What is DMARC and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

Email Has a Big Problem (And You Might Not Realise It)

Email is our go-to for so much—alerts, newsletters, invoices, updates. But did you know the system behind it—SMTP—simply doesn’t verify who's sending messages? That means anyone can impersonate your domain and send emails that look like they came from you. Scary, right?

That, in a nutshell, is email spoofing. It’s the go-to tactic for phishing, scams, and fraud. If you own example.com, someone else could send messages like “[email protected]” to your customers. They trust it’s you—but it’s not.

Enter DMARC.

What Exactly Is DMARC (In Plain English)?

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) was born in 2015 via RFC 7489. Since then, providers like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo have backed it to fix email’s biggest security gap. Basically, it’s a protocol to stop spoofers pretending they’re you. 

Here’s what DMARC does for you:

Verifies authenticity using SPF and DKIM alignment.

Lets you specify how to handle failing emails—monitor, quarantine, or reject.

Sends you reports so you can see who’s using (or abusing) your domain. 

In short—DMARC puts you in control of your domain’s email reputation.

Why DMARC Is Becoming Mandatory

You might check your social feeds and see email providers saying DMARC is required—especially for bulk senders. That’s because phishing remains one of the top cyber threats, and email is often the weakest link.

By enforcing DMARC, platforms are demanding better email authentication and brand protection. If you're sending newsletters, receipts, alerts, or invites—DMARC helps secure email deliverability and ensures your communications aren’t flagged as spam. 

DMARC Does More Than Just Stop Hackers

Yes, it thwarts phishing. But DMARC does so much more:

Improves Email Deliverability – Authenticated, trusted emails land in inboxes, not spam folders. 

Boosts Brand Trust – Your emails look more legitimate—chances of bounces and complaints drop. 

Helps With Compliance – New regulations (like PCI DSS or data-privacy laws) increasingly expect strong email security. 

The Most Common DMARC Mistake—And How to Fix It

Many folks trace the same error: They add a DMARC record v=DMARC1; p=none and think they’re secure.

Reality check:

p=none only monitors—it doesn't block anything.

Worse: If there's no rua= reporting address, you're getting zero visibility—no data, no protection.

That’s like hanging a sign that says “I have security,” but locking nothing. 

So What’s the RIGHT Way to Do DMARC?

Start with p=none and include a rua= email address for reports.

Identify every service sending email on your behalf—Mailchimp, CRMs, your CRM, etc.

Set up SPF and DKIM properly for each.

Use tools to simplify and interpret your DMARC data.

Slowly move your policy from monitor → quarantine → reject.

Take it step-by-step, and you’ll protect your domain and boost email effectiveness.

DMARC That Doesn’t Suck

DMARC isn’t complicated—it just looks that way without help.

That’s why tools like Dmarclytics.io make it easy: visual dashboards, clear insights, and painless implementation. We help you go from scattered, confusing data to a clean, fully protected domain in just a few steps.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Email is a security risk, but DMARC fixes that. With spam filters tightening, customers demanding trust, and regulations piling up—you can't afford to ignore it.

DMARC delivers: better email deliverability, stronger brand protection, and real peace of mind.

Start enforcing DMARC—protect your domain today.

Want help implementing it quickly? Let’s talk about how Dmarclytics can get you there!