What Is DMARC?
Definition
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, also known as DMARC, is an email authentication protocol that protects email senders and recipients from spoofing and phishing attacks by cybercriminals. It helps strengthen businesses’ defenses against impersonation attacks and lowers the risk of recipients falling victim to email scams that could lead to data breaches.
This extra security layer makes sure that incoming emails are actually from the claimed sender’s domain. Businesses use DMARC to verify the authenticity of their emails, so messages are able to reach the intended recipients without interference.
Example
Say your company regularly sends out newsletters to customers. However, you’re experiencing low deliverability rates due to your domain being spoofed. You can implement DMARC to address this and prevent unauthorized or fraudulent emails from reaching the inboxes of recipients. By enforcing this policy, you improve your reputation and deliverability rates.
How Does DMARC Work?
DMARC works by aligning two existing authentication mechanisms: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). When an email is sent, DMARC checks if both SPF and DKIM results align with the sender’s domain. If they do, the email passes authentication. If the two authentication mechanisms don’t align, the email is flagged as suspicious or rejected. This, however, depends on the organization’s DMARC policy.
The process also includes detailed reporting. Through the reporting, domain owners receive feedback on email authentication results. These reports help identify unauthorized usage or gaps in email authentication practices. Businesses could then implement security measures to address potential breaches.
Benefits of Using DMARC
DMARC improves overall email deliverability. After all, emails that pass authentication checks are more likely to reach the recipient’s inbox rather than being marked as spam.
DMARC also enhances security, protecting both the sender’s reputation and the recipient’s data. Consider a major retailer that sends promotional emails to customers who opt in. Without DMARC, cybercriminals could impersonate the retailer’s domain to send phishing emails. This could put customers’ data at risk and significantly reduce customer trust in the brand. However, by implementing DMARC, the retailer gets to make sure that only authenticated emails are delivered. This greatly reduces the risk of fraud and enhances customer confidence. Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so DMARC is a critical tool for securing email communication and building trust with recipients. Its ability to verify sender identity and provide actionable insights makes it essential for organizations prioritizing email security.
Related terms
Related articles
Verify 200 emails for free. For lists over one-million emails, we will beat the price of any competitor, guaranteed.