DMARC Policy explanation and what policies should I opt for?

DMARC Policy explanation and what policies should I opt for?

DMARC provides three policy modes, each controlling how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail DMARC authentication. The outcome of DMARC evaluation depends on the results and alignment of SPF and/or DKIM.

Below is an explanation of each policy:

NONE (p=none)

This policy is commonly referred to as a monitoring-only policy.

  • Emails that fail or pass DMARC authentication are still delivered normally

  • No enforcement action is taken by receiving servers

  • Aggregate (RUA) and forensic (RUF, if enabled) reports are generated

This policy is used to gain visibility into your email ecosystem without impacting email delivery.

✔ Best for:

  • Initial DMARC deployment

  • Identifying legitimate and unauthorized sending sources

  • Fixing SPF and DKIM alignment issues

QUARANTINE (p=quarantine)

The quarantine policy instructs receiving mail servers to treat emails that fail DMARC authentication as suspicious.

  • Emails failing DMARC are typically delivered to the spam or junk folder

  • Emails passing DMARC are delivered to the inbox

  • Enforcement depends on the receiver’s spam filtering logic

✔ Best for:

  • Intermediate enforcement

  • Testing impact before full rejection

  • Reducing spoofing while monitoring false positives

REJECT (p=reject)

The reject policy instructs receiving mail servers to not deliver emails that fail DMARC authentication.

  • Emails failing DMARC are blocked outright

  • Emails passing DMARC are delivered normally

  • Provides the strongest protection against spoofing and phishing

✔ Best for:

  • Mature DMARC deployments

  • Domains with fully authenticated email sources

  • Maximum brand and domain protection

Recommended DMARC Policy Progression

If you are starting with TDMARC, the recommended approach is:

  1. Start with p=none

    • Monitor reports

    • Identify all legitimate sending sources

    • Correct SPF and DKIM configurations

  2. Move to p=quarantine

    • Gradually enforce DMARC

    • Validate that legitimate emails are not impacted

  3. Transition to p=reject

    • Fully block unauthorized and spoofed emails

    • Achieve maximum DMARC protection

If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please contact us at support@threatcop.com



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