Do I need to configure anything for ARC?
Still have a question, spotted an error, or have a better explanation or a source we should cite?
Short answer: you probably don't. If you're a regular sender, ARC isn't your responsibility. ARC is implemented by intermediaries like mailing list services, email forwarders, and security gateways that sit between senders and receivers. Your ESP or mail server doesn't need ARC configuration from you.
But here's the nuance. If you run a mailing list, manage an email forwarding service, or operate a security gateway, you do need to implement ARC. You're the intermediary. That's what ARC is for. You add the three ARC headers to every message that passes through your system. It's not hard, but it does require support from your infrastructure or service provider.
As a sender, your job is still the basics: valid SPF, solid DKIM, and a working DMARC policy. If your emails pass those checks before they hit a forwarder, the forwarder's ARC implementation will handle the rest.
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