Demystifying DMARC: Protecting Your Domain from Phishing Attacks

With more and more people utilizing email for communication, it becomes vital to remain safe from cyberattacks like spoofing and phishing. In that regard, Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance, or DMARC, is crucial. Moreover, it is especially important now that cyberattacks have become much more advanced. If you are new to this term and wondering how it works, you have come to the right place. 

In this article, we will be discussing the key aspects related to DMARC protection to develop a comprehensive understanding of how it works and enhances email security. 

DMARC refers to an authentication protocol that provides email domain owners with the capability to safeguard their domains from unauthorized access. It enables domain owners to publish policies in the Domain Name System or DNS records. Such policies outline the mechanisms that will be responsible for the authentication of the email messages that are sent from the domain. Moreover, DMARC provides a system that allows for receiving reports comprising messages that fail or pass the DMARC assessment.

Overall, DMARC prevents phishing attacks andspoofing and ensures email integrity. Thus, DMARC plays a vital role in helping companies build trust. Moreover, this domain security solution protects the brand’s reputation and ensures that the emails reach the intended participants only. 

Let us look at the reasons behind the growing popularity of DMARC protection in detail.

#1 - Protection Against Email Spoofing And Phishing 

Phishing attacks usually depend on impersonating identities. DMARC protection can help minimize the risks related to phishing through validation of the emails’ origin. Moreover, it aligns the identity of the sender with the relevant domain and fortifies the defense against spoofing. 

#2 - Reputation Improvement 

Domain security solutions like DMARC build trust and enhance a company’s reputation. DMARC sends a signal to the email providers and recipients that the messages are trustworthy. This plays a key role in safeguarding the organization’s reputation. 

#3 - Email Deliverability Boost 

DMARC protection is considered a stamp of authenticity. It signals the Internet Service Providers or ISPs that the emails are trustworthy and genuine. As a result, the chances of ISPs sending the emails directly to the primary mailbox of the recipient increase. 

#4 - Compliance With Local And International Standards 

DMARC protection around the world has to comply with the relevant standards (both local and international), ensuring adherence to email security best practices. This ensures that all organizations can ensure email security, minimizing phishing and email impersonation. 

#5 - Comprehensive Reporting 

DMARC reports give key information regarding email traffic that gets sent from a particular domain. The information includes what percentage of emails failed or passed the DMARC assessment, the emails’ sources, and more. The comprehensive details enable domain owners to track the usage of the domain with regard to email communications and team measures to protect the domain from unauthorized people. 

The following steps can help one set up DMARC and adhere to email security best practices:

1. Audit The Domain’s Email Infrastructure: The first step requires one to understand how the email is getting sent from the domain. It involves identifying every application and server that sends the emails on the domain’s behalf. Moreover, it involves identifying intermediaries utilized to send emails. 
2. Set Up DKIM and SPF: Next, entities must set up the Domain Keys Identified Mail. For that, one can use a DKIM generator. Note that they also have to set up SPF. Such protocols will enable them to outline the servers that have the authorization to send emails on the domain’s behalf. 
3. Create DMARC Reports: In this step, one must access the DNS provider and establish a DMARC record. This record includes crucial information like the policy that will be applicable, reporting email addresses, in addition to the options related to subdomain alignment.
4. Focus On Slow Execution: This step is vital to avoid disruptions. One must begin with a “none” policy, Track aggregate reports, and inch closer toward a “reject” or “quarantine” policy that is stricter as the confidence grows. 
5. Review Forensic Reports: One must carry out the analysis of forensic reports to get insights into malicious activities or authentication failures. They must utilize the information to refine the policy and improve security. 
6. Track And Make Adjustments Continuously: Lastly, individuals need to review and make adjustments constantly, especially with cyberattacks evolving over time. One must be proactive to make the necessary adjustments that can prevent finishing attacks. 

Let us look at the weaknesses associated with DMARC protection.

#1 - Too Difficult For Non-Technical Users 

While DMARC enhances email deliverability and security, its implementation can be quite complex, especially for non-technical users. If one tries to implement it without proper knowledge, it might lead to more complications. 

#2 - Too Strict, Too Soon 

DMARC protection might sometimes be inflexible. It may result in the rejection of legitimate emails, or these emails might get marked as spam if the exact domain match parameters are not met. The inflexibility can be extremely problematic for companies having complicated email setups. Even organizations utilizing third-party services for emails might find it troublesome. 

#3 - Third-Party Senders 

Another weakness of DMARC is in relation to third-party senders. It might happen that the sender does not comprehend the extra requirements placed by DMARC on DKIM and SPF. Hence, they might give inaccurate DKIM or SPF information. Moreover, senders might direct you to carry out the configuration of old, obsolete standards like DomainKey and SenderID. Note that these standards have no effect on DMARC protection. 

#4 - Forwarding 

Lastly, email forwarding can cause DMARC to break. Vendors’ email security services serve as intermediary SMTP servers. Moreover, they examine emails to spot cyberattacks while archiving, modifying, and encrypting messages to ensure security. The outbound SMTP servers process the emails and send/resend the same. 

When the forwarding of the messages occurs through such services, it is highly possible that the SPF alignment fails. This can happen because an intermediary, for example, the domain of the recipient or the mailing list, uses the service because the outbound SMTP server is not a part of the SPF record of the sender. This whole exercise causes the DMAR protection to break because the protocol needs either DKIM or SPF checks to pass while ensuring proper alignment

Let us look at some pointers that indicate that companies should opt for cloud-based DMARC. 

• Cloud-based solutions can offer better email deliverability and boost brand reputation. 
• Such solutions can ensure that companies are able to receive notifications from different channels, like email, Slack, and Discord. 
• Cloud-based solutions ensure straightforward DMARC configuration, which can be especially helpful for individuals lacking a strong technological background. Moreover, these solutions can ensure better management, monitoring, and reporting. 
• They can offer lucid aggregate and forensic reports that can help in the analysis of email authentication. 

Additionally, cloud-based solutions can ensure the accurate implementation of the protocol while requiring minimal effort. 

DMARC protection plays a crucial role in protecting companies from different types of cyberattacks. Because of the safety provided by this authentication protocol, its implementation in the email security strategy has become mandatory for organizations worldwide. With the substantial data individuals receive through the DMARC reports, encompassing authentication problems, it is possible to quickly find out whether one is looking to spoof the domain and get access to sensitive data. 

That said, in addition to DMARC, companies must try to use additional technologies, email encryption, to make sure that the integrity and security of their email communications are not compromised.