DMARC Security
DMARC is an email security protocol that enhances the trustworthiness of email communication. Here are the details:
Purpose of DMARC
DMARC was designed to address the threat of domain spoofing. In domain spoofing, attackers impersonate an organization’s domain to send fraudulent emails, such as phishing attempts or business email compromise (BEC).
It builds upon existing email authentication mechanisms like Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).
How DMARC Works:
- To deploy DMARC, an organization needs to have both SPF and DKIM in place for their email domain.
- The organization publishes a DMARC record in their DNS. This record specifies the desired policy for handling emails that fail authentication checks.
- When an email is received, the recipient’s server checks SPF and DKIM alignment. If the sender’s domain aligns with these mechanisms, DMARC validates the email.
- If alignment fails, DMARC instructs the recipient server to take action based on the sender’s defined policy (accept, quarantine, or reject the email).
- DMARC also generates XML reports for the sender, providing visibility into who is using their domain to send messages.
Benefits of DMARC
- Reputation: Publishing a DMARC record protects an organization’s brand by preventing unauthorized users from sending emails from their domain. It boosts reputation.
- Security: DMARC ensures consistent handling of unauthenticated messages, making the entire email ecosystem more secure.
- Visibility: DMARC reports help domain owners understand email traffic and identify legitimate senders.
Deployment Steps implemented by eDot
- Configure SPF and DKIM for your domain.
- Publish a DMARC record with a “monitor” action initially.
- Review DMARC reports to identify approved senders.
- Gradually enforce stricter policies (quarantine or reject) for non-compliant emails.
- In summary, DMARC empowers domain owners to protect their brand, prevent domain spoofing, and enhance email security. It’s a crucial tool in the fight against email-based cyberattacks.
