Skip to main content
SolarWinds MSP
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships Overview
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
    • Distributor Program
SolarWinds MSP
  • Products
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central Automate. Tackle complex networks. Get remote monitoring and management built for efficiency and scale.
    • RMM Start fast. Grow at your own pace. Try this powerful but easy remote monitoring and management solution.
    • Backup
    • Backup Get data protection for servers, workstations, applications, documents, and Microsoft 365 from one dashboard.
    • Security
    • EDR Defend against ransomware, zero-day attacks, and evolving threats with endpoint detection and response.
    • Mail Assure Leverage mail protection and archiving to keep your users safe from email threats and downtime.
    • Passportal Adopt and enforce best practices for password and documentation management with ease.
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager Increase helpdesk efficiency with a robust PSA, ticketing, reporting, and billing management solution.
    • Take Control Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
    • View All
  • Solutions

    Solutions

    • Security Protect your customers and expand your business by offering layered security services without the complexity.
    • Monitoring Choose the right remote monitoring and management solution to meet you where you are and grow with you.
    • Operational Efficiency Boost profits by improving efficiency via automation, resources and training, and time-saving products.
    • IT Departments Keep your organization productive by easily managing IT from a single, easy-to-use, web-based dashboard.
    • Remote Monitoring Solutions Comparison Compare SolarWinds RMM and N-central side by side. Sign up to talk to a specialist to find the right fit.
    • View All
  • Resources
    • Download
    • Resource Library
    • Product Information
    • Free Tools
    • Learn
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • Daily Live Demos
    • MSP Advice Project
    • Ask the N-central Experts
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Connect
    • Blog
    • Security Resource Center
    • Events
    • RMM Foundations Training
  • About
    • Company
    • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • News & Press
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Support & Policies
    • Customer Success
    • Customer Support
    • Legal
    • Security
    • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
  • IT Departments
  • Contact Sales
    • Contact Sales
    • General Inquiry
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
    • Talk to Specialist
    • Security Solutions
    • Monitoring Solutions
    • Operational Efficiency
  • Try Now
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central
    • RMM
    • Backup
    • Security
    • EDR
    • Mail Assure
    • Passportal
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager
    • Take Control
  • Request a Quote
  • Try Now
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds N-central
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Passportal
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
Request quote
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • The Head Nerds
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Mail What Is DMARC Email Security and How Do You Implement It?
Mail

What Is DMARC Email Security and How Do You Implement It?

By SolarWinds MSP
9 September, 2020

You’ve likely heard plenty of horror stories about email-based cyberattacks in the past few years. Social engineering has become a rising threat to business email and it’s reported that losses resulting from business email compromise scams totaled $1.2 billion in 2018 alone. Email remains one of the most likely targets of cyberattacks simply because it’s comparatively easier to exploit than other systems. 

In the face of a growing number of attacks, what can MSPs do to protect their customers from business email compromise? To point MSPs in the right direction, this guide will consider and explain a key aspect of robust email security, called Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) email security. 

What Is DMARC?

DMARC is an email validation system designed to protect business email domains from being exploited via email spoofing, phishing scams, and other cybercrimes. DMARC leverages two existing email authentication techniques—Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM). 

DMARC contributes a key function to an email security solution, which is reporting. When the owner of a domain publishes a DMARC record into their DNS record, they can view who’s sending email on behalf of their domain. With this information, the domain owner can gain control over the emails being sent on their behalf. DMARC can be used to safeguard your domains against email spoofing and phishing attacks. 

Why Is DMARC an important part of email security?

CTA Image

SolarWinds Mail Assure

Advanced Threat Protection for Inbound and Outbound Email.

Try It Free Learn More

As all professionals will surely agree, it’s crucial that the emails your customers and website visitors believe to be sent by you are legitimate, which is why DMARC email security is such an important part of a strong MSP email security solution. 

There are nearly four billion email accounts worldwide, making it essentially the largest modern communication channel in existence. It’s no surprise then that cybercriminals consider the email channel to be a prime target. Crime on this channel shows no signs of slowing down, with more than half of surveyed companies at a recent Infosecurity London conference reporting that they continue to face phishing emails on a regular basis. 

With DMARC email security, phishing attacks become visible and you can gain full insight into your email channels. DMARC is a powerful tool capable of mitigating the impact of malware and phishing attacks. In addition to helping your company avoid business email compromise and scams, it can also prevent spoofing and protect your business against brand abuse.

Not so many years ago, traditional email authentication techniques—DKIM and SPF—provided sufficient protection from email spoofing and phishing scams. However, as cybercriminals adapted to the landscape, attack techniques have evolved to bypass these security measures. To achieve high-security business email you should use DMARC, SPF, and DKIM in combination. DMARC will create a link between SPF and DKIM. 

SPF is used to restrict which mail servers can send email for a specified domain name. This framework detects and blocks email spoofing. When signing outgoing messages with DKIM, the recipient can verify the respective message is indeed from the correct sender and its content haven’t been altered. When you apply DKIM, it reduces the chance of identifying emails as spam and discourages others from spoofing your email—particularly when combined with SPF. DMARC provides the best protection when utilized alongside both SPF and DKIM. 

When implemented into your DNS record, DMARC email security will give you invaluable insight into your email channel, helping you establish a more comprehensive and robust email security solution. 

How do you implement DMARC?

The process of implementing DMARC is fairly simple, especially if you work with a DNS server administrator. Your DNS server administrator should be able to add your DMARC record to your DNS so you can begin monitoring your chosen domain. You will start receiving reports, which will give you insight into where email traffic using that domain is coming from. In doing so, you might identify some vendors, platforms, or partners you didn’t realize were sending emails on your behalf.

Choosing the right email security solution

As this guide has already mentioned, the most secure business email solution involves a layered security approach. A powerful, high-security email solution should add layers of security and should include SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Fortunately, there are email security solutions on the market that can help you establish secure business email, prevent email spoofing, and keep your email encrypted by combining DMARC, SPF, and DKIM. 

SolarWinds® Mail Assure is an email security tool designed to help MSPs better protect their customers from known and emerging email-based threats. This is a cloud-based solution with advanced threat protection capabilities. It safeguards both inbound and outbound email, making it easier than ever to help your customers avoid an email-borne attack. Mail Assure features real-time threat recognition and leverages a variety of filtering technologies, including impersonation protection and anti-phishing. The tool’s technology also supports DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, affording you a comprehensive business email security solution. You can access a 30-day free trial of Mail Assure here. 

Additional reading

Email Security Trends for 2018
How to Protect Your Organization Against Email Spoofing 
The Email Security Education Series: What Does a Phishing Campaign Look Like?
You might also like...
Mail

How to Effectively Use an Email Spam Filter Service

Mail

6 Cybersecurity Tips for Business Email

Mail

How to Tell If You Have Efficient Email Threat Protection

Mail

Top Outbound Email Security Best Practices for Your Company

Mail

Email Privacy Issues Your Business Might Have in 2020

Mail

4 Email Attachment Threats to Secure Systems From

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts
  • Three things I learned working for an MSP
  • Earning word-of-mouth referrals for your IT business
  • Backup automation part 1: Deploying backup devices
  • Ultimate Guide: MySQL Backup
  • Most common automation requests and how to solve them: Ep 2
Categories:
  • Security (240)
  • Tips & Advice (130)
  • Best Practices (97)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (96)
  • Managed Services (89)
  • The Head Nerds (82)
  • Business Growth (79)
  • IT Support (43)
  • Business (41)
  • Automation (40)
  • Operations (38)
  • Cybersecurity (37)
  • Mail (33)
  • Remote Management (30)
  • ITSM (26)
  • Networking (22)
  • Cloud Computing (21)
  • Data (21)
  • Marketing (15)
  • PSA (13)
  • Product (11)
  • Service Desk (6)
  • Services & Support (5)
  • Mobile (4)
  • Risk Intelligence (4)
  • GDPR (3)
  • Internet of Things (3)
  • Customer Service (3)
  • Research & Trends (2)
  • Training (2)
  • Business Risk (1)
  • LOGICcards (1)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month (1)
Show moreless
SolarWinds MSP

Products
  • SolarWinds RMM
  • SolarWinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds EDR
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • All Products Use Cases
Solutions
  • Security Solutions
  • Monitoring Solutions
  • Efficiency Solutions
  • Identify which RMM solution is right for me
  • Drive Efficiency with Automation
  • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
  • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights
About
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Subscription Preferences
  • SolarWinds
  • SolarWinds Trust Center
  • COVID-19 Response
Support
  • SolarWinds RMM
  • Solarwinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • Solarwinds Risk Intelligence
  • Solarwinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • SolarWinds Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Service Status

Footer 2

  • Legal Documents
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Security Information
  • Sitemap

© SolarWinds MSP Canada ULC and SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.