DMARC Made Simple: Secure Your Emails in 2025

Check Your Domain’s Email Security Status

Want to know if your domain is secure? Use our domain scanner below to check if your DMARC, SPF, and DKIM settings are correctly configured.

If you need help setting up DMARC, feel free to reach out. Keeping your emails secure is our priority. πŸ”’

Introduction

Email is still the main way businesses communicate. But cybercriminals take advantage of this by sending fake emails pretending to be you. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) helps stop these attacks. It ensures that only trusted sources can send emails using your domain.

This guide explains DMARC in simple terms and gives practical tips to help you secure your email system.

What is DMARC and How Does It Work?

DMARC works alongside two other security protocols: SPF and DKIM. Here’s what they do:

  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This lists which servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domain.
  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This adds a digital signature to your emails, proving they haven’t been altered.
  • DMARC: This checks if SPF and DKIM are correctly set up and tells email providers what to do if an email fails authentication (e.g., reject, quarantine, or allow it).

By setting up DMARC, you tell email providers like Gmail and Yahoo that only verified senders can use your domain. This stops phishing and spoofing attacks before they reach your customers or employees.

Choosing the Right DMARC Policy

There are three DMARC policies you can choose from:

  1. p=none – Monitors your emails but does not take action. Use this when first setting up DMARC.
  2. p=quarantine – Moves unverified emails to the spam folder.
  3. p=reject – Blocks emails that fail authentication. This is the most secure option.

In 2025, Google and Yahoo require senders to use at least p=quarantine to improve email security.

Protecting Every Part of Your Domain

Subdomains and DMARC

If your company uses multiple subdomains (e.g., sales.yourcompany.com, support.yourcompany.com), you need to set up DMARC policies for each one. This prevents hackers from using your subdomains for scams.

What is BIMI and How Does It Help?

BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) lets your official brand logo appear in email inboxes when your emails are authenticated. This builds trust with your recipients and makes it harder for scammers to impersonate you.

To use BIMI, you must have DMARC set to p=quarantine or p=reject.

Email Security

Common DMARC Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Even with DMARC in place, mistakes can happen. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

  • ❌ Emails Going to Spam – Your SPF or DKIM might not be properly set up. Check your DNS records.
  • ❌ Email Forwarding Issues – Forwarded emails might break SPF verification. Make sure DKIM is correctly configured.
  • ❌ Too Many DMARC Records – Only one DMARC record should exist per domain. Remove duplicates.

Step-by-Step Guide to DMARC Implementation

  1. Start with Monitoring – Set p=none to collect data on your email traffic.
  2. Analyze DMARC Reports – Use monitoring tools to check for unauthorized email senders.
  3. Strengthen Your Policy – Move to p=quarantine once you know your legitimate email sources.
  4. Full Protection – Set p=reject to block all unauthorized emails.
  5. Enable BIMI – Upload your brand logo and increase email visibility.

Email Security

  • πŸ” AI & Machine Learning – AI will soon help detect email threats in real time.
  • πŸ“œ Stricter Regulations – Companies will need to meet stronger compliance requirements.
  • 🀝 Collaboration & Threat Sharing – Organizations will share DMARC data to fight cybercrime together.

Final Thoughts

DMARC is one of the best tools to protect your brand, improve email security, and increase email deliverability. Implementing DMARC correctly ensures that only authorized senders can use your domain, reducing phishing attacks and building trust with your customers.

Next Steps:

  • βœ… Set up DMARC with p=none to start monitoring.
  • βœ… Improve authentication with SPF and DKIM.
  • βœ… Move to p=quarantine or p=reject for full protection.
  • βœ… Enable BIMI to make your emails stand out.

Secure your emails today and protect your brand! Need help? Contact us anytime.

Do you have questions?

We are always happy to help you. Simply contact us by phone or via the contact form and we will help you!

Contact us now