How can you verify your email authentication?

Here's how to verify your email authentication: - Authentication Protocols: Utilize SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. - SPF: Define authorized email servers. - DKIM: Sign emails with cryptographic signatures. - DMARC: Set policies for email authentication failures. - Third-Party Tools: Employ services like DMARC analyzer or Valimail. - Regular Monitoring: Continuously check authentication results. - Training: Educate staff on authentication best practices. - Vendor Support: Engage with email service providers. - Compliance: Ensure adherence to authentication standards. - Audits: Periodically review authentication measures. - Stay Informed: Keep updated on authentication advancements.

From my experience in email marketing, SPF records are a crucial part of ensuring your emails reach the intended recipient and aren't marked as spam. I've seen cases where improper SPF records led to significant drops in email deliverability. It's always worth the time to verify your SPF records using tools like MXToolbox or Google Workspace Toolbox. It's a small step that can make a big difference in your email marketing results.

It is not always obvious that SPF records are required when you are setting up your email account, or adding an app to your email account. A great example of this is when you are setting up a business email within Google Workspace. Google walks you through setting up your MX and DKIM records, but says nothing about your SPF records. Use this Google search: "adding google workspace spf record" to find the record. The same is true for most applications you are adding to your email. Remember: You can only have ONE SPF record. And, adding more than 10 records under the single SPF record will cause it to fail. If you need to add more than 10 SPF records, use an SPF compression service. Do a Google search to find them.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records are a key part of email security. They help stop fake emails by listing the servers that can send mail for your domain. Check your domain's DNS settings for an SPF record. This text string tells email systems which servers are allowed. If an email comes from a server not on this list, it could be seen as spam or phishing.

The SPF record defines the IP addresses that can send emails on behalf of a domain. There are some common implementation mistakes to avoid: You cannot implement more than one SPF record. Each domain or sub-domain should have only one SPF record. Avoid stuffing the SPF record with too many DNS lookups. It should not exceed 10 DNS lookups. Remove from the SPF any source that is no longer relevant. Remember to create the SPF record in TXT format, not in the deprecated SPF format.

DKIM signatures are an essential part of email marketing, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of your emails. As a marketer, I've seen how a properly configured DKIM can significantly improve email deliverability and trust with ISPs. However, it's important to regularly verify your DKIM signatures using tools like Mail Tester or DKIM Validator. A mismatched or invalid DKIM can lead to emails being marked as spam or not delivered at all, impacting your campaign's success. It's a big move, but it's giving the kind of email authenticity we love to see in the industry.

If your emails don't have a valid DKIM record, they may be blocked or marked as spam by email providers. It was challenging because mailbox providers handled unauthenticated DKIM emails inconsistently. As of February 2024, that changes to you must have a properly authenticated DKIM or your email will not be delivered.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) adds a digital signature to your emails. This signature is checked against a public key in your domain's DNS. It's like a seal of approval, showing the email really came from your domain and hasn't been changed. Make sure your email service is set up to use DKIM and check your DNS for the DKIM record.

If your provider supports it, use a key size of 2048 bit. The standard has been 1024 bit for years, but the current recommendation is 2048 bit.

To confirm your DKIM setup is working correctly, tools like Mail Tester or DKIM Validator are invaluable. They allow you to send a test email, which they then analyze to ensure your DKIM signature is valid and correctly corresponds to your public key published in the DNS record.

I like to explain: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for email protection is like this... Imagine you are trying to keep burglars out of your home. SPF would be like securing the windows. DKIM would be like locking the doors. A burglar can smash a window?or break down?a door and get in. But... DMARC would be like turning on your home alarm system. If a burglar breaches your windows or doors, the alarm goes off, the police are called and take the burglar away. If DMARC p=none, that means your alarm system is off. The mailbox providers say that setting p=none is okay with them, but let's apply a little common sense. If the alarm system is not set to go off during a break-in, it is useless. Therefore, you should set "p" to reject or quarantine.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) builds on SPF and DKIM. It lets you set rules for how receivers handle emails failing SPF or DKIM checks. You also get reports on these checks. Setting up a DMARC record in your DNS helps control your email's security and get feedback on potential issues.

DMARC is an additional way to authenticate your emails. In fact, Gmail and Yahoo are requiring a DMARC record to be published on your domain with the minimum policy set to "p=none". DMARC can be a weird one simply because it needs to be rolled out over the course of a few months and "activated" in small chunks to minimize any authentication errors that cause your emails to be rejected for delivery.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) provides instructions on how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks, enhancing email security. An example policy could be: "p=reject," directing receivers to reject unauthorized emails. If an email fails authentication, it will be marked as spam or rejected, preventing phishing attempts.

DMARC with any policy can help you get a better picture of who is trying to spoof your emails. Start with p=none, but ideally dial it up to p=reject. Don't forget to read those reports!

BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) lets you show your logo in supported inboxes, adding a visual trust mark to your messages. To use BIMI, you need a strong DMARC policy. Then, add a BIMI record to your DNS with a link to your logo. This helps your emails stand out and builds brand trust.

BIMI turns your logo into an email trust badge, solidifying brand presence in a crowded inbox. Here’s why it's a big deal: ? Brand Spotlight: Your logo gets prime real estate next to every email, increasing visibility. ? Trust Factor: BIMI signals legitimacy, reassuring recipients against phishing fears. ? Tech Must-Have: It demands a stringent DMARC policy—no DMARC, no BIMI benefit. Bottom line: BIMI leverages visual recognition to build credibility, but it stands on the foundation of DMARC. It's not just branding—it's a badge of trust in the email landscape.

BIMI logo is a verified logo that brands can display in the mailboxes of their recipients. It helps brand build trust and shine on clustered inboxes. It links a special hosted logo and a DNS record. It works as a visual authentication protocol that people can recognize, like a wax seal on old letters. BIMI is built on the foundations of trustworthy sending domains that properly authentication with SPF and DKIM. Either a reject or quarantine (with 100% tag) policy must enforce the domain DMARC policy. In some major mailbox providers, like Google, the brand must have both a trademarked logo and a VMC certificate (yearly paid). However, Yahoo does not require a VMC to display BIMI. BIMI UP, SCOTTY! :-)

BIMI is a game-changer in email marketing, allowing brands to display their logo in inboxes, enhancing trust and visibility. It's like a modern wax seal, vouching for an email's authenticity. Beyond aesthetics, BIMI is rooted in email authentication. For its use, a strict DMARC policy is essential. Verification tools like BIMI Group ensure the logo displayed is authentic. While Google requires a trademarked logo and VMC certificate, Yahoo is lenient. BIMI's essence? Building trust in the email ocean.

BIMI is a relatively recent standard with (as of yet) not very wide support. It takes a significant investment of time and effort to implement it.

The Google and Yahoo email compliance update will impact emails sent to ALL mailbox providers. Complying with the 0.3% spam complaint rate is very difficult because no one consistently meets this requirement. Do not depend on your ESP to provide an accurate spam rate percentage. They typically underreport these numbers to their users. Sign up directly with the mailbox providers' monitoring services, such as Google Postmaster Tools, to get accurate information about your email performance. This isn't something to ignore, even if you send relatively low volume email, because if you depend on email to do business, the very life of your business depends on it.

Besides SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and BIMI, keep an eye on regular checks of your domain's reputation and email delivery rates. Tools and services are available to monitor your email performance and highlight potential issues. Staying proactive and using these tools helps ensure your emails reach their intended inboxes safely.

Regularly monitoring authentication reports is crucial to identify and promptly address any issues. Additionally, updating SPF records after changing email service providers and periodically rotating DKIM keys further enhances the security of your email authentication. For example, if you switch to a new email service, ensure that your SPF record includes the new provider's servers. Stay informed about industry best practices to adapt your authentication strategy effectively.

Gmail update coming in 2024 This time Google went down hard ?? Read carefully because it is too important, and if you don't adapt in time you risk no longer communicating with the Gmail users on your list. Starting February 1, 2024, all senders sending emails to Gmail accounts must meet the following requirements: - SPF or DKIM email authentication for the sending domain - PTR records for the sending domain or sending IPs - Spam rate below 0.3% - Internet Message Format (RFC 5322) email formatting - DMARC DNS record with quarantine applied ?? Don't assume that your email sending platform (ESP or CRM) will magically take care of it for you, because it won't.

This affects ALL private domains. Even if you only send a few emails a month. And the most common forgotten requirement for Email compliance, is YOU MUST HAVE an A Record pointing to a valid webpage.