gh-christianlouis-dmarq/docs/user_guide/getting_started.md

DMARQ User Guide

Secure Email. Simplified.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started
3. Dashboard Overview
4. Managing Domains
5. Viewing Reports
6. IMAP Configuration
7. Settings
8. Troubleshooting
9. FAQ

Introduction

DMARQ is a modern, user-friendly tool designed to make DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) implementation accessible for everyone. This guide will help you navigate the features and functionalities of DMARQ to effectively manage your email security.

What is DMARC?

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that builds upon SPF and DKIM. It helps prevent email spoofing, phishing, and other email-based attacks by allowing domain owners to specify how email messages that fail authentication should be handled.

Benefits of Using DMARQ

• Simplified Monitoring: Easily track DMARC compliance across your domains
• Actionable Insights: Get clear visualization of authentication failures and patterns
• Automated Processing: Automatically retrieve and parse DMARC reports
• Policy Management: Manage and adjust your DMARC policies as your compliance improves

Getting Started

System Requirements

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Internet connection
• DMARC reports for your domain(s)

First-Time Setup

1. Access the DMARQ dashboard: Navigate to the URL provided by your administrator
2. Create an account: Click "Sign Up" and follow the registration process
3. Add your first domain: Click "Add Domain" on the dashboard and enter your domain details
4. Upload a DMARC report: Use the "Upload Report" button to add your first report

Dashboard Overview

The DMARQ dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of your email authentication status:

Key Elements

• Domain Summary: Shows all monitored domains with compliance rates
• Email Volume: Displays the total number of emails processed
• Compliance Rate: Shows the overall DMARC pass rate
• Recent Reports: Lists the most recent DMARC reports received

Managing Domains

Adding a Domain

1. Click "Domains" in the main navigation
2. Click the "Add Domain" button
3. Enter the domain name and description
4. Click "Save"

Domain Details

Click on any domain name to view detailed information including:

• Compliance rate over time
• Email volume trends
• Source IP breakdown
• DMARC, SPF, and DKIM records

DNS Records

DMARQ provides guidance on setting up proper DNS records for email authentication:

1. Navigate to the domain details page
2. Click "Check DNS" to see current records
3. Follow the recommendations to improve your configuration

Viewing Reports

Report List

The Reports page shows all DMARC reports received for your domains:

1. Click "Reports" in the main navigation
2. Use filters to narrow down by date, domain, or compliance status
3. Click on a report to view details

Report Details

The report detail view includes:

• Sending organization information
• Authentication results (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
• Source IP breakdown
• Recommended actions for failed authentications

IMAP Configuration

DMARQ can automatically fetch DMARC reports from your email account:

Setting Up IMAP

1. Go to "Settings" > "IMAP Configuration"
2. Enter your IMAP server details:
   • Server address
   • Port
   • Username
   • Password
   • SSL/TLS settings
3. Set polling interval (how often to check for new reports)
4. Click "Test Connection" to verify
5. Save your settings

Managing Report Fetching

• Click "Fetch Now" to retrieve reports immediately
• View the status of the background process
• Check logs for any issues with fetching reports

Settings

User Settings

Manage your account information and preferences:

• Update your profile information
• Change password
• Set notification preferences

Domain Settings

Adjust settings for your domains:

• Set default DMARC policy
• Configure alerts for compliance issues
• Set up automatic report archiving

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• No reports showing: Check your IMAP settings or try uploading reports manually
• Authentication failures: Review DNS records for proper SPF and DKIM configuration
• Slow dashboard: Try filtering for a shorter date range

Support Resources

• Documentation: DMARQ Docs
• Community Forum: DMARQ Community
• Support Email: support@example.com

FAQ

What is a good compliance rate?

A compliance rate of 98% or higher is considered excellent. Rates between 90-98% indicate room for improvement, while rates below 90% suggest significant issues that need attention.

How often should I check my DMARC reports?

For active monitoring, weekly checks are recommended. When implementing changes to SPF or DKIM, more frequent monitoring can help ensure those changes are working properly.

Can I use DMARQ for multiple domains?

Yes! DMARQ is designed to handle multiple domains. You can add each domain to monitor and see aggregate statistics across all your domains.