Summary
Troubleshooting DMARC reject policies and improving email deliverability is a multi-faceted process. Start by analyzing DMARC reports to identify the source of failures, such as unauthorized sending sources, SPF record errors, or DKIM misconfigurations. Ensure SPF records include all authorized sending sources, including third-party senders, and that DKIM signatures are valid and aligned with the 'From' address. A gradual implementation, starting with a 'p=none' policy and a RUA (reporting URI), allows for monitoring email streams without impacting deliverability, before transitioning to stricter policies. Continuously monitor DMARC reports, adapt authentication strategies accordingly, and verify ESP settings to avoid conflicting subdomain policies. Correct SPF and DKIM alignment builds trust with ISPs. Finally, ensure sending practices adhere to email marketing standards to prevent spoofing and improve inbox placement.
Key findings
- DMARC Reports: DMARC reports are crucial for diagnosing authentication failures and identifying unauthorized sending sources.
- SPF and DKIM: Proper SPF and DKIM setup, including alignment, are foundational for DMARC to function correctly.
- Gradual Implementation: Starting with a 'p=none' policy and enabling RUA provides valuable data before enforcing stricter DMARC policies.
- ESP Influence: ESPs can impact DMARC settings, so it's important to verify configurations and subdomain policies.
- Trust and Reputation: Correct DMARC implementation, along with adherence to email marketing best practices, builds trust with ISPs and protects sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Report Analysis: Regularly analyze DMARC reports to understand authentication performance and identify issues.
- Configuration Accuracy: Ensure SPF and DKIM configurations are accurate and include all legitimate sending sources.
- Adaptive Strategies: Adapt authentication strategies based on DMARC report data to optimize for deliverability and security.
- Third-Party Review: Verify DMARC settings implemented by ESPs or other third parties to prevent unintended consequences.
- Best Practices: Follow email marketing best practices to maintain a positive sender reputation and improve overall deliverability.
What email marketers say
21 marketer opinions
Troubleshooting DMARC reject policies and improving email deliverability involves several key steps. Primarily, it requires ensuring correct SPF and DKIM alignment across all sending sources, which confirms authorization to send on behalf of the domain and builds trust with ISPs. DMARC reports are crucial for identifying the causes of rejections, such as incorrect IP addresses, DKIM misconfigurations, or unauthorized sending sources. Monitoring DMARC reports aids in adapting authentication strategies. Implementing a gradual approach starting with a 'p=none' policy allows for monitoring without disrupting delivery, before moving to more restrictive policies like 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject'. It is important to review and adapt authentication records, including older systems or overlooked sources, to prevent spoofing and phishing attacks that harm sender reputation. Finally, ensure the 'From' domain in emails matches the DKIM signature domain and that sending practices adhere to email marketing standards.
Key opinions
- DMARC Reports: DMARC reports are essential for identifying why emails are being rejected and for monitoring authentication performance.
- SPF and DKIM Alignment: Correct SPF and DKIM alignment is critical for DMARC to function correctly and for building trust with ISPs.
- Gradual Implementation: A gradual approach to implementing DMARC policies (starting with 'p=none') is recommended to avoid disrupting email delivery.
- Comprehensive Authentication: All legitimate email sources must be properly authenticated, including often-overlooked systems.
- Domain Matching: Ensure the 'From' domain matches the DKIM signature domain to prevent DMARC failures.
Key considerations
- Report Analysis: Regularly analyze DMARC reports to identify and address authentication issues proactively.
- Authentication Strategy: Adapt authentication strategies based on DMARC report data to improve and maintain email deliverability.
- Policy Enforcement: Implement DMARC policies gradually, moving from 'p=none' to stricter policies as confidence in authentication grows.
- System Coverage: Ensure all email sending sources, including legacy systems and third-party senders, are properly authenticated.
- Email Marketing Standards: Adhere to email marketing best practices and standards to maintain sender reputation and improve deliverability.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests sending DMARC reports (which are in XML) to a parser for readability, recommending online services or self-hosting with open-source tools.
2 Jun 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from MessageGears explains that to improve deliverability using DMARC, continuously monitor your DMARC reports and adapt your authentication strategy accordingly. This iterative process helps you identify and address any emerging authentication issues promptly.
14 Apr 2022 - MessageGears
What the experts say
8 expert opinions
Troubleshooting DMARC reject policies and improving email deliverability requires a focus on ensuring correct SPF and DKIM configurations, monitoring DMARC reports for insights, and understanding the impact of ESP settings. A DMARC policy should start with 'none' and include a RUA (reporting URI) to gather feedback. Subdomain DMARC policies set by ESPs can conflict with organizational domain policies. RUA helps identify authentication correctness and potential brand targeting. DMARC does not directly affect reputation but aids in identifying mail authenticity. Infrastructure needs to be configured to pass SPF and DKIM for DMARC validation. Monitoring DMARC reports enables corrective actions like updating SPF/DKIM for alignment.
Key opinions
- Subdomain Conflicts: ESPs might implement subdomain DMARC policies that conflict with the organizational domain's DMARC policy, necessitating a review of subdomain records.
- Initial DMARC Policy: A DMARC policy should start at 'none' with RUA enabled to gather reports and assess authentication performance without impacting deliverability.
- ESP Influence: If an ESP sets up DMARC without informing the domain owner or enabling reports, it can create a 'blind spot' hindering the ability to monitor authentication.
- RUA Importance: RUA (reporting URI) allows monitoring the success of authentication and potential brand impersonation, despite not directly impacting reputation.
- Infrastructure Setup: Correct SPF and DKIM setup is the foundation for DMARC validation; rejections signify failures in these authentications.
Key considerations
- Review Subdomains: Regularly check subdomains for conflicting DMARC records, particularly if an ESP manages the domain.
- Implement Reporting: Always include a RUA record to receive aggregate reports and understand authentication performance, starting with a 'p=none' policy.
- Verify ESP Actions: Confirm that your ESP has not made changes to your DMARC settings without your knowledge, especially around report enabling.
- Monitor Authentications: Diligently review DMARC reports to gain insight into the effectiveness of your SPF and DKIM configurations and any potential abuse.
- Maintain Alignment: Continuously align your SPF and DKIM records based on report findings to ensure legitimate sending sources are properly authenticated.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks advises checking subdomains for conflicting records, as some ESPs set subdomain policies that conflict with the organizational domain DMARC policy.
5 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks asserts that DMARC itself does not affect reputation; it's a way to identify mail coming from the domain it claims to be from. Reputation is associated with authenticated identities.
11 Jan 2025 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Troubleshooting DMARC reject policies and improving email deliverability involves analyzing DMARC reports (aggregate and forensic) to identify the sources of authentication failures, such as unauthorized sending sources or misconfigured SPF/DKIM records. It is essential to ensure that SPF records include all authorized sending sources, including third-party senders, and that DKIM signatures are valid and aligned with the From address. Regularly reviewing aggregate reports helps identify authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts, allowing for refining SPF and DKIM configurations and adjusting DMARC policies as needed.
Key findings
- DMARC Report Analysis: Analyzing DMARC reports is crucial for identifying the sources of authentication failures.
- SPF Record Accuracy: SPF records must include all authorized sending sources, including third-party senders.
- DKIM Signature Validity: DKIM signatures must be valid and properly aligned with the From address.
- Regular Review: Regularly reviewing aggregate reports helps identify potential spoofing attempts and authentication failures.
Key considerations
- Identify Failure Sources: Use DMARC reports to pinpoint unauthorized sending sources and authentication issues.
- Update SPF Records: Correct and update SPF records to include all legitimate sending sources.
- Validate DKIM: Ensure DKIM signatures are valid and aligned with the sending domain.
- Refine Configurations: Refine SPF and DKIM configurations based on report findings to improve authentication.
- Adjust Policies: Adjust DMARC policies based on the analysis of aggregate reports to balance security and deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from MXToolbox explains that to effectively use DMARC, regularly review aggregate reports to identify authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts. Use this data to refine your SPF and DKIM configurations, and adjust your DMARC policy as needed.
25 Nov 2022 - MXToolbox
Technical article
Documentation from Dmarcian explains that fixing DMARC failures involves analyzing aggregate and forensic reports. Aggregate reports provide an overview of authentication results, while forensic reports (if enabled) offer detailed information about individual messages that failed authentication. Use this data to identify and address authentication issues.
3 Jul 2023 - Dmarcian
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