Every time you send an email from your business, various processes automatically occur behind the scenes to verify its authenticity.
Email service providers like Gmail and Microsoft employ algorithms to evaluate the authenticity of each email.
Their goal is to filter out spam and phishing emails, which are deceptive messages that appear to come from trusted sources but direct recipients to fraudulent websites to steal login details.
To ensure email authenticity, three main methods are utilized:
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Think of SPF as a guest list for sending mail. When you send mail, the mail carrier checks this list. If you’re on it, your mail is delivered. If not, you might be suspected of impersonating someone, and your mail may not reach its destination.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM acts like a unique seal or signature on your mail. When the recipient receives the mail, they look for this seal. If it’s present, it confirms that the mail genuinely came from you and wasn’t altered en route.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC provides guidelines for mail carriers on what to do if mail lacks the proper seal or isn’t on the guest list. It can instruct carriers to return, discard, or deliver the mail but advise the recipient to inspect it carefully.
As of February 2024, major email providers like Gmail and Yahoo require businesses to implement DKIM and DMARC to ensure their emails are delivered.
It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of businesses are not properly set up, and many are unaware that their emails are not being delivered.
Don’t be one of those businesses. We can quickly and easily check your email setup without needing access to your systems. If there’s an issue, we can guide you on how to resolve it.
