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DMARC alignment

Identifier alignment (RFC 7489)

Definition

The rule that the domain in a message’s From address must match the domain that passed SPF or the domain that signed it with DKIM.

In plain words

A message can pass SPF or DKIM for some other domain, such as a newsletter tool’s own. For DMARC that pass only counts when the domain matches yours. Relaxed alignment accepts a subdomain of the same domain; strict needs the exact name.

Why it matters to a firm

A service that sends in your name without being set up for your domain fails DMARC, and under a reject policy its mail is refused.

The check behind the finding

Open a message’s headers. Compare the From domain with smtp.mailfrom= and header.d=.

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