Mastering Eloqua’s Strict Mode: What Every Admin Needs to Know

(Part 2 of the Ask First series)

Part 1 of this series explained why "Ask First" consent matters and how global privacy laws require organizations to obtain explicit permission before tracking visitors. That article focused on the why, the business case, the regulatory drivers, and the trust benefits of asking before tracking.

This article is for Eloqua administrators and developers. It explains the core concepts behind Strict Mode, the configuration options you must choose from, and the technical foundations required before implementation.

Part 2A: Core Concepts Every Admin Must Understand

Visitor GUID

Eloqua assigns every browser a unique anonymous identifier called a GUID. This GUID is stored in a cookie and represents the visitor until they identify themselves.