DMARC setup: Ensure email authentication and security
Sendmarc simplifies DMARC setup with guided record creation, real-time monitoring, and expert support. Our platform helps your organization publish the right DMARC policy, track authentication results, and protect its domain from phishing and spoofing.
Set up DMARC in minutes and secure your email from day one.
Why is a proper DMARC setup important?
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is an email authentication protocol that helps businesses prevent unauthorized use of their domains.
It builds on two existing standards:
- Sender Policy Framework (SPF) verifies that the sending server is authorized to send emails on behalf of a domain.
- DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) adds a digital signature to each email, ensuring the message content hasn’t been altered during transmission.
DMARC instructs receiving email servers on how to handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks – whether to deliver, quarantine, or reject the message.
By learning how to implement DMARC correctly, you can protect recipients from phishing and spoofing attacks. DMARC enforcement also improves email deliverability by reducing Spam and Junk folder placement.
How to ensure correct DMARC setup
Preparing a domain for DMARC setup
Before configuring DMARC, ensure that SPF and DKIM are correctly set up for your company. These are essential requirements, as DMARC relies on their authentication results to function effectively.
Wait at least 48 hours after setting up SPF and DKIM to allow for proper DNS propagation and validation before enabling DMARC.
Creating DMARC records
A DMARC record is a DNS TXT record that defines your organization’s policy and reporting preferences. Below is an example of a DMARC record:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| _dmarc.yourdomain.com | TXT | v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:[email protected]; |
Explanation of each tag:
v=DMARC1: Specifies the DMARC versionp=none: Sets the policy to none (monitor and send reports)pct=100: Applies the policy to 100% of messagesrua: Defines the email address that receives aggregate DMARC reports
How to implement DMARC:
- Log in to your domain host’s DNS management console
- Create a new TXT record with the host/name
_dmarc.yourdomain.com - Paste your DMARC record into the value field
- Publish the record
- Verify it using a free DMARC record checker tool
Sign up with Sendmarc today to simplify DMARC record creation, get expert support, and monitor email authentication easily.
DMARC setup: Choosing enforcement policies
DMARC enforcement policies define how receiving servers handle emails that fail authentication checks. There are three policy options:
| Policy | Description | Use case |
|---|---|---|
none | Monitor only; no action is taken on failing emails | Use none during the initial setup to gather data without impacting deliverability |
quarantine | Place failing emails in the Spam folder or quarantine | Use quarantine to enable enforcement and reduce impersonation risks |
reject | Block and reject failing emails outright | Use reject for strict DMARC enforcement and maximum protection |
Start with p=none to monitor email traffic and identify legitimate senders. As your configuration becomes more accurate and complete, gradually shift to quarantine to apply enforcement, and finally move to reject to reach full protection.
Monitoring and maintaining your DMARC setup
DMARC provides reporting features that give your business visibility into authentication results and possible misuse of its domain. These reports allow you to:- Identify legitimate sources that need SPF configuration
- Detect unauthorized senders or phishing attempts
- Adjust the DMARC policy based on real-world data
Get started with Sendmarc’s email security solutions
Managing DMARC records can be complex, but Sendmarc makes it simple. Our platform offers expert tools that help your organization:- Simplify DMARC record creation and management
- Strengthen its email security posture
- Protect its customers from email fraud
DMARC setup FAQs
How do you set up DMARC?
To set up Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC), your business must first configure Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) for its domain.
Once these are in place, your company can create a DMARC TXT record in its DNS with its chosen policy (none, quarantine, or reject) and specify email addresses to receive DMARC reports. After adding the record, verify it and monitor the reports to fine-tune the configuration over time.
How do I generate a DMARC record for my domain?
v=DMARC1 for version, p= for policy, and rua= for the reporting email address. Otherwise, platforms like Sendmarc can automatically generate and configure your DMARC record, saving time and reducing errors.
How do you set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC together?
To set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC together, start by configuring SPF to authorize sending IP addresses and DKIM to apply digital signatures to outgoing emails. Once these are verified, add a DMARC record to define how receiving servers should handle unauthenticated emails and where to send reports. This layered approach ensures a reliable and secure implementation.
What should DMARC be set to?
When learning how to implement DMARC, it’s best to set the policy to p=none to monitor email activity and gather data without affecting delivery. Once you’ve identified all legitimate sending sources and validated your setup, gradually move to quarantine and finally to reject for full DMARC enforcement.
What happens if DMARC isn’t set?
If DMARC isn’t set up for a domain, its email is more vulnerable to spoofing, phishing, and impersonation attacks. Without DMARC, emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks might still be delivered, putting organizations’ reputations and recipients at risk.
Why set up DMARC?
Setting up DMARC is essential to protect your business’s domain from email fraud. DMARC helps prevent unauthorized emails, improves deliverability by building trust with receiving servers, and provides visibility into authentication issues. It is a vital component of any strong email security strategy.
