How SPF, DKIM and DMARC keep your emails out of spam

If you send a lot of work emails and keep getting radio silence, your messages are very likely landing in someone's spam folder. Most commonly, your domain may not be authenticated, which gives receiving mail servers all the reason they need to quietly file your messages away.

There's an easy fix: three DNS records called SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Together they prove to the internet that your emails are legitimate and also protect your domain from being hijacked by cybercriminals who could impersonate you in emails. Each protocol covers a different weak point: SPF verifies the server sending your email is authorized; DKIM adds a cryptographic signature so recipients can confirm messages haven't been altered; DMARC publishes a policy telling receiving servers what to do when checks fail and routes authentication reports back to you.

spf, dkim, dmarc, dns records, email authentication, domain authentication, spam folder, email deliverability, cryptographic signature, receiving servers