntax. Tools exist to help generate accurate records. External Domain Verification (EDV) is necessary when sending reports to a different domain. The DMARC TXT record should be located at `_dmarc.yourdomain.com`. Continuous monitoring of reports helps maintain email security and improve deliverability. If reports are missing, check DNS configuration, ensure a valid 'rua' address, and remember smaller ISPs might not support DMARC reporting. A misconfigured DMARC record may cause it to be ignored by ISPs.

Key findings

  • Reporting ISPs: Major ISPs (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL) typically deliver DMARC reports.
  • DMARC Record Configuration: Proper DMARC configuration includes creating a TXT record in DNS with correct syntax for 'v', 'p', and 'rua' tags.
  • EDV Requirement: External Domain Verification (EDV) is crucial when sending reports to a domain different than the sending domain.
  • Record Location: The DMARC TXT record must reside at the `_dmarc` subdomain.
  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is vital for email security.
  • Misconfiguration Issues: A misconfigured DMARC record may be ignored by ISPs.

Key considerations

  • DNS Configuration: Double-check DNS settings for errors in the DMARC record.
  • Reporting Address: Ensure the 'rua' reporting email address is valid and monitored.
  • Syntax Validation: Use DMARC record generators to avoid syntax errors.
  • EDV Implementation: Implement EDV when sending reports to a different domain.
  • Regular Analysis: Analyze DMARC reports regularly to improve email authentication policies.
  • Small ISP Variability: Be aware that smaller ISPs may not support DMARC reporting.
  • Record Validation: Validate the record is correct so that ISP's don't ignore it.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

DMARC reports are crucial for monitoring email authentication and identifying potential spoofing. Major ISPs like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft (Outlook.com, Hotmail) and AOL typically provide these reports, which are sent to the address specified in the DMARC record's 'rua' tag. Proper DMARC configuration involves creating a TXT record in your DNS settings with correct syntax for 'v', 'p', and 'rua' tags. External Domain Verification (EDV) is needed when sending reports to a different domain. Continuous monitoring of reports is essential for maintaining email security. If reports are not received, check for DNS errors and valid reporting email address. Smaller ISPs might not provide DMARC reports. Use DMARC record generators to avoid syntax errors.

Key opinions

  • ISPs Reporting: Major ISPs (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL) provide DMARC reports.
  • DMARC Record: Proper DMARC configuration requires a correctly formatted TXT record in DNS settings.
  • EDV Requirement: External Domain Verification (EDV) is needed for reports sent to different domains.
  • Monitoring Importance: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is crucial.
  • Smaller ISPs: Smaller ISPs might not offer DMARC reporting.

Key considerations

  • DNS Configuration: Double-check DNS settings for errors in the DMARC record.
  • Reporting Address: Ensure the 'rua' reporting email address is valid and actively monitored.
  • Syntax Errors: Use DMARC record generators to avoid syntax errors.
  • Report Analysis: Analyze DMARC reports regularly to refine email authentication policies.
  • External Verification: Implement external domain verification when sending DMARC reports to a domain other than the sending domain.
Marketer view

Email marketer from URIports advises that continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential for maintaining email security and deliverability. This includes regularly reviewing aggregate reports for trends and forensic reports for specific incidents.

December 2021 - URIports
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks points out that `houtcompleet.nl._report._dmarc.happyhorizon.com` TXT record seems to be missing and this should contain "v=DMARC1".

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Red Sift shares that configuring DMARC involves creating a TXT record in your domain's DNS settings with the correct syntax, including specifying the 'v' (version), 'p' (policy), and 'rua' (reporting URI) tags. Proper syntax is crucial for ISPs to correctly interpret the DMARC record.

December 2024 - Red Sift
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC shares that major ISPs like Google, Microsoft (Outlook.com, Hotmail), Yahoo, and AOL provide DMARC reports. These reports are sent to the email address specified in the DMARC record's 'rua' tag.

July 2022 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions that Microsoft is not delivering reports, but Yahoo should be.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange recommends using a DMARC record generator tool to avoid syntax errors when creating the DMARC record. These tools help ensure the record is valid and properly formatted.

November 2021 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shared that while major ISPs usually provide DMARC reports, smaller or regional ISPs might not. It depends on their infrastructure and adoption of DMARC standards.

February 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailhardener explains that if you're not receiving DMARC reports, double-check your DNS configuration for errors in the DMARC record, and ensure that the reporting email address specified in the 'rua' tag is valid and actively monitored.

January 2025 - Mailhardener
Marketer view

Email marketer from Valimail explains that external domain verification (EDV) is crucial when sending DMARC reports to a domain different from the sending domain. This involves adding a TXT record to the reporting domain to authorize the sending domain to send reports there.

February 2022 - Valimail
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks lists several places that provide DMARC reports, including Google, Yahoo!, emailsrvr.com, Mail.Ru, seznam.cz, and zoho.com.

January 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Proofpoint emphasizes the importance of monitoring DMARC reports to identify potential spoofing attacks and authentication issues. Analyzing these reports enables organizations to refine their email authentication policies and improve deliverability.

September 2022 - Proofpoint

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

A misconfigured DMARC record can cause ISPs to ignore it. External domain verification is necessary for sending DMARC reports to different domains. The RUA field in the DMARC record designates where aggregate reports are sent, aiding email authentication monitoring and abuse identification. Ensuring the receiving domain is properly configured to accept these reports is crucial.

Key opinions

  • DMARC Misconfiguration: Misconfigured DMARC records can lead to ISPs ignoring them.
  • External Domain Verification (EDV): EDV is essential for sending DMARC reports to different domains.
  • RUA Field Importance: The RUA field specifies where aggregate reports are sent, aiding in email authentication monitoring.

Key considerations

  • DMARC Record Accuracy: Ensure the DMARC record is correctly configured to avoid being ignored by ISPs.
  • EDV Implementation: Implement EDV when sending reports to a different domain.
  • Receiving Domain Configuration: Ensure the domain receiving DMARC reports is properly configured to accept and process them.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that a misconfiguration in the DMARC record could be causing some ISPs to ignore it, and that external domain verification is necessary for sending reports elsewhere.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the RUA field in a DMARC record specifies where aggregate reports should be sent, which helps in monitoring email authentication and identifying potential abuse. Ensure that the domain receiving the reports is properly configured to accept them.

February 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

DMARC reporting, including aggregate (RUA) and forensic (RUF) reports, is critical for domain owners to understand how their email is handled and to enforce authentication policies. Setting up DMARC involves creating a DMARC TXT record in your DNS settings, specifying RUA and RUF tags, and ensuring correct syntax (using validators). The DMARC TXT record must reside at the `_dmarc` subdomain of your domain.

Key findings

  • Reporting Importance: DMARC reporting is essential for understanding email handling and enforcing authentication policies.
  • Report Types: DMARC includes Aggregate (RUA) and Forensic (RUF) reports.
  • TXT Record Setup: DMARC setup involves creating a TXT record in DNS settings with RUA and RUF tags.
  • Syntax Accuracy: Correct DMARC record syntax is crucial, with validators recommended.
  • Subdomain Location: The DMARC TXT record must be located at the `_dmarc` subdomain.

Key considerations

  • Reporting Implementation: Implement DMARC reporting to gain insight into email authentication.
  • TXT Record Creation: Create a DMARC TXT record with appropriate RUA and RUF tags.
  • Syntax Validation: Validate the DMARC record syntax to ensure proper configuration.
  • Subdomain Placement: Place the DMARC record at the `_dmarc` subdomain for correct detection by mail servers.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains to use the correct DMARC record syntax to configure it properly. Check for spaces, colons, semicolons. They suggest use a validator.

September 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC reporting is essential for domain owners to understand how their email is being handled by recipient mail servers. It includes Aggregate Reports (RUA) and Forensic Reports (RUF).

October 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help details the steps to set up DMARC, including creating a DMARC TXT record in your DNS settings and specifying the rua and ruf tags for aggregate and forensic reporting.

May 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from Cloudflare highlights that the DMARC TXT record must be placed at the `_dmarc` subdomain of your domain (e.g., `_dmarc.example.com`). This is where receiving mail servers will look for the DMARC policy.

June 2023 - Cloudflare
Technical article

Documentation from RFC 7489 specifies that DMARC aggregate reports provide summarized information about the disposition of messages claiming to be from the domain, helping domain owners understand how their email authentication policies are being enforced.

July 2023 - RFC Editor