DMARC Policy Guide: Protect Your Domain
DMARC serves as the master controller for SPF and DKIM. Learn how to use DMARC policies to block spoofing attempts.
Understanding DMARC
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) uses SPF and DKIM to provide instructions to the receiving mail server on how to handle emails that fail authentication. It's the "policeman" of your email security stack.
DMARC Policies
- p=none (Monitor): No action is taken against failing emails, but you receive reports. Use this when first setting up DMARC.
- p=quarantine: Failing emails are sent to the recipient's spam folder. Good for gradual enforcement.
- p=reject: Failing emails are rejected outright. This is the gold standard for blocking phishing and spoofing.
Warning: Don't move to p=reject without first monitoring p=none for at least 30 days to ensure legitimate services aren't being blocked.
Why DMARC matters for SEO and Brand
Proper DMARC settings can qualify your domain for BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification), which shows your company logo next to emails in the inbox. This increases open rates and brand recognition.
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