If your DMARC quarantine or reject policy is not being recognized or enabled, there are a few potential issues that you can troubleshoot to resolve the problem. Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Verify DMARC Record Syntax
Check the Syntax: Make sure that your DMARC record is correctly formatted. A common issue is incorrect syntax, which can prevent the record from being recognized.
Example of a Proper DMARC Record:
Use a Validator: Use an online DMARC record validator tool (like DMARC Analyzer or MXToolbox) to check if your DMARC record is correctly formatted.
2. Ensure Proper DNS Propagation
Wait for DNS Propagation: DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally. If you recently updated your DMARC record, it may not be visible everywhere yet.
Check DNS Propagation: Use tools like WhatsMyDNS to see if the DMARC record is visible across different regions.
3. Confirm the DMARC Record is Published in DNS
Check with dig or nslookup: Use command-line tools to ensure the DMARC record is present in your DNS.
Using dig:
dig TXT _dmarc.yourdomain.com
Using nslookup:
nslookup -type=txt _dmarc.yourdomain.com
Check DNS Interface: Log in to your DNS management interface and confirm that the DMARC record is published correctly.
4. Check for Multiple DMARC Records
Ensure Only One DMARC Record Exists: Having multiple DMARC records for the same domain can cause issues. Make sure there's only one DMARC TXT record in your DNS.
Remove Duplicates: If there are multiple records, remove the duplicates and ensure the correct one is in place.
5. Verify the Policy Tag (p=reject or p=quarantine)
Correct Policy Tag: Ensure that the policy tag is correctly set to p=reject or p=quarantine.
Use sp for Subdomains: If you want the policy to apply to subdomains as well, make sure to set sp=reject or sp=quarantine.
Example:
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; sp=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com;
6. Check Email Flow and Reports
Enable Reporting (rua and ruf): Make sure you’re receiving DMARC reports (aggregate reports via rua and forensic reports via ruf). These reports will show how your emails are being treated.
Analyze Reports: Review the DMARC reports you receive to see how emails are being processed and if any issues are causing failures.
7.Ensure Proper Alignment (SPF and DKIM)
Check SPF and DKIM: Ensure that your SPF and DKIM records are correctly configured and aligned with the domain in the "From" header.
Strict Alignment: If using strict alignment (aspf=s and adkim=s), ensure the domain names exactly match.
Check SPF/DKIM Pass Status: Use a tool like Mail-tester to send a test email and see if it passes SPF and DKIM checks.
8. Test with Different Tools
Use Alternative Tools: If MXToolbox isn’t recognizing your policy, try verifying with other tools like DMARC Analyzer or Google’s Postmaster Tools.
9. Contact Your DNS Provider
DNS Provider Issues: If the DMARC record is still not recognized after all the above checks, it may be an issue with your DNS provider. Contact their support team for assistance.
10. Reapply the DMARC Record
Delete and Recreate: If all else fails, try deleting the existing DMARC record and reapplying it. Sometimes this can resolve issues with the record not being properly recognized.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issue with your DMARC quarantine or reject policy not being enabled. Ensure that the record is correctly configured, propagated, and visible, and that your SPF and DKIM are aligned and functioning as expected.
