BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)
Summary
BIMI allows brands to display their logo next to authenticated emails in recipient inboxes. BIMI requires DMARC enforcement (p=quarantine or p=reject) and a verified mark certificate (VMC). Brand logos increase email trust and engagement.
What Is BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)?
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) enables brands to display their logo in email clients. BIMI works by publishing a DNS TXT record pointing to an SVG logo file and optionally a Verified Mark Certificate. Gmail, Yahoo, and Apple Mail support BIMI.
Why BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) Matters for Email & DNS Security
BIMI increases email trustworthiness through visual brand recognition. Users identify legitimate emails at a glance, reducing phishing success. According to IntoDNS analysis, BIMI-enabled emails show 12% higher engagement rates compared to non-branded authenticated emails. However, BIMI requires DMARC p=quarantine or p=reject.
How BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) Works (Technical)
- 1.Brand publishes BIMI record at default._bimi.domain.com
- 2.Record contains URL to SVG logo (Tiny P/S format)
- 3.Includes Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) URL
- 4.Email sent with SPF, DKIM, DMARC alignment
- 5.DMARC policy must be p=quarantine or p=reject
- 6.Server validates DMARC passes
- 7.Fetches BIMI record from DNS
- 8.SVG logo retrieved and validated
- 9.VMC verified (required by Gmail)
- 10.Logo displayed in inbox
Common Misconfigurations
❌ DMARC policy p=none
Consequence: BIMI will not work - requires p=quarantine or p=reject
How IntoDNS detects this: IntoDNS checks DMARC policy strength before BIMI validation
❌ Invalid SVG format
Consequence: Logo fails validation, BIMI ignored
How IntoDNS detects this: IntoDNS validates SVG meets Tiny P/S specification
❌ Missing Verified Mark Certificate
Consequence: Gmail will not display logo (VMC required)
How IntoDNS detects this: IntoDNS checks VMC presence and validates certificate
How IntoDNS.ai Detects & Scores This
IntoDNS validates BIMI through DMARC enforcement check, DNS record at default._bimi, logo URL validation (HTTPS + SVG format), Tiny P/S compliance, VMC certificate validation, and alignment checks.
How To Fix BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) Issues
- 1.Ensure DMARC is enforced: p=quarantine or p=reject
- 2.Create square logo SVG (1:1 ratio) in Tiny P/S format
- 3.Keep SVG under 32KB
- 4.Host logo on HTTPS with CORS headers
- 5.Obtain VMC from DigiCert or Entrust
- 6.Create BIMI record: v=BIMI1; l=https://domain.com/logo.svg; a=https://domain.com/vmc.pem
- 7.Publish at default._bimi.yourdomain.com
- 8.Test with IntoDNS validator
References
Source: IntoDNS.ai – DNS & email security diagnostics
Last updated: 2026-01-14
Category: email