What is DMARC, and How Does It Work?
When you send an email from your company, you expect it to arrive safely in someone’s inbox. Unfortunately, not all emails are real and are sent by real people. Hackers try to impersonate you with tactics like phishing or spoofing. They take over your domain name, send fake emails to your customers, and attempt to impersonate your organization.
This is where DMARC comes in! Think of it like a dog guarding your email system. Here, we will explain DMARC, we will tell you why it is important, and we will explain how it protects your business.
Why Businesses Need DMARC
In any modern-day business, there is a dependency on email – whether it is to send out updates, invoices, or responses to customers. Using an organizational domain, such as @yourcompany.co.uk, gives an air of professionalism while also enabling trust.
The issue lies with the fact that criminals can send out fake emails to customers and use that same domain. If a customer receives an email that appears to be from you and is therefore fraudulent, your reputation is damaged. Rebuilding trust is a challenging task.
DMARC can greatly reduce the risk of this happening. It will ensure that only real emails from your business domain are delivered and all fake emails are blocked or marked as spam.
The Building Blocks: SPF and DKIM
Before we get into DMARC, we need to talk about two other security tools: SPF and DKIM. Think of them as the foundation that DMARC builds on.
What is SPF?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is similar to having a list of guests at the door of your party. Only those guests may enter.
Your IT team creates a list of servers that it trusts will send email messages for your domain. When you send an email, the receiving server looks to see if that server address is on the list, and if so, the email is allowed to go forth – if not, the message is flagged for suspicious activity.
SPF helps prevent random spammers from sending emails to your customers pretending to be you, but it does not discern what happens to your message after it is sent from the sending mail server. This is where DKIM comes into play.
What is DKIM?
DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) can be compared to placing a wax seal on the envelope of a letter you will send. If a recipient receives your letter, and the seal is broken, they will naturally suspect something was altered.
Here’s how DKIM works:
Your domain creates a special digital signature (like a unique fingerprint) that is placed on all sent messages.
A signature is included in the message that has just been sent, and when it arrives at its destination mail server, the receiving mail server looks for that signature. If the email has been modified or altered between departing the sending mail server and arriving at the receiving mail server, the signature will not verify, the message will be flagged in the receiving mail server, and therefore will not be delivered to its intended recipient.
So SPF checks who is sending the message. DKIM checks “what” is being sent. In conjunction with each other, they create a strong defense.
Enter DMARC: The Enforcer
Now comes DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance). DMARC brings SPF and DKIM together and adds a layer of control.
Think of DMARC as the referee. It looks at the results of SPF and DKIM checks and decides what to do with suspicious emails.
As the domain owner, you make the rules. For example:
Allow the email, but send a report.
Put the email into the spam folder.
Reject it completely so it never reaches the inbox.
DMARC also gives you reports so you can see who is trying to misuse your domain. This insight helps you tighten your security even more.
Why DMARC Matters for Your Business
Cybercriminals are clever, and email is one of their favourite tools. Reports show that around 95% of breaches happen because of human error, often through phishing emails.
Without DMARC, your business is an easy target. But with DMARC, you:
- Protect your customers from scams.
- Build trust by making sure emails come from the real you.
- Keep your brand reputation safe.
- Gain visibility into how your domain is being used.
In short, DMARC is not just a tech tool; it’s a business safeguard.
Common Myths About DMARC
Many businesses avoid DMARC because they think it’s too complex or unnecessary. Let’s clear up a few myths:
Myth 1: SPF and DKIM alone are enough.
Not true. Without DMARC, you have no control over what happens when checks fail.
Myth 2: DMARC blocks all emails at once.
False. DMARC is flexible; you can start with “report only” mode and build from there.
Myth 3: Small businesses don’t need DMARC.
Wrong. Hackers don’t just go after big companies. Small businesses are often easier targets.
How to Get Started with DMARC
The good news is, setting up DMARC doesn’t need to be scary. Here are simple steps to begin:
- Publish SPF and DKIM records for the domain.
- Create a DMARC record with a basic policy (like “monitor only”).
- Examine the reports you receive, seeing where the risks come from.
- Gradually tighten, from quarantine to rejection.
- Continue monitoring and changing as necessary. Working with an IT or cybersecurity provider to complete this process is seamless and safe.
A Fresh Way to Think About Email Security
Most people see email security as just another tech task. But at Entech Systems, we see it differently. We believe DMARC is a way to protect relationships between you and your clients, your staff, and your community.
When people know your emails are real, they trust your brand more. And when you trust your systems, you can focus on growing your business instead of worrying about threats.
Conclusion
While DMARC, SPF, and DKIM may seem to be technical terms, together they create a simple message: Your emails are your emails.
Cyber attacks don’t just take your data; they hurt your brand. You stay ahead of the game with DMARC’s protection of your customers’ safety and your brand integrity.
Are you unsure of how safe your business emails are? We can help with the setup, the monitoring, and the protection, so the emails in your inbox are yours.
