DMARC: The Missing Link in Your MSP’s Defense Strategy

Blog, DMARC

Is DMARC missing from your MSP's security toolkit? Learn how this email authentication protocol bolsters email defense and improves deliverability.

by Ahona Rudra

Reading Time: 7 min
DMARC: The Missing Link in Your MSP’s Defense Strategy
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Every business needs to keep its email security strong. No company can afford that its sent emails end up landing in a spam folder. It may not sound very serious, but one missing email from the company can result in major consequences if not noticed in a timely manner.

Using an email authentication protocol can help save time instead of manually checking every email’s delivery. Cybersecurity Managed Service Providers (MSPs), including Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), ensure easy access to top-notch solutions at unbelievable rates, along with expert assistance from a dedicated support team. They alleviate the pressure businesses, whether SMEs or MNCs, face daily from information security threats such as phishing attacks and customer data thefts, and reduce constraints on resources. MSPs also help organizations manage their business costs more efficiently with a predictable subscription-based pricing model. They also provide easy access to experts who handle complexities on your behalf!

In recent times, organizations have been facing compliance issues if they do not implement DMARC in their email defense strategy. This is all because of the updated Google and Yahoo email authentication requirements. DMARC is now mandatory for bulk email senders!

Hence, in this article, you will learn what is missing in most MSPs’ defense strategy and how DMARC can fill the void adequately.

 

Key Takeaways

  1. Robust email security, including DMARC, is critical for preventing communication failures, protecting business integrity, and is now mandatory for bulk senders due to Google/Yahoo updates.
  2. DMARC, with SPF and DKIM, authenticates emails, improves deliverability, reduces domain impersonation, and strengthens customer trust.
  3. MSPs/MSSPs gain a competitive edge by offering DMARC, enhancing their service value, and can guide clients through implementation and policy enforcement.
  4. DMARC solutions for MSPs offer features like multi-tenant dashboards, automated alerts, white-labeling, and comprehensive training, simplifying management even without deep technical expertise.
  5. DMARC reports provide actionable insights for monitoring email traffic, identifying threats, and refining security strategies towards full enforcement (p=reject).

DMARC and Its Relevance in the Current Security Landscape

DMARC is an email authentication protocol. The DMARC DNS record is a text (TXT) record that needs to be published on your Domain Name System.

DMARC acts as a robust and additional layer of email security by working with Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and Domain Keys Identified Message (DKIM).

PowerDMARC is an ultimate DMARC software solutions provider designed for MSPs, service providers, and businesses dealing with multiple domains and clients. Offering our managed DMARC services allows companies to achieve improved email deliverability and domain security.

 

Simplify DMARC with PowerDMARC!

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What Does DMARC Actually Do?

DMARC works with SPF and/or DKIM to authenticate outgoing emails, allowing senders to inform receivers whether their messages are authorized based on the domain’s configured policy. When an email is sent, DMARC enables the receiving server to verify if the message genuinely originates from the claimed domain by checking SPF and DKIM alignment; it will either pass or fail this check. If a message fails DMARC, it suggests a potential issue, such as an unauthorized sender, malicious intent like brand impersonation, or domain spoofing. Conversely, a message that passes DMARC is confirmed as legitimate, significantly improving its chances of safe delivery to the recipient’s inbox, irrespective of their spam filters. These three email authentication protocols function together to authorize sending sources, prevent message tampering, and enforce policies for messages failing authentication.

Additionally, DMARC also supports reporting. DMARC reports provide detailed information on how the emails are processed within a system. With this, users can monitor their email traffic, and the legitimacy of emails being sent from their domains.

The Importance of DMARC in Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving very rapidly as new threats are being introduced every year! With the growing number of scams, phishing attacks, and cyber threats, protecting email domains is becoming harder by the day. The DMARC protocol has emerged as an important part of every business’s security suite, with industry leaders pushing for its increased adoption.

With DMARC organizations have witnessed a proven improvement in their email deliverability and reduced incidents of impersonation, which in turn strengthens their customers’ trust in their brand. The PowerDMARC team is currently dedicated to protecting more than 50,000 domains with DMARC and this is what we have noticed – our clients enjoy successful email marketing campaigns, with little to no email rejections or spam complaints. They also boast a significant decrease in domain name impersonation, phishing, and direct-domain spoofing attacks.

Why MSPs Need to Offer DMARC to Their Customers

You as a managed provider of IT services generally work with multiple clients with varying needs, making security management a complex task. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, scammers are also quick to use it to advance their cyberattacks.

  • To keep users safe from these continually growing cyberattacks, you must use proper strategies to update their security. Implementing DMARC along with other security tools can help clients protect the email infrastructure.
  • DMARC can also offer a differentiation in the competitive market. As a unique selling point, DMARC will make your business stand out among others in the market, providing an edge over competitors and serving as a key value addition that enhances your brand’s marketing efficacy. This may become a strong selling point in attracting and retaining customers who aren’t just looking for basic solutions.
  • DMARC and other email authentication services are a value-added proposition. This sets your managed services apart as an offerer of comprehensive email security services.
  • It opens up a brand new revenue stream for providers which they can offer as a premium add-on or as a part of a complete security bundle, with profitable margins.
  • MSPs play a crucial role in educating clients about information security and guiding them through the DMARC adoption process, from initial monitoring (p=none) to full enforcement (p=reject), thereby improving client reputation and email deliverability.

MSP-specific DMARC platforms like PowerDMARC enable users to manage multiple domains effortlessly. These platforms simplify the generation of DMARC policies and update DNS records.

How Can MSPs Implement DMARC Easily for Customers

Partnering with a specialized DMARC solution provider can streamline the implementation for MSPs, often offering automated processes for customer onboarding, billing, and overall client management, which significantly reduces manual effort and complexity. Here are the main steps to implement DMARC.

Step 1: Become a Partner

MSPs can sign up with our Partnership Program to add DMARC along with other advanced email authentication protocols to their service suite. These include SPF, DKIM, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT, and BIMI.

Step 2: Register Your and Your Client’s Domains

Use our intuitive setup wizard to register the domains on the platform. As the MSP super admin, our platform allows you to add admins from your team, and set user and admin management permissions.

Step 3: Set Up SPF and DKIM

Create and publish SPF and DKIM authentication standards in the DNS. Test the SPF and DKIM configuration to ensure that legitimate emails aren’t blocked. We have automated tools on the platform that will help you create and check your records in a matter of seconds!

Step 4: Create DMARC Records

Learn about the mandatory DMARC tags. These tags guide email receivers through DMARC checks so users can take action for messages that fail authentication. Some essential DMARC tags are v=, p=, and rua= (recommended). Then create DMARC records automatically using our generator tool for registered domains.

Step 5: Add DMARC Records

Add the DMARC records to the DNS. This will activate the protocol for all registered domains.

Step 6: Upgrade DMARC Policies

At first, the DMARC policy should be set to “none” to monitor email activity. This will not impact the email delivery. Later, you can activate and use our Hosted DMARC to enforce your DMARC policy and automatically reject unauthorized email sources.

Additional Benefits To Set You Up for Success

Our partnership program for managed service providers goes beyond just offering DMARC. We really set you up for success in the field by providing:

  • Custom slack webhook and email alerts, allowing you to specify thresholds and forensic incidents to track suspicious email behavior, admin, and user activities directly from your inbox or Slack, minimizing the need to constantly log into the platform.
  • Full platform white labeling allows you to fully rebrand the platform in your custom colors, theme, brand logo, white labeled reports and hosted services, and a custom URL with you
  • Free certifications to establish yourself as an expert in the field, complemented by in-depth training, knowledge sessions, and proactive, round-the-clock technical support to ensure clarity and confidence in the services offered.
  • Rebranded marketing materials to utilize for spreading awareness about your brand and the importance of implementing these services
  • Support for offering a complimentary 15-day trial to clients, helping to address uncertainties about paid plans and demonstrate value effectively, often guided by a comprehensive onboarding checklist.
  • The ability to outsource much of the email authentication management, meaning deep prior technical knowledge of protocols isn’t a prerequisite for MSPs to offer these advanced security services; the focus is on strengthening client email security with expert support.

Best Practices for DMARC Management

Managing emails with DMARC is complex. Organizations must take proper steps to select the best strategies for DMARC management. Here are some best practices for making DMARC implementation smooth and hassle-free.

Select Suitable DMARC Policies

DMARC provides three policies: none, quarantine, and reject. The first one, “p=none,” is applied when beginning the DMARC journey, allowing for monitoring of email activity without impacting delivery. The ultimate goal for robust protection is to progress to “p=reject.” This policy instructs receiving servers to block unauthenticated emails, effectively preventing phishing and spoofing messages from reaching your clients’ inboxes. Proper adjustments and continuous monitoring of email practices and domain activities are crucial for a smooth transition to higher enforcement levels.

Receive DMARC Reports

DMARC reports provide data and insights on email domain activity, including the number of undelivered or flagged emails that are failing authentication. DMARC RUA reports offer data that helps assess the overall effectiveness of your DMARC implementation.

The Future of DMARC

DMARC holds an essential place in present and well as future cybersecurity strategies.

MSPs’ defense strategies may be up to date, but they are incomplete if DMARC is not part of them. This email authentication protocol enhances email security while also improving deliverability. It protects domain owners from business compromises and phishing attacks.

Therefore, if you are an MSP looking to add DMARC and other email and domain authentication solutions to your service suite, we can help you! Book a demo or contact us to speak to a partnership specialist today.

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