Email security protocols protect your domain from spoofing, phishing, and other malicious activities. Implementing these protocols correctly helps maintain your domain's reputation and ensures your emails reach their intended recipients.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
SPF prevents sender address forgery by specifying which mail servers are authorized to send emails from your domain.
- Reduces the chance of your domain being used for spamming
- Helps prevent your legitimate emails from being marked as spam
- Improves your domain's sending reputation
Recommendation: At minimum, include all servers that send mail from your domain in your SPF record, using the syntax: v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails that verifies they were sent from your domain and weren't modified in transit.
- Authenticates the source of email messages
- Protects message integrity during transmission
- Works alongside SPF to improve deliverability
Recommendation: Generate 2048-bit RSA key pairs for strong security, and publish your public key in your DNS records.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)
DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide clear instructions on how to handle emails that fail authentication checks.
- Gives domain owners control over failed email handling
- Provides reporting on authentication failures
- Creates a feedback loop for improving security
Recommendation: Start with a monitoring policy p=none and gradually move to p=quarantine or p=reject after analyzing reports.
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)
BIMI allows you to display your logo alongside your emails in supported inboxes, increasing brand recognition and trust.
- Enhances brand visibility in email messages
- Builds trust with recipients
- Provides another visual cue for email authentication
Recommendation: First implement DMARC with an enforcement policy, then create a BIMI record with a link to your SVG logo.
