What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization
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<div><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" width="595" height="404" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/what-is-CAA.jpg" class="wp-image-69299 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-69299 attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="what-is-CAA" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/what-is-CAA.jpg 595w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/what-is-CAA-300x204.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 595px) 100vw, 595px" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization"></div><div style="display: flex; justify-content: center; margin: 2em 0;"> <div style="border: 1px solid #e2e8f0; border-radius: 8px; padding: 16px 24px; background: #fff; box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.05); max-width: 700px;"> <h3 style="font-size: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 12px; text-align: left;" id="key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><strong>CAA record</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> defines which Certificate Authorities can issue SSL/TLS certificates for your domain.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It </span><strong>prevents unauthorized certificate issuance</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>,</strong> reducing the risk of phishing or impersonation attacks.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>DNS-based enforcement</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ensures that only listed CAs can validate and issue certificates for your site.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>It aligns with the goals</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of compliance frameworks like NIST and PCI DSS by demonstrating strong control over certificate management.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Combined with <strong>SPF, DKIM, and DMARC</strong><strong>,</strong> CAA creates a full-spectrum defense for your web and <a id="link_juicer" href="https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-email-security/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow">email security</a>.</li> </ul> </div> </div><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Imagine your domain as a private digital venue where every visitor needs proof they’re in the right place. Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) acts as your domain’s exclusive guest list, determining which Certificate Authorities (CAs) can issue SSL/TLS certificates on your behalf. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without this record, any CA could issue a certificate for your domain , potentially allowing impersonators to pose as you. A properly configured CAA record strengthens your site’s credibility, prevents unauthorized certificate issuance, and ensures your brand’s digital identity remains protected.</span></p><h2 id="what-is-a-caa-record"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is a CAA Record?</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A CAA record is a simple entry in your DNS that acts as your personal, public bouncer’s list. It explicitly tells the world: “Only these specific, pre-approved Certificate Authorities are allowed to issue </span><a href="https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-tls-encryption/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SSL/TLS certificates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for my domain.”</span></p><div class="code-block code-block-12 ai-track" data-ai="WzEyLCIiLCJCbG9jayAxMiIsIiIsMV0=" style="margin: 8px 0; clear: both;"> <style> .ai-rotate {position: relative;} .ai-rotate-hidden {visibility: hidden;} .ai-rotate-hidden-2 {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-filter-check, .ai-fallback, .ai-list-block, .ai-list-block-ip, .ai-list-block-filter {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; width: 50%; height: 1px; top: -1000px; z-index: -9999; margin: 0px!important;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-filter-check, .ai-fallback {min-width: 1px;} </style> <div class="ai-rotate ai-unprocessed ai-timed-rotation ai-12-1" data-info="WyIxMi0xIiwxXQ==" style="position: relative;"> <div class="ai-rotate-option" style="visibility: hidden;" data-index="1" data-name="VGVjaHN0cm9uZyBHYW5nIFlvdXR1YmU=" data-time="MTA="> <div class="custom-ad"> <div style="margin: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Fojn5NFwaw8" target="_blank"><img src="https://securityboulevard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Techstrong-Gang-Youtube-PodcastV2-770.png" alt="Techstrong Gang Youtube"></a></div> <div class="clear-custom-ad"></div> </div></div> </div> </div><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This isn’t just a polite suggestion; it’s a mandatory rule for Certificate Authorities, as defined by the </span><a href="https://cabforum.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" data-wpel-link="external"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CA/Browser Forum</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Baseline Requirements. Each CA must check your CAA record before issuing a certificate, and if they’re not authorized, they must refuse issuance.</span></p><h2 id="why-is-caa-important"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Is CAA Important?</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a world without hackers, an open-door policy would have been fine. But the web is a bustling, chaotic city. A firm door policy, enforced by a CAA record, is essential for several reasons:</span></p><h3 id="prevents-impersonators"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prevents Impersonators</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CAA records stop unauthorized CAs from issuing fraudulent certificates for your domain, which helps block digital con artists from setting up a convincing fake storefront next to yours.</span></p><h3 id="protects-your-reputation"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Protects Your Reputation</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A counterfeit certificate can be used in </span><a href="https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-a-phishing-email/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow"><span style="font-weight: 400;">phishing attacks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or “man-in-the-middle” schemes, linking your trusted brand to criminal activity. A CAA record is your first line of defense against this reputational damage.</span></p><h3 id="enforces-your-security-standards"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enforces Your Security Standards</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You choose which CAs meet your security and vetting standards. CAA ensures that no one else, not a compromised partner, not a rogue employee, not a clever attacker, can bypass your choice.</span></p><h3 id="its-a-compliance-checkmark"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s a Compliance Checkmark</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For organizations adhering to strict security frameworks like NIST or PCI DSS, demonstrating control over certificate issuance isn’t just good practice, but often a requirement.</span></p><h2 id="how-does-a-caa-record-work"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does a CAA Record Work?</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When a CA receives a certificate request for your domain, it checks your DNS for the CAA record. The record itself is a clear instruction, composed of three parts: a flag, a tag, and a value.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The CAA record follows this structure:</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">example.com. IN CAA <flag> <tag> <value></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Typically, the flag is 0, and multiple records can coexist, one for each authorization instruction.</span></p><ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Flag:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The flag is usually set to 0. However, setting it to 128 (the ‘critical’ flag) instructs the CA to refuse issuance if it doesn’t recognize the tag, adding another layer of safety.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Tag:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This is the specific instruction. There are three main commands:</span> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">issue</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Grants a CA permission to issue standard certificates.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">issuewild</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Grants permission for </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">wildcard</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> certificates (e.g., </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">*.example.com</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">). This can be assigned to the same or a different CA than the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">issue</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> tag.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">iodef</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">: This is the “report an incident” instruction. It provides an email address where a CA can send a notice if someone </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">tried</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to get a certificate from them without authorization.</span></li> </ul> </li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Value:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> This is the name of the authorized CA or the reporting email address.</span></li> </ul><div id="tablepress-63-scroll-wrapper" class="tablepress-scroll-wrapper"> <table id="tablepress-63" class="tablepress tablepress-id-63 tablepress-responsive"> <thead> <tr class="row-1"> <th class="column-1">CAA Record Syntax</th> <th class="column-2">What It Means</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class="row-2"> <td class="column-1">example.com. IN CAA 0 issue “digicert.com”</td> <td class="column-2">“Only DigiCert can issue standard passes for this venue.”</td> </tr> <tr class="row-3"> <td class="column-1">example.com. IN CAA 0 issuewild “sectigo.com”</td> <td class="column-2">“For all-access wildcard passes, only Sectigo is on the list.”</td> </tr> <tr class="row-4"> <td class="column-1">example.com. IN CAA 0 iodef “mailto:<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8abbdbbadaab1aca198bda0b9b5a8b4bdf6bbb7b5">[email protected]</a>”</td> <td class="column-2">“If anyone else tries to get a pass, email the security manager immediately.”</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div><p><!-- #tablepress-63 from cache --></p><h2 id="setting-up-a-caa-record"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Setting Up a CAA Record</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Setting up a CAA record is done in your DNS management console.</span></p><p><strong>1. Enter Your DNS:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Log in to your domain registrar or DNS provider.</span></p><p><strong>2. Post a New Rule:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Find the area to add a new DNS record.</span></p><p><strong>3. Write the Instruction:</strong></p><ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><strong>Type:</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">CAA</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><strong>Host/Name:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Your domain (e.g., </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">example.com</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><strong>Tag:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Choose </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">issue</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">issuewild</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">iodef</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><strong>Value:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Enter the CA’s domain name in quotes (e.g., </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“digicert.com”</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><strong>Flag</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>:</strong> Set it to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">0</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></li> </ul> </li> </ul><p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69293" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction.png" alt="Write the Instruction" width="800" height="84" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction.png 1999w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-300x32.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-1030x108.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-768x81.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-1536x161.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-1500x158.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Write-the-Instruction-705x74.png 705w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></p><p><strong>4. Publish and Verify</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>:</strong> Save the record. DNS changes can take time to spread across the internet. Use PowerDMARC’s online </span><a href="https://powerdmarc.com/caa-checker/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CAA checker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to ensure your policy is visible and correct.</span></p><h3 id="how-powerdmarc-can-help"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How PowerDMARC Can Help </span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">PowerDMARC’s Certification Authority Authorization Checker is the tool you use to inspect your own door policy. It’s a powerful, free utility designed to instantly verify your CAA records and confirm that only your chosen CAs are on the list.</span></p><h4 id="step-1-sign-up-with-powerdmarc-for-free"><strong>Step 1: Sign up with PowerDMARC for free </strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Signing up</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gives you access to a whole suite of DNS and email authentication tools to keep your domain secure.</span></p><p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69294" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free.png" alt="Sign up with PowerDMARC for free" width="800" height="404" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free.png 1886w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-300x151.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-1030x520.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-768x388.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-1536x775.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-1500x757.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sign-up-with-PowerDMARC-for-free-705x356.png 705w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></p><h4 id="step-2-go-to-analysis-tools-lookup-tools-caa-checker"><strong>Step 2: Go to Analysis Tools > Lookup Tools > CAA Checker </strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From the main menu, navigate to our Analysis Tools. You’ll find the CAA Checker in the </span><a href="https://powerdmarc.com/power-dmarc-toolbox/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lookup Tools tab.</span></a></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69296" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker.png" alt="CAA record" width="800" height="376" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker.png 1902w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-300x141.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-1030x485.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-768x361.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-1536x723.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-1500x706.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-705x332.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69295" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2.png" alt="CAA record" width="800" height="377" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2.png 1903w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-300x141.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-1030x486.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-768x362.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-1536x724.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-1500x707.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-2-705x332.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69297" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3.png" alt="CAA record" width="800" height="373" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3.png 1915w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-300x140.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-1030x480.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-768x358.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-1536x715.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-1500x699.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Go-to-Analysis-Tools-Lookup-Tools-CAA-Checker-3-705x328.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></p><h4 id="step-3-enter-your-domain-name"><strong>Step 3: Enter Your Domain Name </strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enter the domain you want to inspect (e.g., </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">powerdmarc.com</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">) into the toolbox and hit the “Lookup” button.</span></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69298" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name.png" alt="CAA record" width="800" height="379" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name.png 1902w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-300x142.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-1030x488.png 1030w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-768x364.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-1536x728.png 1536w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-1500x711.png 1500w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Enter-Your-Domain-Name-705x334.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></p><h4 id="step-4-review-the-authorized-list"><strong>Step 4: Review the Authorized List </strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tool will immediately query your DNS and display your active CAA policy. You can review the authorized CAs and easily spot any that shouldn’t be there. The tool also highlights the TTL (Time to Live) for each record.</span></p><h4 id="step-5-fix-any-issues"><strong>Step 5: Fix Any Issues </strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the checker flags any misconfigurations or unauthorized entries, you can use the detailed information to go back to your DNS provider and troubleshoot them.</span></p><p><strong>Important:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A good CAA checker will help you prevent unauthorized certificate issuance, boost domain security, identify and troubleshoot misconfigurations effectively, as well as ensure compliance and better <a id="link_juicer" href="https://powerdmarc.com/difference-between-ssl-and-tls/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow">SSL</a> certificate management.</span></p><h3 id="rookie-mistakes-to-avoid"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rookie Mistakes to Avoid</span></h3><ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Typos on the List:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Spelling a CA’s name incorrectly (</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“digicert.co”</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> instead of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“digicert.com”</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">) will block them outright.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>Forgetting the iodef Report:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Not telling your bouncer where to send incident reports means you’ll never know if someone is testing your security.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><strong>One-Size-Fits-All Policies:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If you use one CA for standard domains and another for wildcards, you need two separate records (</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">issue</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">issuewild</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> </ul><h2 id="caa-and-other-dns-security-protocols"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CAA and Other DNS Security Protocols</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your CAA record is your front-door security, but what about the mailroom? This is where other DNS security protocols come in. </span><a href="https://powerdmarc.com/all-about-spf-dkim-dmarc/" data-wpel-link="internal" rel="follow"><b>SPF, DKIM, and DMARC</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are the security team that inspects every piece of mail (email) sent from your domain, ensuring it’s not forged.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While CAA protects your web identity, DMARC protects your email identity. Together, they form a comprehensive security detail, ensuring that every digital interaction associated with your domain is authentic and trustworthy.</span></p><h2 id="the-final-word"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Final Word</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Take full control over who issues SSL/TLS certificates for your domain. A CAA record acts as your authorized list of approved Certificate Authorities and blocks anyone else from creating a certificate in your name. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is your great defense against phishing and brand impersonation attacks that can erode customer trust. But simply creating the record isn’t enough. To ensure it’s working correctly, regular verification is necessary. PowerDMARC provides the expert tools you need to not only check your CAA configuration but also to deploy a complete, multi-layered defense that integrates web and email security. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t leave your certificate issuance process open to chance. </span><a href="https://app.powerdmarc.com/en/members/register" data-wpel-link="external"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sign up with PowerDMARC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today to use our free CAA Checker, validate your security posture, and gain complete visibility and control over your domain’s authentication protocols.</span></p><h2 id="frequently-asked-questions"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Frequently Asked Questions </span></h2><h3 id="what-does-a-caa-record-do"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What does a CAA record do?</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A CAA record is a public policy in your DNS that declares which specific Certificate Authorities are permitted to issue SSL/TLS certificates for your domain.</span></p><h3 id="do-i-need-a-caa-record-for-my-domain"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do I need a CAA record for my domain?</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No, it is not mandatory for a website to function. But without one, any CA can issue a certificate for your domain if a request passes their validation. This creates a potential security risk.</span></p><h3 id="can-i-have-multiple-caa-records"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can I have multiple CAA records?</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Absolutely. If you use more than one Certificate Authority, you simply create a separate issue or issuewild CAA record for each authorized provider.</span></p><h3 id="what-happens-if-i-dont-set-a-caa-record"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What happens if I don’t set a CAA record?</span></h3><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have no CAA record, you are essentially telling the world you have no preference. This means any of the hundreds of CAs can issue a certificate for your domain, which significantly increases the surface area for potential mis-issuance, whether accidental or malicious.</span></p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-69220 size-full" src="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CTA-.png" alt="CAA record" width="875" height="295" title="What is CAA? Understanding Certificate Authority Authorization" srcset="https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CTA-.png 875w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CTA--300x101.png 300w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CTA--768x259.png 768w, https://powerdmarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CTA--705x238.png 705w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 875px) 100vw, 875px"></p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/10/what-is-caa-understanding-certificate-authority-authorization/" data-a2a-title="What is CAA? 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Read the original post at: <a href="https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-caa-record/">https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-caa-record/</a> </p>