What you'll learn in this article
- A “no DMARC record found” error means a domain has no published DMARC policy in DNS, leaving it unprotected against spoofing and impersonation.
- SPF and DKIM alone do not provide enforcement or reporting without DMARC.
- Publishing a DMARC record enables visibility, control, and policy-based email authentication.
- Early monitoring with DMARC reporting helps organizations move safely toward enforcement.
Seeing a “no DMARC record found” error is a clear signal that a domain lacks a critical layer of email protection. Without DMARC, organizations have no centralized control over how unauthenticated email is handled or visibility into who is sending on their behalf.
In today’s threat landscape, where phishing and brand impersonation are constant risks, this gap leaves domains exposed. Understanding why this error occurs and how to fix it is a foundational step toward stronger email authentication and trust.
What Is the “No DMARC Record Found” Error?
The “no DMARC record found” error indicates that a domain does not have a published DMARC record in the Domain Name System (DNS). DMARC relies on a DNS TXT record to define the domain’s authentication policy and reporting preferences.
Receiving mail servers and security tools detect this issue during message evaluation when they query DNS and find no DMARC policy associated with the sending domain. As a result, the domain provides no instructions on how to handle messages that fail authentication checks.
This error differs from other DMARC-related issues such as invalid syntax or misconfigured policies. In those cases, a DMARC record exists but is incorrectly formatted or improperly aligned. With “no DMARC record found,” there is no policy at all—meaning SPF and DKIM results are evaluated independently, without centralized enforcement or reporting.
While SPF and DKIM authentication are important, they are insufficient on their own. Without DMARC, there is no mechanism to align these checks, enforce action on failures, or distinguish legitimate email from unauthorized use of the domain.
Why Does the “No DMARC Record Found” Error Occur?
Organizations often encounter this error due to a mix of technical oversights and operational delays. In many cases, the issue is less about complexity and more about visibility, ownership, and legacy domain management practices.
Missing Awareness or Ownership
Many organizations delay DMARC implementation due to unclear ownership between IT, security, and messaging teams. Without a designated owner, publishing a DMARC policy is often postponed indefinitely.
DNS and Domain Management Gaps
Domains that are no longer actively managed, handled by third-party providers, or controlled through legacy domain registrar accounts frequently lack DMARC configuration. Inconsistent access to DNS settings can prevent record creation.
Newly Registered or Parked Domains
Newly registered domains often have no DMARC policy by default. Parked or unused domains may also be overlooked, even though attackers commonly target them for spoofing and phishing campaigns.
Subdomain Inheritance Issues
Subdomains can trigger a “no DMARC record found” error if DMARC inheritance is not properly configured. Without an explicit policy or organizational DMARC settings, subdomains may remain unprotected even when the parent domain has DMARC enabled.
How to Fix and Prevent the “No DMARC Record Found” Error
Resolving this error involves more than simply adding a DNS entry—it requires a structured approach to authentication alignment and monitoring. The goal is to introduce DMARC safely while maintaining email deliverability and operational continuity.
Publish a DMARC Record in DNS
The first step is to create and publish a DMARC record as a DNS TXT record for your domain. DMARC records are added under the _dmarc.yourdomain.com subdomain and define how receiving mail servers should handle messages that fail authentication checks.
Without this record, receiving servers have no policy guidance and will treat all unauthenticated email as potentially legitimate. Publishing a DMARC record establishes your domain’s authentication intent and enables reporting.
Start With a Monitoring-Only Policy (p=none)
Organizations should begin with a monitoring-only policy using p=none. This setting tells receiving servers to take no enforcement action on failing messages while still generating DMARC reports.
Running DMARC in monitoring mode allows teams to observe real-world email traffic, identify all systems sending on behalf of the domain, and detect authentication gaps without impacting email delivery. This step is critical for avoiding accidental blocking of legitimate business communications.
Validate SPF and DKIM Alignment
Before moving beyond monitoring, it’s important to confirm that existing SPF and DKIM configurations are properly aligned with DMARC requirements. SPF alignment ensures the sending IP is authorized for the visible From domain, while DKIM alignment verifies that messages are cryptographically signed by an approved domain.
Misaligned or missing SPF and DKIM records are common causes of DMARC failures. Reviewing authentication results early helps organizations address configuration issues before enforcement begins.
Use DMARC Reports to Identify Gaps
Once a DMARC record is active, receiving mail servers begin sending aggregate DMARC reports. These reports provide visibility into which senders are passing or failing authentication, how frequently failures occur, and where email is originating.
Analyzing this data helps organizations uncover forgotten systems, misconfigured third-party senders, or unauthorized email sources that would otherwise remain hidden. Reporting data forms the foundation for informed DMARC enforcement decisions.
Progress Gradually Toward Enforcement
After authentication issues are resolved, organizations can begin enforcing DMARC policies by moving from p=none to p=quarantine, and eventually to p=reject. This progression should be gradual and supported by continuous monitoring.
Incremental enforcement reduces risk by allowing teams to confirm that legitimate email is authenticated correctly before blocking unauthenticated messages outright. This staged approach is considered best practice for enterprise DMARC deployment.
Simplify Ongoing Management With Mimecast DMARC Analyzer
Managing DMARC at scale can become complex, especially in environments with multiple domains and third-party senders. Mimecast’s DMARC Analyzer simplifies this process by centralizing record validation, reporting, and enforcement guidance in a single platform.
By continuously monitoring authentication performance and highlighting misconfigurations, DMARC Analyzer helps organizations prevent the “no DMARC record found” error from recurring while supporting long-term DMARC compliance and enforcement.
Conclusion
The “no DMARC record found” error is more than a configuration oversight—it represents a significant gap in email security and brand protection. Without DMARC, domains remain vulnerable to spoofing, phishing, and unauthenticated email abuse.
By publishing a DMARC record, aligning existing authentication controls, and monitoring reports, organizations can dramatically improve trust and visibility across their email ecosystem. To get started, try Mimecast’s free DMARC record checker or explore how scale.
