DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing. It works with SPF and DKIM by telling receiving mail servers how to handle emails that fail authentication checks.
1. What Is DMARC And Why Is It Important?
DMARC allows you to specify how unauthorised emails using your domain should be treated: whether they should be rejected, quarantined (sent to spam), or simply monitored. It also lets you receive reports on who is sending email on behalf of your domain.
2. How To Create A DMARC Record
A DMARC record is a TXT record added to your DNS with a specific format. Here’s an example of a simple DMARC record:
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:reports@yourdomain.com; ruf=mailto:reports@yourdomain.com; pct=100
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v=DMARC1 — identifies the record as DMARC
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p=quarantine — instructs to send failing emails to spam
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rua=mailto: — email address to receive aggregate reports
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ruf=mailto: — email address to receive forensic reports
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pct=100 — percentage of emails this policy applies to
You can change p= to reject (block emails) or none (monitor only) depending on your preference.
3. How To Add Your DMARC Records To Your DNS
We recommend using our DMARC Wizard to easily create your DMARC record without hassle. The wizard will guide you through the options step-by-step and generate the correct DNS TXT record for you.
Once you have your DMARC record from the wizard:
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Log in to your DNS provider (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.)
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Navigate to the DNS management section
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Add a new TXT record with:
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Name/Host: _dmarc
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Type: TXT
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Value: (the DMARC record generated by the wizard)
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TTL: Default or 3600 seconds (1 hour)
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Save the record
If you prefer, you can still create the record manually using the format shown above.
4. Adjusting Your Policy
It’s a good idea to start with p=none to monitor how your emails perform without affecting delivery. Once confident, you can move to quarantine or reject for stronger protection.
Need Help?
If you’re unsure or want us to review your DMARC setup, reach out to us, we're always happy to help.
