Understanding DMARC: A Complete Guide for 2025

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that protects your domain from being used in email spoofing and phishing attacks.

What is DMARC?

DMARC builds on two existing email authentication mechanisms: SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). It allows domain owners to publish policies that specify how email receivers should handle messages that fail authentication checks.

Why DMARC Matters

1. **Brand Protection**: Prevents attackers from impersonating your domain 2. **Email Deliverability**: Improves inbox placement rates 3. **Visibility**: Provides reports on email authentication results 4. **Compliance**: Required by major email providers like Google and Yahoo

DMARC Policies

There are three DMARC policy levels:

• **None (p=none)**: Monitor only, no action taken
• **Quarantine (p=quarantine)**: Suspicious emails go to spam
• **Reject (p=reject)**: Failed emails are rejected entirely

Getting Started

Implementing DMARC is a gradual process. Start with p=none to monitor, then move to quarantine, and finally reject once you have confidence in your email authentication setup.

Use our free DMARC Generator tool to create your DMARC record today!