The Ultimate Guide To Creating A DMARC
Record For Secure Email Authentication


Ensuring the security of email communications is essential for both organizations and individuals. Cyber attackers often employ tactics such as phishing and email spoofing to illegally access confidential information. To counter these threats, implementing email authentication protocols such as DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is vital. This guide will lead you through the steps to establish a DMARC record, helping you protect your email exchanges effectively.


What is DMARC?


DMARC is an email authentication protocol that helps domain owners protect their domains from email spoofing, phishing attacks, and unauthorized use. It works by leveraging SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) authentication methods to verify if an email is legitimate. A properly configured DMARC record ensures that only authorized emails reach recipients while providing valuable reporting insights.



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Why is DMARC Important?


  • Improved Email Security: Safeguards against domain impersonation and phishing threats.

  • Protection of Brand Integrity: Builds trust among recipients for emails originating from your domain.

  • Increased Email Deliverability: Decreases the likelihood of messages being categorized as spam.

  • Insight and Reporting: Delivers valuable information regarding email authentication issues and potential malicious actions.

How Does DMARC Work?


DMARC functions by setting policies in a DNS TXT record that guide email servers on how to manage messages that cannot be authenticated. 

  • None (p=none): Observes email flow without taking action against authentication failures.

  • Quarantine (p=quarantine): Directs unauthenticated emails to spam or junk folders.

  • Reject (p=reject): Prevents unauthenticated emails from being delivered altogether.

How to Create a DMARC Record


Step 1: Check Your SPF and DKIM Configuration

Prior to configuring DMARC, it's essential to verify that SPF and DKIM are properly set up for your domain.

SPF specifies the mail servers authorized to send emails on your domain's behalf, thereby helping to deter unauthorized use. Meanwhile, DKIM strengthens security through cryptographic signatures that confirm the legitimacy of email communications.


Step 2: Define Your DMARC Policy

Start by setting p=none to track email traffic and evaluate authentication outcomes without impacting the delivery of emails. As you examine the reports and understand both legitimate and unauthorized email behavior, slowly move to p=quarantine to redirect suspicious emails to spam folders, and ultimately apply p=reject to completely eliminate fraudulent messages.


Step 3: Create Your DMARC TXT Record

To implement DMARC, you need to insert a TXT record into your DNS configuration.

  • v=DMARC1: This denotes the version of DMARC being used.

  • p=none: This establishes the policy type (options include none, quarantine, or reject).

  • rua: This indicates the email address designated for receiving aggregate reports.

  • fo=1: This requests reports in cases where SPF or DKIM validation fails.

  • sp=none: This sets the policy for any subdomains.

  • adkim=r: This determines the alignment mode for DKIM (either relaxed or strict).

  • aspf=r: This defines the alignment mode for SPF (relaxed or strict).

Step 4: Publish the DMARC Record in DNS

To set up DMARC, you need to insert a TXT record into the DNS settings of your domain. The steps may differ based on your DNS service provider. Generally, you should:

Access the management console of your DNS provider, go to the DNS configuration for your domain, and add a new TXT record. Use _dmarc as the hostname, input the DMARC policy in the value field, then save your modifications and wait for them to propagate.


Step 5: Monitor and Adjust Your DMARC Policy

After activating the DMARC record, keep an eye on the reports that are sent to the email addresses you specified. Review the information carefully and progressively implement more stringent policies to enhance security.



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Best Practices for DMARC Implementation


  • Begin with a Monitoring Phase: Implement p=none to observe email traffic prior to applying stringent regulations.

  • Progressively Tighten Policies: Transition from p=none to p=quarantine, and eventually to p=reject as time goes on.

  • Consistently Analyze Reports: Gain insights into the usage of your domain and modify policies as needed.

  • Verify SPF and DKIM Configurations: DMARC depends on these authentication protocols being correctly set up.

Common DMARC Mistakes to Avoid


  • Neglecting to Set Up SPF and DKIM Initially: These protocols are essential for DMARC to operate correctly.

  • Rushing to Use p=reject: Implementing this setting too early could hinder genuine email exchanges.

  • Overlooking DMARC Reports: Not examining these reports can result in unresolved security gaps.

  • Improper DNS Setup: Mistakes or misconfigurations can prevent DMARC from functioning effectively. Visit www.dmarcreport.com for more details.