Unraveling SPF, DKIM, and DMARC - A Friendly Guide for Email Security!

Hey there! If SPF, DKIM, and DMARC sound like mysterious codes to you, don't worry – they're like friendly superheroes here to protect your emails. I'll guide you through setting them up, but first, let's get to know them a bit better.

SPF (Sender's Policy Framework):

SPF checks if a sender is allowed to send emails on behalf of a certain domain. It's like making sure only the right superheroes can use their special powers!

MX (Mail Exchange):

MX records direct emails to you. Without them, your inbox would be a lonely place – no emails allowed!

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):

DKIM adds a special signature to your outgoing emails, making it tough for email impostors to play pretend.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance):

DMARC authenticates emails and lets recipients know where those emails are coming from. It's like a security guard for your inbox! This usually looks like this: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected];

In the above sample, the v=DMARC1 means you are using version 1 of DMARC protocol.

The p means policy. It directs the receiver to report, quarantine, or reject emails that fail authentication checks. Policy options are: 1) None 2) Quarantine or 3) Reject.

While the rua is meant for reporting. For instance, regularly you may receive such emails:

The above is actually from Microsoft. These emails carry a report on how many emails from your domain were sent to the mail server, how many reached the inbox, and how many bounced as well as common bounce reasons.

In the above example, the report emails will be sent daily to [email protected].

Setting Up Records on Godaddy For Google WorkSpace and Microsoft

To set the mentioned records on Godaddy or namespace for your Google Workspace you need to follow the guide here: https://help.success.ai/en/articles/8648837-setting-up-spf-dmarc-and-dkim-in-google-workspace-with-godaddy-or-namespace-hosting

For Microsoft, you need to use the guide here: https://help.success.ai/en/articles/8653652-setting-up-spf-dkim-dmarc-and-mx-records-for-microsoft-business-emails

Setting Up Records for other hosting:

We recommend you add the records manually.

SPF: For SPF, you need to set the following:

Record type: Txt

Name: You can leave this part empty.

Value: v=spf1 include:MAIL SERVER ~all

Remember to replace the MAIL SERVER with the IP or domain provided by the mail server.

MX: For the MX record you need to:

Type: MX

Name: Any value from your mail provider can go here.

Value: any value from your mail provider also goes here.

Priority: 10

DKIM: The DKIM at first needs to be generated from the mail servers’s end. Then the next thing is to create a new Txt record using the format below:

Type: TXT

Name: Usually the selector/name is given to you by the mail server or email service provider.

Value: The key that was generated from the server. You need to copy this and paste it into the value field.

DMARC: To set this up you need to enter the following records:

Type: TXT

Name: _dmarc

Value: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:replace with your email;

Need a Hand? We're Here for You!

If you ever find yourself navigating through the email enchantments and run into a hiccup, don't worry! We're here to assist you on this magical journey.

Whether it's SPF playing hard to get, DKIM throwing a curveball, or DMARC doing a little dance of its own, reach out to us. Your friendly wizards at Success.ai are ready to cast the perfect spell to untangle any email mysteries.

We're here to make sure your email magic is always on point!