New Features for Managing Parked Domains

Introduction

Parked domains are domains that do not actively send legitimate email, securing them is vital to preventing brand damage or your stakeholders falling victim to fraud. VerifyDMARC has introduced two powerful new features to enhance the management and security of parked domains: the Parked Flag and Auto Park feature.

See our previous blog post about securing parked domains.

Parked Flag

The Parked Flag is a new toggle on the Domains page that allows you to explicitly mark domains as parked. This feature offers several benefits:

1. Clear visualisation: Easily identify which domains are parked in your domain list.
2. Dashboard management: Use the Hide Park toggle to focus on active domains, keeping your Dashboard clear and actionable.
3. Automatic monitoring: The system will automatically toggle off the parked flag if DMARC compliant emails are reported for the domain or if the DMARC policy is no longer valid.

To successfully flag a domain as parked, it must have:

• A valid reject DMARC policy reporting to VerifyDMARC (i.e., including our rua tag)
• An empty v=spf1 -all SPF policy

You can create a suitable DMARC record using Generate DMARC Record on the Domain page to ensure it meets these criteria.

Auto Park Feature

The Auto Park feature streamlines the process of managing parked domains:

1. Bulk action: With one click, check all domains for parking eligibility.
2. Automatic flagging: Domains meeting the criteria (valid reject DMARC policy and empty SPF policy) are automatically flagged as parked.
3. Continuous monitoring: The system will automatically un-flag domains that no longer meet the criteria.

Notifications for Parked Domain Changes

To stay informed about changes to your parked domains:

• Set one or more Alert Email Addresses under the Organisation settings.
• You'll receive email notifications when a parked flag has been automatically toggled off.

Best Practices for Using These Features

1. Full coverage: Ensure all domains, active or inactive are added to VerifyDMARC, taking advantage of the generous domain limits offered by our plans.
2. Regular audits: Use the Auto Park feature periodically to ensure all eligible domains are properly flagged.
3. Policy monitoring: Keep an eye on parked domains to ensure their policies remain in the correct state.
4. Quick response: If a parked domain is automatically un-flagged, investigate promptly to determine if it's due to legitimate use or potential abuse.
5. Set up notifications: Configure alert email addresses to receive timely notifications about changes to parked domain status.

By leveraging these new features, you can more effectively manage your parked domains, reducing the risk of abuse while maintaining a clear overview of your active domains. VerifyDMARC continues to evolve, providing you with the tools you need to protect your brand and ensure email security across all your domains.