Query the current DMARC policy and identify:

  • policy mode;
  • aggregate reporting destinations;
  • alignment modes;
  • subdomain policy;
  • any rollout/testing controls.

Review recent aggregate reports and compare sources with the sender inventory.

Then inspect real messages from major mail streams to confirm the aligned authentication path.

A policy can look strict in DNS while legitimate senders still fail or while important subdomains follow a different effective policy.

Reference material