How do I troubleshoot DMARC reject policies and improve email deliverability?

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
21Marketer 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.

December 2023 - 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.

September 2021 - MessageGears
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests using p=quarantine and setting up a DMARC reporting address to start understanding DMARC reports, instead of the commonly recommended p=none.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Forum shares that if experiencing DMARC reject problems, check if the 'From' domain in your emails matches the domain in your DKIM signature. Mismatched domains can cause DMARC failures even if SPF and DKIM pass individually.

December 2022 - Email Deliverability Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that if GPT is reporting rejections due to DMARC policy, DMARC reports are the best place to investigate.

October 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions it's possible to delegate access to DMARC reports, but unlikely ESPs would monitor them unless they have an automated tool. Reporting email address presence on the DMARC record indicates active monitoring.

January 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares to fix a DMARC reject policy, you should first analyze the reports to find out why the emails are being rejected. It may be caused by an incorrect IP address in your SPF record, a DKIM key misconfiguration or unauthorised senders.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark shares that correct DMARC implementation improves deliverability by building trust with ISPs. This trust is built by ensuring proper SPF and DKIM alignment, which confirms that the sender is authorized to send emails on behalf of the domain.

November 2024 - Postmark
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks points out a domain has an enforcing DMARC policy but no reporting enabled, and suggests changing the policy to p=none as a quick fix.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that DMARC is controlled by the owner of the sending domain, who creates a DMARC record in DNS. ESPs should not be involved with DMARC setup.

November 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains using subdomains in both 5321 and 5322 from addresses to ensure authentication is present and functional.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet advises that to improve email deliverability with DMARC, start with a 'p=none' policy to monitor your email streams without impacting delivery. Gradually move to 'p=quarantine' and then 'p=reject' as you gain confidence in your authentication setup.

April 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares the DMARC record is a TXT Resource Record located at _dmarc.yourdomain.com.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends starting with p=none until authentication is consistently squared away, emphasizing that the primary benefit of DMARC is the reporting, making RUA critical.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost states that fixing DMARC errors involves ensuring all email sending sources are properly authenticated with SPF or DKIM. Review DMARC reports to identify unauthorized sources and update your authentication records accordingly.

May 2024 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that quarantine can offer protection by delivering failed DMARC emails to the spam folder, providing a layer of security while learning about email streams. This assumes authentication is already in place.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailonAcid explains that when troubleshooting DMARC reject policies, it's crucial to identify all legitimate email sources and ensure they are properly authenticated. Often, overlooked sources like forwarders or older email systems can cause failures.

June 2022 - EmailonAcid
Marketer view

Email marketer from ReturnPath shares implementing DMARC for email marketing deliverability, ensure your email sending practices adhere to best practices and standards so your valid emails are not being rejected. Ensure your email practices are sound.

January 2024 - ReturnPath
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks advises against using DMARC with an enforcing policy unless the sender has a specific need and the resources to manage it.

December 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares parsers provide the email address to use in the RUA record, and then offer a dashboard to view the reports visually, so the sender simply adds the record with the tool's address.

April 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity shares that DMARC can improve email deliverability by preventing spoofing and phishing attacks that damage sender reputation. By implementing DMARC, you are signaling to email providers that you take email security seriously, leading to better inbox placement.

November 2021 - Validity

What the experts say
8Expert 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.

October 2022 - 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.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises RUA is how you know if your authentication is correct or if your brand is being targeted. The impacts on brand trust due to phishing could have impacts on your email program.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks notes that if an ESP sets up DMARC without knowledge, they could create a blind spot by not enabling reports or overriding domain-wide reporting solutions.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource, Hal Lindsey, explains that to troubleshoot DMARC reject policies, you must first ensure that your sending infrastructure is correctly configured to pass both SPF and DKIM checks. DMARC policies are enforced based on these authentications, and rejections indicate a failure in either SPF or DKIM validation.

August 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares DMARC policy should always start at 'none' and include a RUA (reporting URI for aggregate reports).

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, shares that improving deliverability with DMARC involves diligently monitoring your DMARC reports. These reports provide insights into which sending sources are failing authentication and allow you to take corrective actions, such as updating SPF records or DKIM configurations, to ensure proper alignment.

August 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the benefit of quarantine over none is none in terms of report collection.

March 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical 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.

February 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.

October 2024 - Dmarcian
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that to improve deliverability with DMARC, ensure that your SPF records include all authorized sending sources for your domain, including third-party senders. Also, DKIM signatures must be valid and properly aligned with the From address.

September 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that to troubleshoot DMARC rejections, check DMARC reports to identify the source of the failures (e.g., unauthorized sending sources) and then correct the SPF or DKIM records for those sources.

July 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help