ESP · Postmark
Postmark: DKIM and Return-Path CNAMEs.
22 October 2026
This guide covers Postmark: where to copy SPF and DKIM values, how to publish them at your DNS provider, and how to point DMARC aggregate reports at a mailbox you control—or at Hosted DMARC on Sender Identity.
Before you change DNS
- Run the free static audit and keep a copy of the current SPF and DMARC text.
- List every system that already sends as this domain (office mail, billing, marketing, tickets).
- Prefer one organizational-domain DMARC record. Subdomain records override the org policy when present.
Where to copy the values
- Postmark → Sender Signatures or Domains.
- Open the domain. Postmark lists a DKIM CNAME and a Return-Path CNAME (SPF via that bounce domain).
- Publish both. Wait until Postmark marks DNS as verified.
Typical DNS shape
| Type | Name / host | Value / points to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
TXT | @ | v=spf1 include:spf.mtasv.net -all | Merge with existing includes; stay under 10 DNS lookups. |
CNAME | (selector)._domainkey | pm.mtasv.net (example) | Exact values appear in Postmark. |
CNAME | pm-bounce (or shown host) | pm.mtasv.net | Return-Path / SPF alignment helper. |
DMARC aggregate reports
Two workable patterns:
- Self-hosted mailbox. Publish
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@brand.exampleon_dmarc.brand.example. The mailbox host must share the organizational domain, or you must authorize an external report host with av=DMARC1TXT atbrand.example._report._dmarc.<report-host>. - Hosted DMARC. Remove the TXT at
_dmarc, publish a CNAME tobrand.example._dmarc.hosted.senderidentity.com, and let Sender Identity open a report mailbox atreports.senderidentity.com. Stages move only when you approve them:p=none, thenp=quarantineat 25% and 50%, thenp=reject.
The free audit suggests a starter p=none record for your own mailbox. It never writes p=reject and never points rua at reports.senderidentity.com—that only happens on the paid hosted path.
Verify
- Wait for DNS, then run the free audit. Add any unusual DKIM selector under “DKIM selectors” if the default probe list misses it.
- Sender Identity’s vendor catalog can label known includes and selectors in paid monitoring; labels never publish DNS for you.
- Keep
p=noneuntil aggregate reports show only senders you recognize, then stage quarantine and reject in Account.