In this guide, we’ll explain what DMARC is and why it matters for MSPs, outline how MSPs should implement DMARC for their clients, and discuss how to offer DMARC as a managed service. We’ll also explore considerations in choosing DMARC vendors for MSPs, including features of the best DMARC platforms for MSPs and typical DMARC managed service pricing models. 

Email remains a primary vector for cyberattacks – in fact, over 91% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email​. This makes email authentication essential for businesses of all sizes. Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) is an outbound email security protocol that allows domain owners to tell receiving inboxes to reject spoofed emails. 

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), implementing DMARC for clients is both a security imperative and a service opportunity with significant business benefits. As major email providers push for widespread DMARC adoption (Microsoft, Google and Yahoo now mandate it for bulk senders), companies that don’t comply risk having their messages rejected or sent to spam folders. 

Yet many organizations struggle with the complexity of email authentication. In a 2024 survey 40% of IT Directors cited DMARC implementation as too complex, and only 37% had actually complied with new email authentication requirements​. Over half (54%) of those surveyed said they’d outsource DMARC implementation to an IT provider or specialist​, highlighting a major opportunity for MSPs. Offering DMARC and email authentication services allows MSPs to fill a critical gap, improve clients’ security and deliverability, and tap into a growing demand in the market. Working together, MSPs and DMARC providers can remove the hassle of email authentication permanently.

DMARC is an email authentication protocol that builds on Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) to ensure emails truly originate from the domains they claim. In practice, DMARC allows a domain owner (such as your client) to publish a DNS record that tells receiving mail servers how to handle emails that fail both DKIM and SPF checks – whether to reject them (enforcement), quarantine them (flag as spam), or do nothing but report on them. It also provides reporting addresses to receive feedback on email sources.

For MSPs managing multiple client domains, DMARC is critical for preventing spoofing and phishing attacks.. By implementing DMARC for client’s, an MSP ensures that only legitimate email senders (authorized via DKIM or SPF) can send as the client’s domain, and any fraudulent attempt is either flagged or blocked. This protects the client’s customers, partners, and brand reputation by stopping cybercriminals from impersonating the client’s domain in emails. 

DMARC also improves email deliverability – as mailbox providers increasingly prefer or require authentication, a properly configured DMARC policy helps legitimate client emails land in inboxes rather than spam. Google reported that bulk senders without DMARC have seen deliverability to Gmail inboxes decrease as much as 65%. 

Under the hood, DMARC alignment means that at least one of the authentication methods (DKIM or SPF) must “align” with the domain in the email’s From header. When set to enforcement (quarantine or reject), DMARC will actively block emails that aren’t authenticated and aligned. 

For MSPs, this means once you configure DMARC for a client, you’ll start getting DMARC aggregate reports (XML data usually sent daily by receivers like Gmail, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc) that show which servers are sending email claiming to be from that client’s domain and whether they passed SPF/DKIM checks. These reports give visibility into all usage of the domain in email – both legitimate and potentially malicious. Managing DMARC effectively involves parsing these reports, identifying any unauthorized senders, and adjusting configurations so that eventually all legitimate mail passes and fraudulent mail is stopped.

In short, DMARC is both a security measure and an email delivery safeguard. It’s essentially a published policy for your client’s domain that says “reject any fake emails claiming to be us.” For MSPs, understanding DMARCtranslates to understanding how to configure DNS records and email systems so that your clients’ outbound emails are trusted – and how to continuously monitor and enforce that trust.

Implementing DMARC for your clients is critical for several reasons:

In short, MSPs should implement DMARC because it bolsters client security and is a smart move for the MSP business. By partnering with a DMARC provider to protect against phishing, improve email deliverability and meet new email standards, MSPs can boost revenue and respect across the industry. 

As one MSP in a case study put it, “OnDMARC should be part of any good MSP’s cybersecurity stack,” underscoring how central DMARC has become to comprehensive email protection. The next question is: how can MSPs successfully roll out DMARC for their clients?

Implementing DMARC for multiple clients can be challenging, but a structured approach will set you up for success. Here we will cover at a high level how MSPs can implement DMARC for clients. For a more detailed approach see Red Sift’s guide to reaching DMARC enforcement.

1. Discovery: Implement the basics

Begin with a p=none DMARC policy to safely collect aggregate reports. These show which systems are sending mail on behalf of your client’s domain. Your goal: build a complete inventory of legitimate senders (cloud apps, ticketing systems, marketing platforms) and flag anything suspicious. This sets the foundation for safe enforcement later.

1. Alignment: Authenticate all legitimate senders

Once all sources are known, configure DKIM and SPF for each to ensure messages pass authentication and align with the client’s domain. This step may require updating DNS records, publishing new DKIM keys, or switching sending addresses to enable alignment. The goal is full authentication coverage — no valid sender should fail checks.

1. Automation: Scale with the right tools

Manual DMARC setup doesn’t scale. Use a multi-tenant platform to monitor domains, generate alerts, and update records via hosted DKIM and SPF. Automation reduces errors and technician workload, making it easier to manage DMARC across dozens (or hundreds) of client domains from a single console.

1. Monitoring: Maintain visibility

Even after alignment, monitoring is essential. Review reports for new senders, misconfigurations, or spoofing attempts. Quarantine-stage reports can surface issues before enforcement. Set up alerts for critical changes — e.g., a drop in pass rates or unfamiliar IPs — and adjust records as needed. This ensures your DMARC setup stays healthy as clients evolve.

1. Enforcement: The ultimate protection

Once everything’s aligned and stable, move to p=quarantine, then p=reject. This is when DMARC becomes truly protective, blocking unauthorized mail from reaching inboxes. Clients benefit from reduced phishing risk, stronger brand protection, and better inbox placement. Bonus: enforcement unlocks advanced capabilities like BIMI, which require a strict DMARC policy.

By following these steps, MSPs can systematically implement DMARC across client domains with minimal disruption. The keys are careful planning, use of the right tools to manage DNS and parse reports, and gradual policy tightening. Next, we’ll look at how to package and deliver DMARC as an ongoing service for your clients.

Once you’ve implemented DMARC for a client, the journey isn’t over – in fact, it becomes an ongoing service that MSPs can productize. Many MSPs position DMARC and related email authentication management as part of their managed security offerings or as an add-on service. Here’s how you can provide DMARC as an email authentication service:

• Managed DMARC monitoring and alerts: On a routine basis (weekly or monthly), automatically monitor the client’s DMARC aggregate reports and any alerts for issues. Rather than the client having to sift through XML files, the MSP handles it behind the scenes. If a new threat arises (such as a surge in spoofed emails from a certain source) or if a legitimate email source starts failing authentication, the MSP detects it and takes action. This proactive monitoring is a core component of the service and by partnering with a dedicated DMARC provider (such as Red Sift OnDMARC) you unlock automatic monitoring and alerts for your customers.
• DMARC, DKIM & SPF maintenance: The MSP takes ownership of keeping the client’s DNS email records up to date. If the client adds a new email domain or a new sending service, the MSP can add new sending sources to DKIM or SPF and adjust the DMARC policy as needed. With an automated provider this is painless and can be done in the UI without the MSP ever having to touch DNS. This relieves the client’s IT team from having to manage these technical details.
• Reporting to the client: Provide the client with easy-to-understand reports that demonstrate the value of DMARC enforcement. For instance, a monthly report could show: “This month, 12,000 emails were sent from your domain. 11,950 passed authentication and were delivered, 50 were rejected by DMARC (and here’s why – e.g., coming from IPs in Russia that aren’t your senders).” Highlight any significant events, such as new domains that attempted to spoof them. Over time, these reports often show a clear before-and-after; many clients initially see a number of fraudulent emails being blocked, which tapers off as attackers realize the domain is protected.
• Integration with broader security services: Frame DMARC as part of the client’s holistic security. MSPs can bundle DMARC management with other services like anti-spam/anti-malware filtering, security awareness training, or identity protection. One example could be an “Email Security Suite” where inbound filtering stops spam entering the inbox and DMARC stops spoofed messages being sent out (or coming to others appearing from your domain). This comprehensive approach is attractive to clients. It also aligns with the fact that MSPs are responsible not just for internal IT, but also for ensuring the client’s external communications are secure.
• Education and policy advisory: As an MSP, you can also advise clients on email authentication policies and best practices. For instance, help them decide when to move subdomains to enforcement. You might also guide them in implementing additional standards like TLS reporting, or future protocols. By being the go-to expert, you reinforce your role as a trusted advisor in email security. This could include an annual review meeting dedicated to their “email security posture” where DMARC results are discussed.
• Scaling across multiple clients: If you manage DMARC for many clients, leverage multi-tenant tools (discussed in the next section) to streamline your operations. This includes a central dashboard showing the DMARC status for all client domains, so your team can quickly see if any need attention. Benefits of these dashboards include automatically suggesting SPF updates or highlighting domains that are ready to move from quarantine to reject. Taking advantage of such features will make delivering the service efficient and profitable.

As you set up and scale DMARC services, you’ll encounter a variety of DMARC vendors and solutions for MSPs that can assist in the implementation and monitoring process. Choosing the right vendor (or combination of tools) is important to maximize efficiency and reliability. Here’s an overview of what the landscape looks like and what to consider:

• Specialized DMARC providers: A number of companies focus primarily on DMARC and email authentication management. This includes Red Sift OnDMARC. Many providers typically offer cloud-based platforms where you can add multiple domains, view DMARC reports in dashboards, get guided assistance to configure DMARC, DKIM & SPF, and watch your progress to enforcement. These are often tailored to MSPs through partner programs. When evaluating DMARC vendors for MSPs, a first step is to look at these specialist solutions since they are built with DMARC in mind and often have mature reporting and policy tools.
• Enterprise email security platforms: Some larger email security or deliverability companies (such as Cisco) have DMARC analysis as part of their product suites. If your MSP already partners with an email security vendor, you might explore whether they have a DMARC module you can leverage. These can be effective, though sometimes less MSP-specific in terms of multi-client management, depending on the vendor.
• DIY and open source tools: While it is possible for an MSP to implement DMARC without a third-party vendor,this approach quickly becomes labor-intensive and error-prone as you scale to many domains. It’s generally worth investing in a purpose-built DMARC solution rather than trying to build and maintain your own reporting toolset. The time saved in analysis and the accuracy of insights from a good platform will outweigh the subscription cost.

When searching for the best DMARC platform for MSPs, it’s important to consider what “best” means for your specific needs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all answer, focus on the criteria that determine a platform’s suitability and excellence in an MSP context. Here are key considerations to evaluate the best DMARC solutions for your business:

• Multi-client management: As mentioned, multi-tenancy is a must. The platform should be built to let you segregate and manage multiple client domains easily. This may include grouping domains by client, tagging, or folder structures. Some platforms allow you to generate separate reports per client or even provide clients limited access to view their own domain’s status. The ability to impersonate a client view or send scheduled reports to stakeholders can elevate a platform from good to great for MSP use.
• Single management from one console: For MSPs, managing DMARC across clients means managing DKIM, SPF, BIMI, and MTA-STS too. Choose a platform that lets you configure and control all email authentication protocols in one place — without repetitive DNS updates. With a one-time setup, you should be able to add, modify, or troubleshoot authentication records across client domains without ever opening a support ticket or waiting for DNS changes. This reduces overhead, avoids client downtime, and helps you deliver faster.
• Full visibility made simple: Your clients expect clear answers when something goes wrong — and your team needs the data to act fast. Look for granular reporting across domains and subdomains so you can diagnose deliverability issues, verify policy enforcement, and present clean executive summaries. The best platforms give you a unified view of your entire client estate, plus enhanced visibility from sources like Yahoo and others, so no traffic is missed.
• Stop email threats that sneak past DMARC: DMARC doesn’t catch everything, remember the SubdoMailing attack? Threats like orphaned subdomains and misconfigured DNS records can still expose your clients to risk. Leading platforms automatically discover subdomains, flag records at risk of takeover, and guide you through fixing them. This helps you offer protection beyond DMARC and proactively secure your clients’ domain perimeter — without needing another tool.
• Resolve issues faster with AI: Speed matters when you're managing dozens of client domains. Platforms with built-in AI help you identify issues faster — like suspicious sources, misconfigurations, or DNS gaps — and give your team step-by-step remediation in plain language. At Red Sift we recognized this change early and launch our advanced LLM Red Sift Radar in response, an added capability to Red Sift OnDMARC.
• Scalability and performance: As your DMARC service grows, the platform should handle dozens or hundreds of domains without degrading in performance. Check if there are any limits. Enterprise-grade DMARC platforms used by MSPs should gracefully handle high volumes of reports and large numbers of domains. You don’t want to switch platforms later due to outgrowing it, so pick one that can scale with your ambitions.
• Ongoing support and customer success: “Best” isn’t just software – it’s also the support behind it. Consider the reputation of the vendor. Do they actively maintain and update the product to adapt to changes (like new reporting formats or DMARC specific updates)? Is their customer support team responsive? It can be insightful to see if other MSPs are among their customers (testimonials or case studies focusing on MSP success can be a good sign). A platform that invests in educating its users (through webinars, and documentation) will make you more successful in using it.

In evaluating platforms against these criteria, it helps to read independent reviews or comparisons. Expert Insights, for example, has published guides analyzing DMARC solutions for MSPs​, considering factors like ease of implementation, reporting, support, and compatibility with MSP needs. Ultimately, the best DMARC platform for your MSP is one that fits seamlessly into your workflow and empowers you to deliver results efficiently for your clients. It should reduce the complexity of DMARC, not add to it.

Red Sift OnDMARC offers a comprehensive, automated solution for organizations seeking to strengthen their email security through DMARC, DKIM and SPF implementation. The platform is designed for ease of use, providing quick configuration, full visibility into all email sending sources, and actionable insights through clear dashboards. 

OnDMARC’s automation continuously monitors domains, surfaces alerts, and provides step-by-step guidance for necessary changes, helping organizations reach full DMARC enforcement in as little as 6-8 weeks. Ongoing monitoring and real-time alerts ensure that any issues are addressed promptly, and Red Sift’s Customer Success team offers expert support throughout the process, from initial setup to ongoing management.

Red Sift offers enhanced benefits including Dynamic Services for simplified DNS management. Our Red Sift Investigate tool provides real-time DMARC checks, and users benefit from access to Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) to boost brand visibility in every inbox. A robust approach to our DMARC offering makes Red Sift the market leader in EMEA and Europe. 

With additional capabilities like hosted MTA-STS and TLS Reporting (TLS-RPT), forensic reporting, and robust API integrations, OnDMARC provides a best-in-class, scalable solution trusted by leading global brands. Red Sift’s commitment to quality, security certifications, and strategic partnerships makes it a reliable choice for organizations looking to secure their email communications and protect against evolving threats.

Our platform is built for MSPs who want to deliver reliable, scalable, and effective DMARC services. The platform’s automation, advanced troubleshooting, and flexible integration options make it easier for MSPs to onboard clients, manage ongoing compliance, and demonstrate measurable value. With dedicated partner support and proven success in enterprise and government deployments, Red Sift enables MSPs to grow their security business while improving client outcomes.