How do I fix DMARC issues with Mailchimp and Woodpecker while using O365?

Summary

Addressing DMARC issues with Mailchimp, Woodpecker, and O365 involves a comprehensive approach. It begins with configuring custom DKIM for Mailchimp and ensuring the SPF record correctly includes Mailchimp's domain and the O365 include if sending via Woodpecker. A DMARC record must be created in your domain's DNS settings. Monitoring sending and domain reputation is vital. Implementing DMARC requires correct SPF and DKIM configuration, and choosing an appropriate DMARC policy. Testing email authentication and regularly monitoring DMARC reports are crucial. Addressing common errors, verifying DMARC alignment, checking for organizational overrides, using SPF flattening, and considering testing on subdomains are key considerations.

Key findings

  • DKIM Setup: Setting up custom DKIM for Mailchimp is essential.
  • SPF Configuration: Ensure SPF record includes Mailchimp's domain and O365 if used with Woodpecker.
  • DMARC Record Creation: Create a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sending and domain reputation.
  • DMARC Alignment Verification: DMARC alignment with SPF/DKIM must be verified by matching the From address domain.
  • DMARC Policy Configuration: Implement with correct SPF, DKIM and create appropriate DMARC policy to protect domain.

Key considerations

  • Testing Authentication: Test email authentication to identify and address deliverability issues.
  • Monitoring Reports: Regularly monitor DMARC reports for spoofing and other security threats.
  • Error Troubleshooting: Address common errors like incorrect SPF syntax, DKIM signing issues, and misconfigurations.
  • Organizational Policies Check: Check for organizational DMARC policies that may override individual settings.
  • SPF Flattening: Consider SPF flattening to avoid DNS lookup limits.
  • Subdomain Testing: Use subdomains for DMARC testing before full implementation.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Several key steps and considerations are involved in resolving DMARC issues with Mailchimp, Woodpecker, and O365. Proper SPF and DKIM configuration are essential, followed by the creation of a DMARC policy. DMARC alignment with SPF or DKIM needs verification, ensuring the 'From' address domain matches the authentication domains. Organizations should check for overriding DMARC policies. Email authentication should be tested, and DMARC reports should be monitored regularly to address deliverability issues. DMARC policies should be carefully chosen to protect domain reputation, and common errors like incorrect syntax or misconfigurations should be troubleshooted. SPF flattening can help avoid DNS lookup limits, which also affect DMARC compliance.

Key opinions

  • SPF/DKIM Configuration: Implementing DMARC requires correctly configuring SPF and DKIM records.
  • DMARC Alignment: Verify the domain used in the 'From' address matches the domain used for DKIM signing or the SPF authorized domain.
  • Organizational Policies: Check for organizational DMARC policies that may override individual settings.
  • Testing Authentication: Testing email authentication is important after setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to identify any issues.
  • DMARC Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address deliverability issues, spoofing attempts, and other email security threats.
  • SPF Flattening: Use SPF flattening to avoid exceeding the DNS lookup limit, which can affect DMARC compliance.

Key considerations

  • DMARC Policy Choice: DMARC policies define how email receivers should handle emails that fail DMARC checks. Choosing a stricter policy (quarantine or reject) can better protect your domain's reputation.
  • Troubleshooting Errors: Common DMARC errors like incorrect SPF syntax, DKIM signing issues, and DMARC policy misconfigurations need to be troubleshooted.
  • Monitoring Reports: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address deliverability issues, spoofing attempts, and other email security threats.
Marketer view

Email marketer from DMARC Analyzer emphasizes the importance of regularly monitoring DMARC reports to identify and address deliverability issues, spoofing attempts, and other email security threats.

September 2024 - DMARC Analyzer
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid advises that after setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, testing the email authentication is important to identify any issues. They suggest using email testing tools to check the authentication results.

May 2022 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet recommends SPF flattening to avoid exceeding the DNS lookup limit, which can affect DMARC compliance. This involves replacing include statements with the actual IP addresses.

March 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit highlights the importance of DMARC alignment with SPF or DKIM. They suggest verifying that the domain used in the 'From' address matches the domain used for DKIM signing or the SPF authorized domain.

December 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass shares that DMARC policies define how email receivers should handle emails that fail DMARC checks (none, quarantine, reject). Selecting a stricter policy (quarantine or reject) can protect your domain's reputation.

June 2022 - GMass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark lists common DMARC errors such as incorrect SPF syntax, DKIM signing issues, and DMARC policy misconfigurations. Troubleshooting these errors is essential for successful DMARC implementation.

March 2024 - Postmark
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow suggests checking the organizational DMARC policies that may override individual settings, and ensuring the 'From' header is correctly aligned with DKIM or SPF authentication domains.

May 2023 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC explains that implementing DMARC requires configuring SPF and DKIM records correctly, and then creating a DMARC policy. They suggest using a DMARC monitoring tool to observe and analyze DMARC reports for better insight.

December 2023 - EasyDMARC

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

Fixing DMARC issues with Mailchimp, Woodpecker, and O365 involves several key actions. Setting up custom DKIM for Mailchimp is crucial. Ensuring the correct SPF record is in place, reflecting Mailchimp's own domain, is vital for DMARC alignment. Maintaining the include for Outlook SPF records is necessary if sending mail through Woodpecker connected to O365. DMARC implementation on subdomains can serve as a testing ground before full deployment. Monitoring sending and domain reputation is paramount, as a poor reputation can undermine even the most technically sound DMARC configurations.

Key opinions

  • Mailchimp DKIM: Setting up custom DKIM for Mailchimp is a key step in resolving DMARC issues.
  • SPF Record Accuracy: The SPF record must accurately reflect Mailchimp's domain for proper DMARC alignment.
  • Outlook SPF Include: If sending mail via Woodpecker and O365, retaining the include for Outlook SPF records is essential.
  • Subdomain Testing: Implementing DMARC on subdomains provides a safe environment for testing configurations.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitoring sending and domain reputation is critical as poor reputation undermines technical DMARC setups.

Key considerations

  • SPF Configuration: Ensure the SPF record accurately reflects all sending sources, including Mailchimp and O365 if used via Woodpecker.
  • DKIM Setup: Properly configure DKIM for both Mailchimp and O365 to ensure email authentication.
  • Reputation Management: Actively monitor and manage sending reputation to prevent it from negatively impacting deliverability.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test DMARC configurations on subdomains before implementing them on the main domain to avoid deliverability issues.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks points out that the SPF record is incorrect because Mailchimp uses its own domain in SPF, which is important for DMARC alignment via custom DKIM.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks confirms that the include:<http://spf.protection.outlook.com|spf.protection.outlook.com> is necessary because mail is being sent from Outlook through Woodpecker.

December 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of monitoring your sending reputation and domain reputation when dealing with DMARC issues, as a poor reputation can significantly impact deliverability even with correct technical configurations.

July 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that DMARC can be implemented on subdomains to test configurations and that it can be useful to test a DMARC setup by first applying it to a subdomain before implementing it on the main domain.

April 2023 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests setting up custom DKIM for Mailchimp to fix DMARC issues.

October 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Resolving DMARC issues with Mailchimp, Woodpecker, and O365 involves creating a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings as guided by Mailchimp. It also requires configuring DKIM records for your custom domain in Office 365 using the Microsoft 365 Defender portal or PowerShell, as detailed in Microsoft's documentation. Setting up DKIM correctly for Woodpecker is essential for email authentication and improved deliverability, and instructions are available in Woodpecker's DKIM setup guide. Properly configuring DNS records using a provider like Cloudflare ensures that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC function correctly, including ensuring that those records are correctly entered and propagated.

Key findings

  • DMARC Record Creation: Setting up DMARC requires creating a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings.
  • O365 DKIM Configuration: DKIM records for your custom domain in Office 365 need to be configured using the Microsoft 365 Defender portal or PowerShell.
  • Woodpecker DKIM Setup: Properly setting up DKIM is essential for Woodpecker to authenticate emails and improve deliverability.
  • DNS Configuration: Correctly configuring DNS records is critical for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to function properly.

Key considerations

  • Mailchimp Instructions: Refer to Mailchimp's documentation for specific instructions on creating a DMARC record.
  • Microsoft Defender Portal/PowerShell: Use the Microsoft 365 Defender portal or PowerShell for creating DKIM records in Office 365.
  • Woodpecker's DKIM Guide: Follow Woodpecker's DKIM setup guide to ensure correct configuration.
  • DNS Propagation: Ensure DNS records are correctly entered and propagated across the DNS system.
Technical article

Documentation from Cloudflare explains how to properly configure DNS records, which is critical for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Ensure the records are correctly entered and propagated across the DNS.

June 2023 - Cloudflare
Technical article

Documentation from Woodpecker shares that properly setting up DKIM is essential for Woodpecker to authenticate emails and improve deliverability. Follow their DKIM setup guide to create and add the DKIM record to your DNS.

December 2022 - Woodpecker
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains how to create DKIM records for your custom domain in Office 365 (now Microsoft 365) through the Microsoft 365 Defender portal or using PowerShell.

December 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp explains that setting up DMARC involves creating a DMARC record in your domain's DNS settings and points to their instructions.

August 2024 - Mailchimp