🔐DKIM, SPF and DMARC

Make your emails more secure and trustworthy!

This might seem a bit complex, but it's crucial, so hang in there, and let's dive in!

What do DKIM, SPF, and DMARC mean?

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail):

DKIM is an email security standard that ensures messages remain unaltered between sending and recipient servers. It uses public-key cryptography to sign emails with a private key as they leave the sending server.

DKIM signing (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM signing is an email authentication method that helps detect forged sender addresses, associating a domain name with an email message and vouching for its authenticity.

Sender Policy Framework (SPF):

SPF is an email authentication method designed to detect forged sender addresses during email delivery. It allows receiving mail servers to check that mail claiming to come from a specific domain is submitted by an authorized IP address.

Limitation of SPF: SPF, on its own, detects forged sender claims in the envelope of the email. It becomes more effective in combination with DMARC to detect visible sender forging, commonly used in phishing and email spam.

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

DMARC is an email authentication protocol that empowers domain owners to protect their domains from unauthorized use, preventing email spoofing. It extends SPF and DKIM, allowing domain owners to specify the authentication mechanisms and policies for handling authentication failures.

Implementing DMARC: After publishing the DMARC DNS entry, receiving email servers can authenticate incoming emails based on the domain owner's instructions. If the email passes authentication, it's delivered and trusted; if it fails, actions specified in the DMARC record are taken.

Why use DMARC, SPF, and DKIM?

Phishing and email spam pose significant security threats. Implementing all three protocols is crucial to protect email infrastructures. They complement each other and collectively defend against various cyber threats.

Q: How to set them up?

DKIM:

1. Log in to Google Admin: admin.google.com.

2. In the Admin console, go to Menu ➡️ Apps ➡️ Google Workspace ➡️ Gmail.

3. Generate a DKIM Key.

4. Create a DNS TXT Record with the DKIM key at your domain provider.

5. Start authenticating after creating the DNS TXT record.

Google tutorial for DKIM setup

SPF:

1. Sign in to your domain account on your domain host's site.

2. Go to the page for updating your domain’s DNS records.

3. Check for existing SPF records starting with "v=spf1…".

4. Modify or create a TXT record with the specified SPF values.

Google tutorial for SPF setup

DMARC:

1. Go to your domain administrator’s site and find DNS Management or Settings.

2. Add the specified TXT record to your DNS, replacing the example email with your own.

[Replace "[e-mail]" with your actual email]

Google tutorial for DMARC setup

Ensure you allocate sufficient time for the setup process—a crucial task that may not be enjoyable but holds significant importance.