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Summary

Setting up DMARC with multiple email senders for the same domain is achievable by meticulously configuring SPF and DKIM for every legitimate sending service. The process begins with adopting a 'p=none' policy to passively monitor email authentication reports, allowing you to identify all email sources. The core task involves updating your domain's SPF record to include all authorized sender IP addresses or 'include' mechanisms, and adding unique CNAME records provided by third-party senders to your DNS for DKIM delegation. Each sender must achieve either SPF or DKIM alignment with your domain for DMARC to pass. Continuous monitoring of DMARC aggregate reports is crucial to identify and address any authentication failures or misconfigurations before gradually moving to more restrictive DMARC policies like quarantine or reject.

Key findings

  • Authentication Alignment is Key: For DMARC to pass, emails from every sender, including third-party ESPs, must achieve either SPF alignment- where the Return-Path domain aligns with your From domain or SPF record covers the sender's IPs- or DKIM alignment- where the email is signed with your domain's key.
  • Universal SPF Record: Your domain needs a single, comprehensive SPF record that includes all legitimate sending sources using 'include:' mechanisms, such as 'include:sendgrid.net'.
  • Unique DKIM Delegation: Third-party senders typically provide specific CNAME records that must be added to your DNS, delegating their authority to sign emails on behalf of your domain for DKIM authentication.
  • Progressive DMARC Policy: Start with a 'p=none' (reporting only) policy to identify all legitimate senders and any unauthenticated traffic, then incrementally move to 'p=quarantine' and 'p=reject' after ensuring all valid sources are compliant.

Key considerations

  • Comprehensive Sender Inventory: Before configuration, thoroughly identify all services, internal or external, that send email on behalf of your domain to ensure none are missed.
  • SPF Lookup Limit: Be aware of the 10-lookup limit for SPF records to avoid issues; consolidate entries where possible.
  • Continuous Monitoring with DMARC Reports: Utilize DMARC aggregate reports to constantly monitor authentication results, pinpoint misconfigurations, and discover any unauthorized sending sources, making adjustments as needed.
  • Subdomain Policy: Consider setting an 'sp=none' policy in your DMARC record if you want the main domain's DMARC record to cover subdomains without enforcing a policy on them initially.
  • Communicate with ESPs: Confirm that your Email Service Providers support DMARC alignment and understand the necessary SPF and DKIM configurations.

What email marketers say

9 marketer opinions

Successfully implementing DMARC when using various email services for a single domain involves a strategic, multi-step approach focused on comprehensive authentication. The initial phase often entails adopting a 'p=none' policy, enabling a reporting-only mode to passively monitor and identify all email sources associated with your domain. The core technical work revolves around diligently configuring SPF and DKIM for every legitimate sender, whether an internal server or a third-party Email Service Provider. This typically requires updating your domain's SPF record to incorporate all authorized sender IP addresses or 'include' mechanisms, and adding unique CNAME records provided by each third-party sender to your DNS for proper DKIM delegation. For DMARC to pass, each email must achieve either SPF or DKIM alignment with your domain. Continuous monitoring of DMARC aggregate reports is paramount to pinpoint any authentication failures or misconfigurations, allowing for timely adjustments before incrementally progressing to more restrictive DMARC policies like quarantine or reject.

Key opinions

  • Achieving Authentication Alignment: Every email sent from your domain, regardless of the sender, must pass either SPF or DKIM checks and align with your DMARC policy for successful delivery. This means the Return-Path domain or DKIM signing domain must align with your From domain.
  • Consolidating SPF Records: It's essential to maintain a single, comprehensive SPF record for your domain that aggregates all legitimate sending sources using 'include:' mechanisms, rather than creating multiple records.
  • Delegating DKIM Authority: Third-party email services typically provide specific CNAME records that must be added to your DNS. These records delegate signing authority to the ESP, enabling them to sign emails on behalf of your domain for DKIM authentication.
  • Phased Policy Implementation: Initiate your DMARC setup with a 'p=none' policy. This allows for observation and discovery of all legitimate traffic and any unauthenticated senders without impacting email delivery, facilitating a safe transition to stricter policies.
  • Leveraging DMARC Reports for Insights: DMARC aggregate reports are indispensable for continuous monitoring. They provide critical data to identify unauthenticated email, misconfigured senders, or new sending sources, ensuring ongoing compliance and security.

Key considerations

  • Thorough Sender Identification: Before making any DNS changes, conduct a complete inventory of all services- internal mail servers, marketing platforms, transactional APIs- that send email on behalf of your domain to ensure no legitimate source is overlooked.
  • Mind the SPF Lookup Cap: Be aware of the 10-lookup limit for SPF records. Exceeding this can lead to SPF failures, so consolidate entries where possible and use mechanisms wisely.
  • Considering Subdomain Behavior: Decide on your subdomain DMARC policy, potentially using 'sp=none' initially to apply the organizational domain's policy to subdomains without immediate enforcement.
  • Engaging with Service Providers: Collaborate closely with each Email Service Provider or sending service to understand their specific SPF 'include' mechanisms and DKIM CNAME records required for proper DMARC alignment.
  • Ongoing Performance Monitoring: DMARC implementation is not a one-time setup. Consistent review of DMARC reports is vital to adapt to changes in sending infrastructure, troubleshoot issues, and ensure sustained deliverability and security.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks agrees with starting DMARC with a 'p=none' policy for reporting only mode. He also suggests setting 'sp=none' for subdomains, allowing a single DMARC record to cover the organizational domain and any subdomains, and states that reporting only mode carries no known risk.

5 Jul 2021 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Valimail Blog explains that to set up DMARC with multiple senders, you must ensure every legitimate sending service, including third-party ESPs, is properly configured to pass DMARC alignment. This typically involves adding their `include:` mechanisms to your SPF record and setting up specific CNAME records for DKIM delegation for each sender. Using DMARC aggregate reports is crucial to identify any unauthenticated or misconfigured senders.

1 May 2024 - Valimail Blog

What the experts say

3 expert opinions

When managing DMARC with multiple email senders for a single domain, experts confirm that successful implementation hinges on careful authentication and alignment strategies for each service. The fundamental principle is that DMARC requires only one of SPF or DKIM to pass and align with the 'From' domain. This means for every sender, whether an internal system or a third-party Email Service Provider, their sending IP must be authorized in your domain's SPF record, or the email must be signed with your domain's DKIM key. A recommended approach involves starting with a 'none' policy to identify all legitimate email streams and address any authentication gaps or unaligned senders. The process then progresses incrementally to 'quarantine' and finally 'reject' policies, all while continuously monitoring DMARC reports and ensuring proper alignment across all sending platforms. Active communication with ESPs to confirm their DMARC capabilities is also vital.

Key opinions

  • DMARC with Multiple Senders: It is entirely feasible to implement DMARC successfully even when using several distinct email sending services from the same domain.
  • Flexible Authentication Methods: For a DMARC check to pass, only one of the authentication methods, either SPF or DKIM, needs to be correctly configured and aligned with the 'From' domain.
  • Alignment is Non-Negotiable: Regardless of whether SPF or DKIM is used, the authentication must explicitly align with the 'From' domain to satisfy DMARC requirements, ensuring the legitimacy of the sender.
  • Staged DMARC Rollout: A phased implementation, beginning with a 'p=none' policy, is critical. This initial stage allows for comprehensive discovery of all legitimate sending sources and identification of authentication 'holes' before moving to stricter enforcement.
  • ESP Partnership for Compliance: When utilizing third-party Email Service Providers, it is essential that they facilitate DMARC alignment, either by allowing their IPs to be included in your SPF record or by signing emails with your domain's DKIM key.

Key considerations

  • Identify All Sending Sources: Prior to DMARC configuration, meticulously audit and identify every service and application that sends email on behalf of your domain, leaving no legitimate sender unaccounted for.
  • Collaborate with Providers: Engage directly with all Email Service Providers and third-party senders to understand their specific DMARC setup requirements and confirm their support for proper SPF and DKIM alignment.
  • Iterative Monitoring Process: DMARC setup is an ongoing effort that necessitates continuous monitoring of DMARC aggregate reports to detect authentication failures, identify new sending sources, and make necessary adjustments over time.
  • Gradual Policy Enforcement: Transition from a 'none' DMARC policy to 'quarantine' and then to 'reject' only after confirming that all legitimate email streams consistently pass DMARC authentication and alignment checks without issue.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that setting up DMARC with multiple sending companies from the same domain is possible. He outlines the basic steps: start with a none policy, identify and fix 'holes' (areas with unauthenticated emails, lack of alignment, or partners sending on your behalf), move to quarantine, then to reject, while continuously monitoring and adjusting as needed.

20 Mar 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC only requires one form of authentication (SPF or DKIM) to pass and align with the 'From' domain, which is crucial when using multiple email senders for the same domain. For each sender, either the sending IP must be included in the domain's SPF record, or the email must be signed with the domain's DKIM key to ensure alignment. This means even if you use multiple third-party services, as long as one of these authentication methods aligns for each sender, DMARC will pass.

16 Jan 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Managing DMARC with multiple email senders for a single domain requires diligent configuration of SPF and DKIM for every legitimate sending service. For SPF, you must update your domain's SPF record to include the IP addresses or domain names of all authorized senders. For DKIM, you will typically add specific CNAME records, provided by each third-party sender, to your DNS zone. This process delegates their authority to sign emails on behalf of your domain. Adhering to these steps ensures DMARC alignment and supports consistent email deliverability and security.

Key findings

  • Universal Authentication Required: Every email sender for your domain, whether internal or third-party, must authenticate properly using SPF and/or DKIM for DMARC to pass.
  • Consolidated SPF Record: Your domain's single SPF record must be meticulously updated to include all legitimate sending sources' IP addresses or domain names, typically via 'include' mechanisms like 'include:sendgrid.net'.
  • Delegated DKIM Authority: Third-party email senders will provide unique CNAME records that must be added to your DNS. These records delegate their authority to sign emails on behalf of your domain for DKIM authentication.
  • Ensuring DMARC Alignment: The core principle is that for DMARC to pass, emails must achieve either SPF or DKIM alignment, meaning the authenticated domain must match or align with your email's 'From' header domain.

Key considerations

  • Configure Each Sender Individually: Each third-party sending service requires specific SPF and DKIM configurations, which often involve adding their unique 'include' mechanisms to your SPF record and their provided CNAME records for DKIM to your DNS.
  • Maintain a Single SPF Record: It is crucial to consolidate all legitimate sending sources within one comprehensive SPF TXT record for your domain to avoid authentication issues.
  • Accurate DNS Management: Precise management of DNS records, including adding SPF 'include' statements and DKIM CNAME records, is fundamental for proper DMARC setup and consistent authentication across all senders.

Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that for DMARC to pass with multiple email senders, each sending service must authenticate with SPF and/or DKIM on behalf of your domain. For SPF, you must include their IP addresses or domain names in your SPF record. For DKIM, they either need to sign with your domain's DKIM key or you delegate signing authority via CNAME records they provide.

18 Apr 2024 - DMARC.org (M3AAWG)

Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that when using third-party email senders with DMARC for the same domain, you must configure each sender to authenticate properly with SPF and DKIM. For SPF, you need to include their sending IP addresses or domains in your domain's SPF record (e.g., `include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net`). For DKIM, you'll typically add CNAME records provided by the third-party sender to your DNS, which allows them to sign emails on your domain's behalf.

25 Jan 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help

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    How to set up DMARC with multiple email senders for the same domain? - Technicals - Email deliverability - Knowledge base - Suped