Learn About SPF Authentication to Reduce Email Bounce Rates
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol that helps prevent spam, spoofing, and phishing attacks.
You can think of SPF as a bouncer for your email! With SPF authentication, the email sender's identity is checked against an approved list and, just like a bouncer at a club, it only allows entry to those on the list. This helps prevent unauthorized emails (like spam or phishing attempts) from getting through. Plus, emails that pass SPF checks are like VIPs breezing past the velvet rope straight to your recipient's inbox—and much less likely to end up in spam folders!
How does SPF authentication work?
A sender policy framework record is just a line of code that's used by email clients to confirm that a message originated from you or an authorized email distributor working on your behalf.
SPF works by allowing an organization to publish a list of authorized mail servers in a DNS TXT record called an SPF record. When an email is received, the mail server can perform an SPF test to verify that the IP address of the sender matches an IP address in the SPF record.
How do I setup SPF authentication?
Before you proceed, make sure that you know how to update your organization's DNS records and that you have access to the tools you need to do so. If you need to get someone's help for that, make sure they're available while you work on this.
To get started, reach out to MonkeyPod support to request a link to start the process. You can use the support beacon at the bottom of a page in your MonkeyPod to send a request to the MonkeyPod team.
Once you have access to the DNS tools, click the SPF tab, enter your domain in the "Domain Name" field and click "Check Record". Be sure to enter ONLY the domain itself. For example, if you want to send email from jane@example.org, you would enter "example.org".
After entering the domain, click "Check Record". MonkeyPod returns the SPF record details (if any exist) and provides further instructions specific to your domain about how the SPF record should be updated.
Example only:
Once you've added or edited the SPF record as instructed, you're done!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't MonkeyPod just do this for me?
The DNS Tools offered in MonkeyPod are there to help you on the path to setting up SPF records. MonkeyPod gets you the information you need to make changes to your organizations DNS records, and points you in the right direction, but you'll need someone who knows how your domain is setup to finish the work. Those changes, and the step-by-step instructions to make them, are outside the reach of what MonkeyPod can control.
Does SPF protect the content of the message?
No, it does not. SPF does not encrypt messages or offer privacy enhancements. Check out our article about DKIM though. By using both DKIM and SPF, you can make sure that your emails are super secure. SPF ensures emails are sent from trusted servers, while DKIM checks that the email content hasn't been altered. This combination not only boosts trust and deliverability but also shields you from various email threats.
What's an indication that I need to set up SPF authentication?
High bounce rates could indicate that your organization could benefit from SPF authentication (as well as DKIM).