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How do DMARC quarantine and reject policies affect sender reputation and email delivery?

Summary

DMARC's quarantine and reject policies significantly influence email delivery and sender reputation. The 'quarantine' policy typically sends emails failing authentication to the spam folder, while 'reject' blocks them entirely. Although a 'reject' policy can enhance sender reputation by signaling security awareness to ISPs and protect against spoofing, incorrect configuration can lead to the blocking of legitimate emails. Receivers may sometimes choose to ignore the stated policy. A gradual implementation strategy, starting with 'none' for monitoring, then 'quarantine,' and finally 'reject,' is recommended, coupled with continuous DMARC report analysis. DMARC is only part of the overall email deliverability strategy and should be considered separately from sender reputation, as it is a policy mechanism and not a spam filter.

Key findings

  • Quarantine vs. Reject: 'Quarantine' sends failing emails to spam; 'Reject' blocks them.
  • Reputation Impact: 'Reject' enhances reputation if implemented correctly; damages it if misconfigured.
  • Gradual Rollout: Phased DMARC implementation minimizes disruption.
  • Monitoring Importance: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is vital.
  • Authentication: Authentication needs fixing before enforcement.
  • Policy suggestion: DMARC policy is only a suggestion to receivers.

Key considerations

  • Configuration Accuracy: Ensure correct SPF/DKIM configuration before enforcing 'reject'.
  • False Positives: Avoid false positives to prevent blocking legitimate emails.
  • DMARC Reporting: Regularly monitor and analyze DMARC reports.
  • Gradual Transition: Implement DMARC in stages to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Holistic Approach: DMARC is just one aspect of email deliverability.
  • Trust no one: Receivers may accept/reject regardless of DMARC policy.

What email marketers say

13 marketer opinions

DMARC quarantine and reject policies significantly impact email delivery and sender reputation. A 'quarantine' policy places emails failing DMARC checks in the spam folder, while a 'reject' policy blocks them entirely. While 'reject' offers robust protection against spoofing and can improve sender reputation by signaling security awareness to ISPs, misconfiguration can lead to legitimate emails being blocked. Implementing DMARC requires careful planning, starting with a 'none' policy for monitoring, gradually moving to 'quarantine,' and finally 'reject,' while continuously monitoring DMARC reports to address authentication issues and avoid unintended consequences. Sender reputation and DMARC should be considered separately, as DMARC is a policy mechanism, not a spam filter.

Key opinions

  • Quarantine vs. Reject: Quarantine sends failing emails to spam; Reject blocks them outright.
  • Reputation Impact: Reject can enhance sender reputation by signaling security to ISPs, but misconfiguration damages it.
  • Gradual Implementation: Rolling out DMARC gradually (none -> quarantine -> reject) minimizes disruption.
  • Monitoring is Critical: Continuous monitoring of DMARC reports is essential to identify and fix authentication issues.
  • DMARC Function: DMARC is a policy mechanism, not a spam filter.

Key considerations

  • Configuration Accuracy: Ensure SPF and DKIM are correctly configured before enforcing a 'reject' policy.
  • False Positives: Take care to avoid false positives, where legitimate emails are incorrectly blocked.
  • Monitoring Reports: Diligently monitor DMARC reports to identify and resolve authentication issues.
  • Gradual Transition: Implement DMARC policies gradually to avoid disrupting legitimate email flow.
  • Separate policies: Consider sender reputation and DMARC separately to understand the full impact on deliverability.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that a policy of quarantine has the potential to break email less than reject. Recommends a cautious journey from none to quarantine to reject, but skipping quarantine is acceptable in some cases. Quarantine provides security and buys time to resolve authentication issues.

22 Oct 2021 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow explains that a 'quarantine' policy in DMARC means emails that fail authentication checks are typically sent to the spam folder. This still allows recipients to access the email, but marks it as potentially suspicious.

7 Aug 2022 - StackOverflow

What the experts say

4 expert opinions

Experts highlight that DMARC quarantine and reject policies have nuanced effects on sender reputation and email delivery. Receivers may still accept messages that fail DMARC, even with a 'reject' policy. Misconfigured 'reject' policies can lead to deliverability issues, potentially blocking legitimate emails, even from paying customers. A message landing in the junk folder due to DMARC isn't the same as a spam report directly harming reputation, as DMARC primarily targets non-authenticated emails. Gradual implementation and continuous monitoring of DMARC reports are crucial for preventing unintended blocking. DMARC is just one piece of the overall deliverability puzzle.

Key opinions

  • Receiver Discretion: Receivers may ignore DMARC 'reject' policies and still deliver emails.
  • Legitimate Email Loss: Misconfigured DMARC can block valid emails, affecting communication with customers.
  • Reputation Impact: DMARC-induced spam placement isn't the same as user-reported spam.
  • Gradual Rollout: A phased DMARC implementation minimizes disruptions.

Key considerations

  • Policy Flexibility: Understand that receivers may not strictly adhere to your DMARC policy.
  • Authentication Accuracy: Ensure accurate SPF and DKIM setup to avoid blocking legitimate emails.
  • Monitoring is Key: Continuously monitor DMARC reports to identify and address authentication issues promptly.
  • Holistic Approach: Recognize that DMARC is part of a broader email deliverability strategy.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that receivers may decide to accept messages that fail and have a reject policy. Also notes that valid mail can be lost due to DMARC failures, even from paying customers.

19 Aug 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that a message placed in the junk folder as a result of DMARC policy is not the same as a spam report harming reputation. DMARC policy impacts non-authenticated or failed-to-authenticate emails. Legitimate emails in spam due to DMARC means authentication needs fixing before enforcement.

30 Dec 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

4 technical articles

Official documentation consistently describes DMARC's 'quarantine' policy as directing receiving servers to mark emails failing authentication checks as spam or treat them with suspicion, typically placing them in the recipient's junk folder. In contrast, the 'reject' policy instructs receiving servers to refuse delivery of such emails, preventing them from reaching the inbox or spam folder. The chosen policy significantly affects email handling and deliverability.

Key findings

  • Quarantine Action: Emails failing DMARC with quarantine policy typically go to the junk/spam folder.
  • Reject Action: Emails failing DMARC with reject policy are refused by the receiving server.
  • Impact on Deliverability: DMARC policy directly impacts whether an email is delivered, junked, or blocked.
  • Decision making: DMARC helps receiving mail systems decide what to do with messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks.

Key considerations

  • Policy Choice: Carefully consider the implications of quarantine vs. reject for your email program.
  • False Positives: Account for the potential for false positives when implementing a reject policy.
  • Server Behavior: Understand that receiving servers implement DMARC policies according to their own configurations.
  • RFC Standard: RFC 7489 defines the core DMARC mechanisms.

Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that with a DMARC policy of quarantine, messages that fail DMARC checks are marked as spam. With a policy of reject, messages that fail DMARC checks are rejected by the receiving mail server, preventing them from reaching the recipient's inbox or spam folder.

11 Jun 2021 - Google Workspace Admin Help

Technical article

Documentation from AuthSMTP describes that if your email is DMARC 'rejected' then it should not reach the recipient, it is either dropped or bounced. If it is 'quarantined' it is treated as suspicious and often sent to the recipient's junk folder.

28 Aug 2024 - AuthSMTP

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