General
Is DMARC actually required now, or just “best practice”?
As of 2026, major mailbox providers actively enforce authentication requirements for bulk and commercial senders. Monitoring-only policies are no longer treated as sufficient, and non-compliant mail is increasingly rejected at the SMTP level.
We already pay for a DMARC platform. Isn’t that enough?
Software doesn’t enforce policy — implementation does. Many organizations pay for DMARC tools while remaining at p=none or p=quarantine indefinitely, leaving their domain exposed despite the investment.
Can enforcing DMARC break legitimate email?
If done incorrectly, yes. That’s why enforcement must be staged, validated, and aligned across all sending sources before moving to quarantine or reject. When implemented properly, enforcement improves both security and deliverability.
How do I know if our domain is actually exposed?
Anyone with a browser can see your authentication posture, alignment failures, and policy status — including attackers. If your setup hasn’t been reviewed recently, it’s likely outdated or incomplete.
Is this a one-time setup, or ongoing work?
Email environments change constantly as tools, vendors, and sending patterns evolve. DMARC enforcement requires ongoing monitoring and adjustment to remain effective over time.
