Essential DMARC Implementation for Bulk Senders in 2024

The Importance of DMARC in 2024

Starting in February 2024, implementing a DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) record becomes crucial for bulk email senders. Google and Yahoo, two of the largest email service providers, have updated their email authentication requirements to include mandatory DMARC implementation for bulk senders. This move is aimed at enhancing email security and reducing the prevalence of spam and phishing attacks.

What is DMARC?

DMARC is an email authentication protocol designed to give email domain owners the ability to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing. The purpose and primary outcome of implementing DMARC is to protect a domain from being used in business email compromise attacks, phishing emails, email scams, and other cyber threat activities.

TODO list:

Review SPF and DKIM Records: Before setting up DMARC, ensure that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records are properly configured for your domain.
Create a DMARC Record: A DMARC record is a TXT record added to your domain's DNS. It includes policies and instructions for email receivers on how to handle emails that don't pass SPF or DKIM checks.
Set DMARC Policy (See instructions below): When creating the DMARC record, you'll need to decide on a policy. The policies are:
- p=none: Monitors email traffic without affecting delivery (recommended for initial setup).
- p=quarantine: Directs non-compliant emails to the spam folder.
- p=reject: Blocks non-compliant emails entirely.
Specify Email Addresses for Reports: Include email addresses in your DMARC record to receive reports on DMARC checks. These reports provide insights into your email traffic and help identify authentication issues.
Publish the DMARC Record: Add the DMARC record to your domain's DNS settings. This step varies depending on your domain host and DNS provider.
Monitor and Adjust: After implementation, regularly review DMARC reports to understand your email traffic and make adjustments to your DMARC policy as needed.
Increase Strictness Gradually: Start with a less strict policy (p=none) and gradually move to stricter settings (p=quarantine or p=reject) as you become more confident in your email authentication setup.

Steps to Implement DMARC:

Log in to your Domain Hosting DNS records section
Click "Add" new record
In the Type field, select: TXT
In the Host field, enter: _dmarc
In the Value TXT field, enter the record like in one of the examples below. Make sure to replace the email address with an active inbox under your domain. Also, make sure you have access to that inbox.
Use any free DMARC checker tool to validate your DMARC record. Note that the change you made in the last step might take some time to propagate in the DNS.

For example, the DMARC record in GoDaddy will look like the following:

DMARC godaddy example.png

DMARC Examples

Examples of DMARC policies you can use:

Minimal Settings:
```
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:reports@yourdomain.com
```
This DMARC record still has a minimal enforcement policy (p=none), but it includes a reporting address (rua) to receive email activity reports. While not enforcing strict policies, it allows you to monitor email traffic and gather insights into potential issues.
Moderate Enforcement:
```
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; fo=1; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com 
```
This DMARC record takes a more active approach to email security by specifying a policy of "quarantine" (p=quarantine). Suspicious emails may be placed in the recipient's spam or quarantine folder. It also sets a failure reporting option (fo=1) to receive detailed reports on email failures. This configuration is suitable for organizations looking to improve security without blocking all non-compliant emails.
Strictest Enforcement:
```
v=DMARC1; p=reject; fo=1; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com 
```
This is the most robust DMARC configuration, enforcing a strict policy of "reject" (p=reject). Any email that fails DMARC authentication will be rejected and not delivered to the recipient's inbox. It also enables detailed failure reports (fo=1) and sends them to the specified email address. This setting is recommended for organizations that prioritize strong email security and are willing to block non-compliant emails, including those related to BIMI, AMP, Annotations, and more.

To ensure your DMARC setup is correct, utilize a DMARC checker tool. This tool will verify if the DMARC record is correctly published in the domain's DNS and is functioning as intended.

More How-To examples:

* Source: https://support.powerdmarc.com/

Conclusion

With the impending changes by major email providers, having a DMARC record is not just recommended but essential for bulk email senders in 2024. It’s a step forward in ensuring that your emails are trusted, secure, and reach their intended recipients without being marked as spam or rejected by email servers.