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When and why should I switch from DMARC p=none to p=quarantine or p=reject?

Summary

Transitioning your DMARC policy from p=none to an enforcing policy like p=quarantine or p=reject is a critical step in enhancing your email security and protecting your brand from spoofing and phishing attacks. While p=none provides valuable insight into your email ecosystem, it offers no enforcement against fraudulent emails. The decision to switch should be based on a thorough understanding of your email flows, consistent monitoring of DMARC reports, and a readiness to manage potential deliverability impacts.

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What email marketers say

Email marketers often approach DMARC enforcement with a mix of enthusiasm for security and caution regarding deliverability. The consensus points towards moving beyond p=none due to its lack of protection, but emphasize the importance of meticulous preparation and monitoring. They highlight the need for clear guidance on DMARC report interpretation to make informed decisions about policy changes.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that marketers need a comprehensive guide on DMARC policy transitions, specifically from p=none to p=quarantine to p=reject.

11 May 2024 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from DuoCircle suggests that the transition phase between p=none and p=reject should ideally involve resting on the p=quarantine policy as an intermediate step.

15 Jan 2025 - DuoCircle

What the experts say

Industry experts concur that while p=none is a necessary starting point for DMARC deployment, it should never be the final policy. They emphasize the significant security risks associated with remaining at p=none and highlight the complexities of ensuring all legitimate email traffic is properly authenticated before moving to enforcement. Expert advice consistently points to the indispensable role of robust DMARC reporting in guiding this transition.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that deciding whether to enforce DMARC is the primary question, as moving to enforcement can lead to a significant portion of mail being lost, which varies based on infrastructure and recipient demographics.

11 May 2024 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource suggests that maintaining an up-to-date DMARC policy is crucial for effectively combating the ever-evolving threats of phishing and spoofing.

15 Jan 2025 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says

Official documentation and technical guides outline DMARC as a critical component of email security, emphasizing its role in controlling unauthenticated messages. They generally advocate for a structured progression from a monitoring policy (p=none) to more stringent enforcement policies (p=quarantine, p=reject) to maximize protection against impersonation and phishing.

Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org states that DMARC enables domain owners to specify that their emails are protected by SPF and/or DKIM, and to instruct receiving email servers on how to handle messages if neither of these authentication methods passes.

15 Jan 2025 - DMARC.org

Technical article

Documentation from Postmarkapp.com states that DMARC offers complete control over email delivery for a company's domain, facilitating actions such as rejecting or quarantining unauthenticated messages.

15 Jan 2025 - Postmarkapp.com

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