The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) offers a straightforward method for specifying the origins of valid emails, helping to protect your domain from fraud. Domains without SPF records available face verification and deliverability challenges.
The Sender Policy Framework is a public declaration that specifies which email servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. This configuration is done through a simple text record in your DNS records, which provides explicit authorization for specific email services to send legitimate emails for your domain.
When an email is sent claiming to be from your domain, the receiving email server checks for the SPF record associated with that domain via a DNS lookup for the TXT records at . It verifies whether the email was sent from one of the authorized service providers listed in the SPF record. If the sender is not on the list, the email is likely to be considered spoofed or spam and it may be either rejected or quarantined. SPF is an effective tool for combating spam and spoofing since it mandates that all emails sent from your domain must originate from a specific list of authorized email providers. This list can only be updated by accessing your DNS records, which adds an additional barrier for spammers who may try to impersonate your domain. Without SPF, spammers can easily use any email service to forge your domain’s emails.
Implementing an SPF record is straightforward; it simply requires adding a text record to your DNS settings that indicates which servers are authorized to send emails on your behalf. However, the process requires that you audit and compile a comprehensive list of all email service providers currently authorized to send emails for your domain.
If you have a distributed network of email service providers or multiple email services under your domain, this may present a challenge. The task can become particularly complicated if you manage a large-scale environment that uses a single domain for various communications. Gathering a single list of authorized providers can be difficult.
Once you have successfully compiled the list and confirmed that all emails under your domain are sent exclusively through those providers, you can proceed to add this information as a TXT record in your DNS settings. By doing so, you will enhance your email security and create a clear distinction between your domain and others. This guide does not consider subdomain management or the architecture behind distributed hosted zones that will require different management and administration for larger organisations outside of the management of SPF and other email security configuration. For advice and scanning of your domains in your cloud estate with active email records book a SkySiege Cloud Assessment for same day detection and follow up consultation detailing shortfalls in your email security:
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