Summary
The consensus regarding the new DMARC RUA requirements for 2024, largely influenced by Google and Yahoo's policies, is that while not always strictly mandatory, implementing a DMARC policy with a RUA tag is highly advisable for enhanced email authentication and security. RUA enables senders to receive aggregate reports, offering insights into email authentication, potential spoofing, and unauthorized domain usage. This proactive monitoring facilitates timely responses to delivery issues and domain abuse. While some suggest RUA isn't needed if already using `p=reject`, the majority emphasize its importance for visibility and control. ESPs are expected to simplify DMARC management, potentially offering unique subdomains. Setting up RUA involves creating a DNS TXT record pointing to a designated email address. Concerns include the complexity of interpreting XML reports and choosing appropriate tools or providers.
Key findings
- Google & Yahoo's Influence: New requirements are driven by Google and Yahoo's stricter authentication policies.
- RUA for Monitoring: RUA is crucial for monitoring email authentication, identifying issues, and preventing spoofing.
- Visibility & Control: RUA provides essential visibility into how emails are being handled and allows for proactive control.
- ESP's Role: ESPs are expected to simplify DMARC management for domain owners.
- Not Always Mandatory: While highly recommended, RUA might not be strictly mandatory in all cases, particularly with a p=reject policy, but best practice would still be to use it.
Key considerations
- Implementation Complexity: Implementing DMARC and RUA can be technically challenging, involving DNS record configuration.
- Report Analysis: Analyzing XML-based DMARC reports can be complex, often requiring specialized tools or services.
- Actionable Insights: The value of RUA hinges on the ability to understand and act upon the information provided in the aggregate reports.
- Balance of Enforcement: Even with an enforcement policy, monitoring provides insight into any DKIM or SPF failures.
What email marketers say
13 marketer opinions
The new DMARC RUA requirements for 2024, primarily driven by Yahoo and Gmail, emphasize the importance of email authentication and monitoring. While not always a strict requirement, having a DMARC policy with a RUA (reporting URI for aggregate reports) tag is highly recommended. It allows senders to receive aggregate reports about their email authentication status, helping them identify potential issues, spoofing attempts, and unauthorized use of their domain. ESPs are also encouraged to step up their game and provide easier ways for domain owners to manage DMARC, possibly through unique subdomains managed by the ESP. Setting up a RUA tag involves creating a TXT record in the domain's DNS settings, specifying the email address for receiving the reports. Without RUA, senders are essentially flying blind, unable to see how their email is being handled by receivers and react to any potential delivery issues.
Key opinions
- Authentication: Yahoo and Gmail are requiring DMARC authentication.
- Monitoring: RUA is essential for monitoring email authentication and identifying issues.
- RUA Tag Purpose: The RUA tag specifies the email address for receiving aggregate DMARC reports.
- ESP Role: ESPs may need to manage DMARC on behalf of customers.
- Visibility: Without RUA, senders lack visibility into how their emails are being handled.
Key considerations
- Implementation Effort: Setting up DMARC and RUA requires technical knowledge and DNS configuration.
- Report Monitoring: Regularly monitoring DMARC reports is crucial for identifying and addressing issues.
- ESPs Involvement: Domain owners should ensure their ESPs provide adequate DMARC support.
- Alternative solutions: For p=reject, you don't need RUA
- Aggregation reports: Aggregate reports give summaries
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks adds that this is only the first step for authentication enforcement and senders should monitor reports with the p=none policy and rua, before transitioning to actually protecting their mail.
3 Feb 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from URIports explains that a key aspect of the new DMARC guidelines is the use of the RUA tag to collect aggregate reports. These reports help senders monitor their email authentication results, identify unauthorized use of their domain, and improve their overall email security. Having a RUA setup is essential to be able to action anything found.
11 Jan 2025 - URIports
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Experts emphasize the importance of DMARC aggregate reports (RUA) for understanding email sending practices and authentication. RUA is seen as a positive step, particularly given the prevalence of 'p=none' policies, and is crucial for monitoring and identifying potential issues like spoofing. Configuring DMARC with RUA enables timely reactions to delivery problems and domain abuse. While aggregate reports are valuable, they are summaries, and for detailed failure analysis, forensic reports may be necessary. The reports are in XML, but third parties can automate translation.
Key opinions
- RUA Importance: DMARC RUA is crucial for understanding email sending and authentication practices.
- Monitoring Benefits: RUA helps monitor and identify potential issues like spoofing.
- Actionable Insights: RUA allows for timely reactions to delivery problems and domain abuse.
- Report Format: DMARC reports are in XML, which can be automated via third parties.
- Enforcement Policies: Requiring RUA is a positive step with prevalent 'p=none' policies.
Key considerations
- Report Complexity: DMARC reports are in XML, requiring either manual processing or third-party tools.
- Report Type: Aggregate reports provide summaries; forensic reports may be needed for detailed analysis.
- Policy Implications: Publishing and monitoring aggregate reports is beneficial as an alert to any DKIM or SPF failures.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that DMARC aggregate reports (via RUA) are crucial for understanding where your email is being sent and if it's being properly authenticated. The reports provide insight into potential spoofing or misconfigurations. Aggregate reports, while helpful, are a summary and if there's a need to know why a particular message failed, forensic reports are needed instead.
19 Feb 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks notes the prevalence of "v=dmarc1; p=none" policies, suggesting that requiring RUA (reporting URI for aggregate reports) is a positive step.
17 Jan 2025 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Documentation from Google, Yahoo, RFC Editor, and Microsoft emphasizes the importance of DMARC and, specifically, the RUA tag for 2024. Google requires senders to authenticate emails with SPF or DKIM and recommends setting up a RUA tag. Yahoo is enforcing stricter email authentication requirements and strongly recommends RUA for monitoring, noting that its absence hinders issue detection. The RFC specifies the RUA tag's purpose for aggregate feedback reports, deeming it crucial for DMARC implementation monitoring. Microsoft highlights RUA's role in protecting against spoofing and phishing, advocating for aggregate reports to gain insights and address issues.
Key findings
- Google Requirement: Google requires SPF or DKIM authentication and recommends RUA.
- Yahoo Enforcement: Yahoo is enforcing stricter authentication and recommends RUA for monitoring.
- RFC Specification: The RFC defines the RUA tag for aggregate feedback reports.
- Microsoft Protection: Microsoft highlights RUA for protection against spoofing and phishing.
- Monitoring Tool: The consistent message is that aggregate reports received using RUA is a key monitoring tool.
Key considerations
- Not Always Required: While strongly recommended, RUA is not always a strict requirement, but omitting is not advisable.
- Implementation: Proper implementation is essential to protect from attacks.
- Insights: Reports offer insights into authentication status, helping identify and address issues.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that implementing DMARC, including the RUA tag, is essential for protecting your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks. By configuring the RUA tag, you can receive aggregate reports that provide insights into your email authentication status and help you identify and address any issues. Sending these reports to an external provider will give visibility for senders who are not able to do this in-house.
10 Jan 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster announced that starting Q1 2024, they would be enforcing stricter email authentication requirements, including DMARC. Yahoo strongly recommends senders implement a DMARC policy with a RUA tag to receive reports and monitor their email authentication status. Not having an RUA tag isn't an instant block, but prevents senders from monitoring authentication issues.
13 Sep 2021 - Yahoo Postmaster
Are DMARC RUA and RUF tags mandatory for compliance and what are their benefits?
Are there GDPR concerns related to IP addresses in DMARC reporting?
Can DMARC reports be sent without RUA or RUF addresses?
Can missing RUA records in DMARC cause email blocking by Microsoft domains?
How can DMARC reports be enriched with user-level data for better domain enforcement?
How do DMARC policies and RUA/RUF settings inherit or override each other between a domain and its subdomains?
