When you set up DMARC for your domain, you're prompted to include a reporting address (via the rua tag) to receive aggregate reports. Often, these addresses point to a domain that doesn't immediately reveal who is managing the reports. One such domain that frequently causes confusion is dmarc-report.com. It's a common query: who exactly is behind this domain, and what does it mean for your email deliverability and security?
Understanding the ownership of such a generic-looking DMARC reporting domain is important for several reasons. It helps clarify where your valuable email authentication data is being processed and whether it's by a trusted entity. Let's delve into unraveling the mystery of dmarc-report.com and the broader context of DMARC reporting.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that helps domain owners protect their brand from email spoofing and phishing attacks. It allows you to publish a policy in your DNS records that tells receiving mail servers how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM authentication, and crucially, to send back reports about these messages. These reports provide invaluable insight into your email ecosystem, showing who is sending email on your behalf and whether it's authenticating correctly.
The rua tag in your DMARC record specifies the email address where aggregate DMARC reports (XML files containing daily summaries of email traffic) should be sent. Similarly, the ruf tag directs forensic (failure) reports, which provide more detailed information about individual messages that failed DMARC. These reports are critical for monitoring and fine-tuning your email authentication policies.
Many organizations opt to send these reports to a third-party service provider rather than a mailbox within their own domain. This is because raw DMARC reports are in an XML format and can be very voluminous, making manual analysis impractical. Third-party services are designed to ingest, parse, and present this data in an actionable format. For a deeper dive into how DMARC reports are structured and what they contain, you can refer to resources like Google's explanation of DMARC reports.
MXToolbox and the dmarc-report.com domain
The domain dmarc-report.com is indeed managed by MXToolbox, a well-known provider of network and email diagnostic tools. This ownership can be inferred by examining the DMARC record of dmarc-report.com itself, which clearly points back to their primary domain.
As seen in the record above, the rua tag within dmarc-report.com's DMARC policy explicitly includes mxtoolbox.dmarc-report.com as part of its reporting address. This configuration is a strong indicator that MXToolbox uses this specific domain for its DMARC reporting services, acting as an intermediary to collect and process the aggregate and forensic reports on behalf of its users. This setup simplifies the DMARC implementation for many organizations, allowing them to redirect reports to a dedicated platform for analysis.
The value of DMARC reporting services
The main benefit of using a third-party DMARC reporting service is that it automates the often overwhelming task of interpreting DMARC data. Raw DMARC reports are XML files that contain a vast amount of information, but they are not user-friendly. Without a specialized tool, understanding patterns, identifying unauthorized senders, or detecting malicious activity becomes a significant challenge. These services aggregate data from various mailbox providers (like Google Yahoo Microsoft, etc.) and present them in an intuitive dashboard.
Raw DMARC reports
Format: Delivered as complex XML files, requiring specialized tools for parsing.
Volume: Can generate hundreds or thousands of reports daily, leading to mailbox overload.
Insights: Difficult to extract actionable insights due to the raw, unstructured nature of the data.
Actionability: Requires manual effort to identify legitimate vs. fraudulent email streams.
Managed DMARC reports (via services)
Format: Parsed into human-readable tables and graphs, making data accessible.
Volume: Consolidated into a single interface, eliminating the need to manage numerous XML files.
Insights: Provides clear visibility into authentication failures, sources, and trends.
Actionability: Helps quickly identify and mitigate threats like domain spoofing or misconfigured legitimate senders.
Leveraging a DMARC monitoring tool is paramount for maintaining a healthy email sending reputation and ensuring your emails reach the inbox. It helps you quickly identify issues that could lead to your emails being marked as spam or your domain being added to a blocklist (or blacklist). Without such tools, navigating the complexities of DMARC and achieving full enforcement of your DMARC policy would be an almost impossible task. If you're looking for solutions, consider exploring our guide on tools that can analyze DMARC reports.
Managing your DMARC reports
While dmarc-report.com is managed by MXToolbox, it's important to remember that DMARC reports can be directed to any email address you specify in your DMARC record. This means you have flexibility in choosing your DMARC reporting solution, whether it's a dedicated third-party service, an in-house tool, or even a simple mailbox for small-scale monitoring. For more technical details on how to set up DMARC records to receive reports, the DMARC.org website offers valuable insights.
Some organizations, for example, might use services like DuoCircle for their DMARC needs, which also offers robust reporting and management features. The key is that the rua tag in your DMARC DNS record directs reports to the service you choose. Therefore, if your DMARC record points to dmarc-report.com, you would manage your DMARC settings and view reports through your MXToolbox account.
It's considered a best current practice (BCP) for any domain used for DMARC reporting to have a functioning website or clear documentation. This transparency helps users understand who they are entrusting their email data to and where to go for support. While dmarc-report.com might not host a direct public website, its connection to a reputable entity like MXToolbox provides the necessary clarity and assurance. For more details on setting up DMARC, refer to our guide on how to properly set up DMARC records.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always include both rua and ruf tags in your DMARC record to get comprehensive aggregate and forensic reports.
Choose a DMARC reporting service that provides clear visualizations and actionable insights from your report data.
Regularly review your DMARC reports to identify legitimate email sources that might be failing authentication.
Gradually move your DMARC policy from 'p=none' to 'p=quarantine' and then to 'p=reject' based on your report analysis.
Common pitfalls
Not having a DMARC record at all, leaving your domain vulnerable to spoofing and phishing attacks.
Setting a DMARC policy of 'p=reject' too early without proper monitoring and analysis of reports.
Overlooking forensic reports, which provide granular details on authentication failures for troubleshooting.
Failing to renew or update DNS records, leading to DMARC record misconfigurations and missed reports.
Expert tips
Implement DMARC for all your sending domains, even those not actively used for email, to prevent abuse.
Use a DMARC monitoring platform to automate the collection and analysis of reports, saving significant time.
Collaborate with your email service providers to ensure DMARC alignment for all your sending channels.
Pay close attention to 'non-aligned' traffic in your reports as this indicates potential spoofing or misconfiguration.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says the generic nature of some DMARC reporting domains makes it difficult to ascertain their ownership, leading to confusion when trying to locate support or management interfaces.
2022-02-24 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says that the DMARC record of the reporting domain itself often contains clues about its actual manager, as seen with dmarc-report.com pointing to MXToolbox.
2022-02-24 - Email Geeks
Final thoughts on DMARC reporting
While the domain dmarc-report.com might appear nondescript at first glance, it is a dedicated reporting domain managed by MXToolbox. This setup allows them to efficiently collect and process DMARC aggregate and forensic reports for their users, providing clarity into email authentication outcomes. Understanding who manages your DMARC reporting domains is essential for effective email security and deliverability.
Proactive DMARC monitoring, whether through a service like MXToolbox DuoCircle, or another solution, is fundamental. It empowers you to detect and address unauthorized email activity, prevent domain spoofing, and ensure your legitimate emails avoid blacklists (or blocklists) and reach their intended recipients. Continue to monitor your DMARC reports to maintain optimal email deliverability and strengthen your sender reputation.
MXToolbox, a well-known provider of network and email diagnostic tools. This ownership can be inferred by examining the DMARC record of dmarc-report.com itself, which clearly points back to their primary domain.
Google
Yahoo
Microsoft, etc.) and present them in an intuitive dashboard.
DuoCircle for their DMARC needs, which also offers robust reporting and management features. The key is that the rua tag in your DMARC DNS record directs reports to the service you choose. Therefore, if your DMARC record points to dmarc-report.com, you would manage your DMARC settings and view reports through your 
