Executive summary: Implementing DMARC delivers one of the clearest, fastest returns on investment in email security. By authenticating outgoing mail and blocking spoofed messages, DMARC cuts the direct costs of phishing and Business Email Compromise, safeguards brand reputation, and boosts deliverability—ultimately driving revenue and trimming operational workload.
Key takeaways:
- Cost avoidance drives ROI: Organizations enforcing DMARC save millions annually through fewer phishing incidents, lower customer‑support volume, and reduced risk of regulatory penalties and insurance premiums.
- Better deliverability equals revenue: Authenticated email enjoys higher inbox placement; for high‑volume senders this translates directly into stronger customer engagement and sales—and enables BIMI for added brand visibility.
- Operational and compliance upside: Automated reporting and AI‑powered tooling (such as Red Sift Radar) let lean security teams resolve issues up to 10× faster while meeting stringent mandates from HIPAA, PCI‑DSS, GDPR, DORA, and new bulk‑sender rules from Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo.
Email is a critical communication tool for businesses, but it’s also a common target for cyberattacks such as phishing and spoofing. These attacks can lead to financial losses, operational disruptions, and damage to a company’s reputation. When considering investments in email security, many decision-makers want to understand the return on investment (ROI).
When it comes to your security strategy, implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) offers clear, measurable benefits that make it a worthwhile investment.
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Understanding the costs of not acting
Phishing emails are costly. The average annual cost of phishing rose by nearly 10% from 2024 to 2023, from $4.45m to $4.88m. For organizations facing hundreds or thousands of these attacks annually, the total cost adds up quickly. Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks also carry a heavy price, costing organizations in the US $2.9 billion per year. Beyond these direct costs, a successful phishing or spoofing attack can result in significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and damage to customer trust.
Research shows that companies enforcing DMARC policies can save millions annually by reducing the number of email-based attacks. These savings come from fewer security incidents, lower customer support demands, and reduced risk exposure.
How DMARC provides value
Preventing fraud and protecting your brand
DMARC helps stop unauthorized senders from using your domain to send fraudulent emails. This protects your customers and partners from scams and helps maintain your company’s reputation. Tracking the number of blocked fraudulent emails and the costs avoided can help quantify the financial benefits of DMARC.
Improving email delivery rates
When your emails are properly authenticated with DMARC, they are less likely to be marked as spam or rejected by recipient servers, increasing sender success. Deliverability is therefore vital for business operations. With 78.5% of survey respondents rating the importance of deliverability an 8 out of 10 or higher. For businesses sending large volumes of email, this implementing DMARC means more messages reach your customers, leading to increased engagement and revenue.
Reducing operational workload
DMARC provides detailed reports on email activity related to your domain. This visibility allows security teams to quickly identify unauthorized senders and address issues before they become bigger problems. As a result, teams spend less time investigating incidents and managing phishing attacks.
Better still, advancements in AI and LLM models are enabling faster and more reactive response times from overworked security teams. Tools like Red Sift Radar allow IT teams to find and fix issues 10 times faster. Equally, customer support teams benefit from fewer phishing-related inquiries, freeing up resources for other priorities.
Supporting compliance efforts
Many industries require strong email security measures to comply with regulations like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. Implementing DMARC helps meet these requirements by preventing unauthorized use of your domain and reducing the risk of data breaches through email.
Equally prominent email providers Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have recently brought into effect new bulk sender requirements, which include the implementation of DMARC. Failure to comply can leave your emails hitting the spam filter, or being outright rejected.
Making the business case
When building a business case for DMARC, focus on:
- Cost savings from fewer security incidents and reduced support workload
- Increased revenue from better email deliverability, plus the enablement of Brand Indicator for Message Identification (BIMI) making your emails standout
- Potential reductions in cybersecurity insurance premiums
- Compliance with industry and technology regulations, including DORA, GDPR and bulk senders
- Protection of brand reputation and customer trust
Let Red Sift OnDMARC support you
Investing in DMARC is a practical decision for any organization looking to protect its email communications, reduce operational costs, and maintain customer trust. Red Sift OnDMARC stands out as a comprehensive solution that streamlines every aspect of DMARC, SPF, and DKIM management. With features including real-time configuration testing, automated DNS management, and advanced monitoring through DNS Guardian, OnDMARC significantly reduces the time and complexity involved in reaching full email authentication and enforcement
Our user-friendly platform, robust support, and integrated compliance tools ensure that organizations of any size can efficiently secure their domains, improve email deliverability, and stay ahead of evolving email threats. For businesses seeking a reliable and efficient way to maximize the ROI of their email security investment, Red Sift OnDMARC is a proven and effective choice.
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