NIS2 vs DORA vs GDPR: A practical guide for EU businesses
Cybersecurity rules in the EU are getting stricter, and businesses can no longer treat them as optional. Frameworks like NIS2, DORA, and GDPR are now
9 min read intermediate
Brad Slavin
CEO
Brad Slavin is the CEO of DuoCircle, the company behind AutoSPF. With extensive experience in email security and deliverability, Brad leads the development of solutions that help businesses manage SPF records, achieve DMARC compliance, and protect their email infrastructure.
Credentials
- 20+ years in email security and deliverability
- CEO of DuoCircle LLC
- SPF/DKIM/DMARC domain expert
- Trusted by 2,000+ businesses worldwide
Areas of Expertise
SPF DKIM DMARC Email Security Email Deliverability DNS Management
Articles by Brad Slavin (434)
What are the best practices for creating an SPF record that passes Kitterman SPF validation?
To create an SPF record that consistently passes Kitterman SPF validation, you must adhere strictly to RFC 7208 syntax (one TXT record starting with
12 min read intermediate
Automating SPF Record Management: A Smarter Approach For MSSPs
MSSPs often manage dozens or even hundreds of client domains, each with its own SPF configuration. Handling this manually can quickly become overwhelming.
5 min read advanced
How can I create a valid SPF record that passes Google’s validation for multiple third-party senders?
To create a valid SPF record that passes Google’s validation for multiple third‑party senders, publish a single TXT record starting with v=spf1 that
12 min read advanced
Think Your SPF Is Fine? An SPF Validator Might Prove You Wrong
Yes—an SPF validator frequently uncovers hidden errors (lookup-limit breaches, missing or mistyped includes, misordered mechanisms, permissive all, and
9 min read intermediate
A Guide On Preventing Your Emails From Getting Placed In Spam Folders
Getting emails into the inbox is not just about writing a good message; it’s about proving, again and again, that your emails deserve to be there. Many
8 min read intermediate
Why does SPF record syntax include mechanisms like “include” and “all”?
SPF syntax includes mechanisms like include and all so domain owners can modularly authorize many disparate sending sources (include) while enforcing a
10 min read intermediate
SPF PermError vs SPF TempError: What’s the Difference?
When your outgoing email does not return a normal pass or fail SPF, you might think that the message was simply not authenticated. But it can be a little
4 min read intermediate
What is the most common SPF checker finding that indicates misconfigured include statements?
The most common SPF checker finding that indicates misconfigured include statements is that the included domain publishes no SPF record (e.g.,
12 min read intermediate
How can I reduce DNS lookups reported by an SPF lookup to avoid exceeding limits?
You reduce DNS lookups in SPF by replacing lookup-heavy mechanisms (include, a, mx, ptr, exists) with explicit ip4/ip6 entries, consolidating or
12 min read foundational
Understanding Gmail’s HIPAA Compliance: What Businesses Must Know
HIPAA compliance means protecting sensitive patient data, also called protected health information or PHI. This includes names, medical records, insurance
8 min read intermediate
What limitations should I be aware of when relying on an SPF record tester?
SPF record testers are valuable diagnostics but they can mislead you because they may not fully enforce the 10-DNS-lookup limit (especially with nested
12 min read advanced
What Is RFC 7208? Understanding The SPF Standard Behind Email Authentication
RFC stands for Request for Comments, a series of documents used by the Internet community to publish technical guidelines, protocols, and standards that ke
10 min read foundational
The Hidden Rules of SPF Record Syntax You’re Probably Missing
The hidden SPF syntax rules most teams miss are that SPF evaluates mechanisms left-to-right and stops at the first match; only one SPF TXT record is allowe
12 min read advanced
From DNS to Deliverability: Why an SPF Record Tester Matters
An SPF record tester matters because it verifies your DNS-published sender authorizations end-to-end, catches syntax and lookup-limit failures before mailb
14 min read intermediate
How can I interpret the results from an SPF record checker if I see multiple include mechanisms?
If an SPF checker shows multiple include mechanisms, interpret each as a delegated check of another domain’s SPF that is evaluated left-to-right for the sa
12 min read advanced
CNAME vs Alias records: Here’s what you should know about them
Email ecosystems these days are no longer limited to only a couple of email servers. Most organizations now rely on external tools and services, such as em
5 min read intermediate
What causes an SPF validator to report lookup limit or mechanism count issues?
An SPF validator reports lookup-limit or mechanism-count issues when evaluating a sender’s SPF policy would require more than 10 DNS-querying terms—specifi
13 min read intermediate
From Zero to Secure: Creating an SPF Record for Your Domain
To create an SPF record from scratch and secure your domain, publish a DNS TXT record at your sending domain (or subdomain) in the form v=spf1 [authorized
12 min read foundational
SPF Flattening for Growing Domains: Preventing SPF Failures and Lookup Errors
To prevent SPF failures and DNS lookup errors as your domain grows, you should implement automated SPF flattening that replaces include/redirect mechanisms
12 min read advanced
What are the best practices illustrated by an SPF record example to avoid DNS lookup limits?
The best practices to avoid SPF DNS lookup limits are to use only necessary lookup‑triggering mechanisms, prefer ip4/ip6 literals and CIDR ranges, apply TT
12 min read advanced
NCSC is retiring Web Check and Mail Check: Here’s what it means for security teams
Back in 2017, when the web wasn’t as structured as it is today from a security standpoint, many organizations didn’t have the right tools to analyze the se
5 min read intermediate
How can I interpret the results of an SPF lookup to find configuration errors?
You can interpret SPF lookup results to find configuration errors by parsing the record’s mechanisms and qualifiers in order, comparing them to the connect
12 min read intermediate
Avoid Email Spoofing with Sender Policy Framework Office 365 Configuration
To avoid email spoofing with Sender Policy Framework (SPF) in Office 365, publish a correct SPF TXT record (typically v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook
10 min read intermediate
How To Set Up SPF For Avanan: Here’s What You Should Know
It’s 2026, and companies no longer use traditional on-premise email servers; they have now moved to cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
6 min read intermediate
Advanced SPF Record Testing: Protect Your Domain from Permerror Issues
To protect your domain from SPF permerror issues, enforce strict syntax validation, cap DNS lookups to 10 with include minimization and judicious flattenin
13 min read advanced
SPF Lookup in 2026: Best Practices for Secure Email Authentication
In 2026, the best practices for secure SPF lookups are to keep SPF within the 10-DNS-lookup limit by optimizing and (selectively) flattening includes, pref
12 min read foundational
How should you implement DMARC as an MSP or an enterprise?
Most guides treat DMARC deployment as a two-step process: publishing the DNS record and monitoring its performance. But this is only the starting point and
6 min read advanced
Why Multiple SPF Records Lead to Authentication Failures
Multiple SPF records lead to authentication failures because RFC 7208 requires exactly one “v=spf1” policy per domain, so publishing more than one causes a
12 min read intermediate
When SPF Permerror Disrupts Delivery: Hidden Causes You’re Missing
SPF permerror disrupts delivery when your SPF record has syntax faults (missing v=spf1, invalid qualifiers, malformed ip4/ip6 or macros), exceeds the 10-DN
13 min read foundational
Why Email Delivery Failures Happen And How To Fix Them In 2026
Email delivery failure in 2026 is no longer just about an email “bouncing.” It now includes any situation where your message does not reach the recipient’s
9 min read intermediate
Why would an SPF record example show a "~all" or "-all" policy and what are the implications?
An SPF record shows “~all” (softfail) when a domain wants receivers to treat non-authorized senders as suspicious but typically still accept and score them
12 min read intermediate
What are the best practices an SPF record generator should enforce for reliability?
An SPF record generator should enforce RFC 7208–compliant syntax and semantics; cap and flatten DNS lookups to stay under the 10-lookup limit; manage recor
12 min read advanced
SPF Lookup Best Practices: How to Configure and Maintain Accurate SPF Records
To configure and maintain accurate SPF records, build a minimal, syntactically correct policy per sending identity, prefer the right mechanism (include vs
12 min read intermediate
550 From address violates UsernameCaseMapped Policy: Why does this happen, and how to fix it?
For an email to reach the recipient, it must meet the specific requirements set by the receiving server, which govern address syntax, authentication, and p
6 min read intermediate
Avoid Email Authentication Failures in Office 365 with SPF
To avoid email authentication failures in Office 365 with SPF, publish a single authoritative SPF TXT record for each sending domain (typically v=spf1 incl
10 min read advanced
Advanced SPF Flattening Implementation for Reliable Email Authentication
To implement advanced SPF flattening for reliable email authentication, you need a resolver that recursively expands and deduplicates mechanisms while enfo
11 min read advanced
Avoiding the common SPF and DKIM mistakes in 2026
Email authentication is no longer a “set it once and forget it” task. In 2026, mailbox providers are applying stricter filtering rules, and even small SPF
9 min read intermediate
What Are The Best Practices An SPF Checker Should Recommend For Maintaining SPF Records?
The best practices an SPF checker should recommend are to keep records within the 10-lookup and size limits, modularize with precise ip4/ip6 and scoped inc
11 min read advanced
How does an SPF record example differ from DKIM and DMARC examples for email authentication?
An SPF record example differs from DKIM and DMARC examples because SPF is a domain-level TXT that lists authorized sending hosts evaluated at SMTP envelope
12 min read intermediate
SPF Checker Online: Ensure Compliance With Email Authentication Standards
Google’s SPF checker most often reports “no SPF record” when the domain publishes only the deprecated SPF resource record (not a TXT), when DNS propagation
12 min read intermediate
How does an incorrect SPF record affect my protection in Mimecast against spoofing?
An incorrect SPF record reduces Mimecast’s spoofing protection by causing SPF evaluation errors (fail, softfail, neutral, temperror, permerror), breaking D
13 min read intermediate
What causes DKIM or SPF failures and how can I recognize them?
DKIM and SPF typically fail due to DNS record mistakes, signature-breaking message modifications, identity alignment mismatches, SPF’s 10-lookup limit, key
13 min read intermediate
How to avoid spam and phishing emails in your inbox
Spam and phishing emails are no longer just a minor inconvenience sitting quietly in your junk folder. They are often the first step in phishing attacks, f
7 min read foundational
What common SPF configuration mistakes cause Google to flag emails?
Google most commonly flags emails when SPF is misconfigured—specifically multiple or duplicate SPF TXT records, exceeding the 10 DNS-lookup limit, misusing
11 min read intermediate
How can I update my DNS to change the SPF "all" policy without causing mail failures?
To update your DNS and change the SPF “all” policy without causing mail failures, first inventory and authorize every legitimate sender, reduce DNS TTLs, s
12 min read intermediate
How can I troubleshoot DKIM and SPF failures reported by mailbox providers?
To troubleshoot DKIM and SPF failures reported by mailbox providers, parse bounce and Authentication-Results data to separate SPF from DKIM issues, validat
12 min read intermediate
How do SPF flattening tools affect DMARC and DKIM enforcement?
SPF flattening tools improve DMARC SPF alignment reliability by reducing DNS lookup failures and timeouts but do not directly affect DKIM; when well-mainta
13 min read advanced
What is the correct DNS record format to replace multiple SPF TXT records with a single valid one?
Publish a single DNS TXT record at the domain that begins with v=spf1 and combines all mechanisms (for example: “v=spf1 ip4:203.0.113.0/24 ip6:2001:db8::/3
12 min read intermediate
How can I combine an SPF generator with DKIM and DMARC for better deliverability?
Combine an SPF generator with DKIM and DMARC for better deliverability by using AutoSPF to produce a single, flattened SPF include that authorizes every se
12 min read intermediate
General email authentication and sender requirements for WooCommerce
WooCommerce stores rely heavily on email for everyday operations, from order confirmations and shipping updates to password resets and marketing campaigns.
7 min read foundational
Why does incorrect SPF syntax cause my legitimate emails to be marked as spam?
Incorrect SPF syntax causes legitimate emails to be marked as spam because receiving mail servers strictly parse SPF TXT records, and any syntax or lookup
13 min read foundational
What are the common causes shown in an SPF record breakdown that lead to SPF failures?
The most common causes shown in an SPF record breakdown that lead to SPF failures are syntax/format errors (missing v=spf1, malformed mechanisms, stray cha
12 min read foundational
How can I tell if "spf ~all" is causing my emails to be marked as spam?
You can tell if “spf ~all” is causing your emails to land in spam by confirming spf=softfail in the message headers, reproducing the softfail with SPF look
11 min read intermediate
How can I create a valid SPF record format for a domain that uses multiple email providers?
You can create a valid SPF record for a domain that uses multiple email providers by starting with “v=spf1”, listing your known static sources with ip4:/ip
12 min read intermediate
What Happens To My Email Deliverability If My SendGrid SPF Record Is Missing Or Misconfigured?
If your SendGrid SPF record is missing or misconfigured, recipient servers will treat your messages as unauthenticated, causing SPF failures that break DMA
11 min read foundational
SPF Syntax Limits Explained: Includes, Lookups, and the 10-DNS Rule
Most SPF records do not fail because they are missing or incorrectly added. They fail because they become too complicated over time. A domain starts with o
9 min read intermediate
What Causes An Email To Be Rejected For Sender Policy Framework After A DNS Change?
Emails are typically rejected for SPF after a DNS change because receiving servers still reference cached/propagating DNS data, the new SPF record has synt
11 min read advanced
How Can I Determine Whether I Need An SMTP Relay Service Provider For My Business Emails?
You need an SMTP relay provider if your sending volume, deliverability risk, compliance burden, or operational complexity exceeds what you can reliably man
12 min read intermediate
Common SPF and DKIM Misconfigurations That Hurt Deliverability
With cyberattacks becoming so severe and sophisticated, your organization cannot afford to leave its email ecosystem inadequately protected. Moreover, sinc
5 min read intermediate
Which Are The Best Practices For Managing SPF Records Across Multiple Office 365 Domains?
The best practices for managing SPF records across multiple Office 365 domains are to use a per-domain baseline of v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.co
12 min read advanced
What Are The Most Common Issues Highlighted In An SPF Record Breakdown?
The most common issues highlighted in an SPF record breakdown are syntax and qualifier mistakes (missing v=spf1, multiple records, malformed mechanisms), e
13 min read advanced
What Are The Best Practices For Creating An SPF Record For Domains Managed Through GoDaddy?
The best practices for creating an SPF record for domains managed through GoDaddy are to publish a single TXT “v=spf1” record at the exact sending domain t
11 min read intermediate
How Do I Verify That Google Recognizes My Domain's SPF Record?
To verify that Google recognizes your domain’s SPF record, first query your SPF TXT record via public resolvers (for example, dig +short TXT yourdomain.com
12 min read advanced
Rackspace SPF & DKIM Configuration: A Professional Guide By AutoSPF
Email authentication is a cornerstone of modern email security and deliverability. Without properly configured authentication protocols such as SPF (Sender
6 min read intermediate
How to Check Email Sender Reputation and Improve It
You might create the most engaging email, but it still fails to land in the recipient's inbox. If this keeps happening frequently, the problem may not be w
6 min read intermediate
Can I Use Google Domains To Automatically Configure SPF Records For My Email Provider?
Yes—but with limits: Google Domains can automatically add an SPF record when you use its guided setup for Google Workspace, but it does not auto-detect or
12 min read intermediate
What Are The Best Practices For Configuring SPF When Using Office 365?
The best practices for configuring SPF with Office 365 are to publish a single, centralized SPF policy that includes include:spf.protection.outlook.com, ex
13 min read advanced
The Ultimate AutoSPF Guide To Zendesk SPF & DKIM Configuration
In today’s email‑centric world, ensuring that your support and outbound emails are trusted by inbox providers like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and others is cri
6 min read intermediate
How Does An SPF Record Example Differ From DKIM And DMARC Examples?
An SPF record example differs from DKIM and DMARC examples in DNS type, purpose, and syntax: SPF is a domain-level TXT that lists authorized sending hosts/
11 min read advanced
How to Create and Publish an SPF Record Without Breaking Email
Creating an SPF record seems simple as it requires adding the list of servers allowed to send emails on your behalf and publishing it in your DNS. This sim
6 min read foundational
What Are Common SPF Record Syntax Errors That Cause Emails To Be Marked As Spam?
The most common SPF syntax errors that cause emails to be marked as spam include a missing or malformed “v=spf1” prefix; using commas or other separators i
13 min read intermediate
How can I combine SPF record testing with DKIM and DMARC checks to improve security?
Combine SPF record testing with DKIM and DMARC by staging end-to-end authentication on a subdomain, validating SPF under the 10-lookup limit, deploying DKI
13 min read intermediate
How can I use an SPF record tester to check if my domain's SPF is configured correctly?
Enter your domain (or paste its v=spf1 TXT) into an SPF record tester, run a full syntax + DNS-expansion check against a chosen sending IP and identities (
13 min read foundational
What is ARP spoofing, and how to detect and prevent it
ARP spoofing, also known as ARP poisoning, is a type of network attack that targets how devices communicate inside a local network, such as a home or offic
8 min read intermediate
Mastering Postmark SPF & DKIM Setup — An AutoSPF Guide to Bulletproof Email Authentication
When you send email from your systems — whether it’s transactional notifications, marketing campaigns, or account alerts — the goal isn’t just delivery: it
7 min read advanced
How can I fix an spf permerror caused by an overly long SPF record?
To fix an SPF PermError caused by an overly long SPF record, you must diagnose the exact cause (string length, DNS lookup count, or syntax), then shorten a
13 min read advanced
AutoSPF Explains: The Definitive Guide to Adding an SPF Record to Cloudflare
Email is one of the most powerful communication tools in the digital age — but with that power comes responsibility. If you’re running a domain that sends
7 min read intermediate
Mastering DKIM alignment: keys, signatures, and the real reasons emails fail verification
When you send an email, it doesn’t reach the recipient directly; it has to go through a complex journey before it lands in the inbox. And along the way, it
6 min read advanced
How can I interpret the "pass", "fail", and "neutral" results from an SPF checker?
An SPF “pass” means the connecting IP is authorized to send mail for the checked identity (MAIL FROM or HELO) per the domain’s SPF record, a “fail” means t
14 min read foundational
SPF Authentication Explained by AutoSPF: Why the ‘all’ Mechanism Matters and How To Use It Well
Email authentication plays a foundational role in protecting your domain, your brand reputation, and your users from phishing, spoofing, and other maliciou
7 min read foundational
What are the most common SPF record mechanisms and modifiers in the syntax?
The most common SPF mechanisms are a, mx, ip4, ip6, include, exists, ptr (discouraged), and all, each optionally prefixed by qualifiers + (pass), – (fail),
11 min read foundational
Mastering SparkPost SPF & DKIM Setup — A Complete Guide by AutoSPF
In today’s email ecosystem, ensuring that your messages actually reach the inbox — and aren’t mistaken for spam or phishing — is more critical than ever. T
7 min read intermediate
SpamHero SPF & DKIM Configuration: The Complete Guide from AutoSPF
At AutoSPF, we know that email authentication isn’t an optional add-on — it’s a foundational requirement for any business that wants reliable inbox deliver
8 min read intermediate
Which IP addresses and domains should be included in an SPF record for Office 365?
For Office 365 (Microsoft 365 Exchange Online), your SPF record should at minimum be v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all (or include:spf.protect
11 min read intermediate
Common SPF Record Examples and How to Implement Them Correctly
The correct way to implement common SPF records is to publish a single TXT record per sending domain or subdomain that begins with v=spf1, enumerates autho
12 min read foundational
SPF Validator Insights: Detect Errors Before They Impact Email Deliverability
To detect errors before they impact email deliverability, an SPF validator must execute a fully RFC-7208–compliant DNS and macro evaluation (including incl
12 min read intermediate
Mailjet SPF and DKIM Setup: A Complete Deliverability Guide by AutoSPF
Email deliverability is not a guessing game. When organizations use third-party email platforms like Mailjet, proper SPF and DKIM configuration becomes a n
6 min read intermediate
What are the initial troubleshooting steps Kitterman suggests when SPF checks fail?
Kitterman’s initial troubleshooting steps are to read the receiver’s Authentication-Results to identify the precise SPF result (fail, softfail, neutral, pe
11 min read foundational
AutoSPF’s Complete Guide to Proofpoint Essentials: SPF & DKIM Configuration for Maximum Email Security
In today’s email-driven world, securing your domain’s email communication is non-negotiable. Cyber threats like spoofing, phishing, and unauthorized sender
6 min read intermediate
Why do SPF record checkers report "too many DNS lookups" and how does that affect delivery?
SPF record checkers report “too many DNS lookups” because the SPF standard (RFC 7208) limits SPF evaluation to 10 DNS-querying mechanisms (include, a, mx,
11 min read intermediate
Mimecast SPF & DKIM Configuration: An Authoritative Guide by AutoSPF
Email is a critical communication channel for every organization today. As email usage has grown, so too has the threat of malicious actors forging and spo
7 min read intermediate
Why does an SPF record example sometimes cause legitimate emails to be marked as spam?
An SPF record example can cause legitimate emails to be marked as spam when it includes syntax errors, duplicated or misordered mechanisms, overly strict o
11 min read intermediate
From Monitoring to Enforcement: Building a Scalable DMARC Strategy for Long-Term Email Protection
Protecting your entire email ecosystem and ensuring that an attacker cannot intercept or spoof your outgoing emails requires more than just cursory checks.
7 min read advanced
NetSuite SPF and DKIM Configuration — A Definitive Guide by AutoSPF
In today’s digital world, the success of your email communications doesn’t just depend on creative copy or timely outreach — it hinges deeply on email auth
7 min read intermediate
Why should I use an SPF validator before making DNS changes?
You should use an SPF validator before making DNS changes because it catches syntax and policy errors, simulates the impact of proposed TXT records, enforc
11 min read foundational
Mandrill SPF & DKIM Configuration: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide by AutoSPF
Email deliverability is no longer optional—it’s foundational. If you’re using Mandrill by Mailchimp to send transactional emails, properly configuring SPF
6 min read foundational
How SPF Record Syntax Impacts Email Security and Inbox Placement
SPF record syntax—specifically the v=spf1 declaration, the order and choice of mechanisms, their qualifiers, and the total DNS lookup footprint—directly de
12 min read intermediate
Can an SPF record checker detect if a domain is being spoofed or used for phishing?
Yes—but only partially: an SPF record checker can tell you whether the sending IP is authorized to use a domain’s envelope-from/HELO and whether that align
13 min read intermediate
A Complete Guide to Configuring SPF & DKIM for Mailigen (and Why It Matters)
In the fast-paced digital world, your inbox is both a critical communication channel and a major point of vulnerability. Every day, millions of legitimate
7 min read intermediate
Why does SPF flattening become necessary when a domain exceeds the DNS lookup limit?
SPF flattening becomes necessary when a domain exceeds the SPF specification’s 10-DNS-lookup limit because flattening converts lookup-driven mechanisms (in
12 min read advanced
SPF Mechanism Ordering: How Sequence Impacts Email Deliverability and DNS Lookup Limits
As per the textbook definition of an SPF record, it is essentially a list of servers authorized to send emails on your behalf. This understanding of an SPF
6 min read advanced
How Can I Perform An SPF Lookup For My Domain To Check Authorization Records?
You can perform an SPF lookup for your domain by querying its DNS TXT record containing “v=spf1” using command‑line tools (dig, nslookup, host) or programm
12 min read foundational
Definitive Guide to Microsoft 365 SPF & DKIM Configuration
At AutoSPF, our mission is simple: help organizations optimize email deliverability and security with the right sender authentication setup. In this compre
7 min read intermediate
What Is The Correct SPF Record Format For Including IP Addresses And Domains?
The correct SPF record format for including IP addresses and domains is to publish a single TXT record starting with v=spf1 that lists IPv4/IPv6 sources vi
12 min read intermediate
AutoSPF’s Complete Guide to Setting Up Mailgun SPF & DKIM for Reliable Email Delivery
Deliverability is one of the most critical challenges any modern business faces when sending email at scale. Whether you’re sending transactional emails li
8 min read intermediate
How can I create a correct SPF record for my domain using an SPF record generator?
To create a correct SPF record with an SPF generator, inventory every legitimate sending source (your mail server IPs/hosts, outbound gateways, third‑party
12 min read foundational
AutoSPF Complete Guide to Configuring SPF and DKIM for MailerLite
Email deliverability doesn’t happen by accident. Every successful campaign sent through MailerLite depends on proper email authentication behind the scenes
7 min read intermediate
How can I simplify a complex SPF record flagged by Kitterman without losing legitimate senders?
To simplify a complex SPF record flagged by Kitterman without losing legitimate senders, audit and inventory every real sender, consolidate and restructure
12 min read intermediate
How do SPF, DKIM, and DMARC interact when receivers are rejecting messages for authentication failures?
Receivers reject messages for authentication failures when neither an aligned SPF nor an aligned DKIM result passes and the domain’s DMARC policy dictates
13 min read advanced
Why email authentication rules are stricter for bulk senders (and what to do about it)
As phishing rates rise, email authentication is no longer a ‘nice to have’ even for low-volume senders. However, if you are a bulk sender, the rules are st
7 min read intermediate
How can I create an SPF record for Office 365 without breaking other mail services?
To create an SPF record for Office 365 without breaking other mail services, inventory all legitimate senders, build a single v=spf1 record that includes i
11 min read intermediate
Mastering SPF & DKIM for SendGrid — An AutoSPF Guide to Email Authentication
In today’s digital world, email is still one of the most powerful tools for communication — whether for marketing, notifications, or transactional messages
6 min read advanced
What Are The Best Practices For Keeping SPF Record Syntax Short And Maintainable?
To keep SPF record syntax short and maintainable, use explicit ip4/ip6 ranges and a minimal set of a/mx/including mechanisms, avoid ptr/exists/exp, central
12 min read advanced
What is an SPF lookup and why does it matter for email delivery?
An SPF lookup is the DNS-based check mail servers perform to verify that the sending IP is authorized by a domain’s SPF record, and it matters for email de
14 min read foundational
AutoSPF’s Complete Guide: How to Add an SPF Record in Namecheap
In today’s digital world, securing your email domain against spoofing, phishing, and spam isn’t just a technical best practice — it’s essential for protect
6 min read foundational
How to set up SPF for Avanan– A step-by-step guide
Avanan is a cloud-native email security platform that helps secure email in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Unlike traditional gateways, it connects di
5 min read intermediate
Complete Guide to Setting Up FreshMail DKIM and SPF Records
In today’s email ecosystem, ensuring your messages are authenticated and trusted by recipients isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential. Every day, milli
8 min read foundational
How Can I Identify SPF Include Loops Or Recursive Includes With A Validator?
Use a DNS-aware, graph-based SPF validator that expands every include/redirect into an explicit include graph and runs cycle detection (e.g., DFS with a re
13 min read advanced
Why does my SPF record syntax exceed the 255-character limit and how do I fix it?
Your SPF record “exceeds 255 characters” because DNS TXT records cap each quoted character-string at 255 bytes (per RFC 1035) and long SPF policies must be
12 min read intermediate
What is SPF flattening, and why is it important?
If you only have a couple of email services, let’s say one or maybe two servers that send emails on your behalf, maintaining your SPF records is pretty str
6 min read foundational
When should I avoid SPF flattening and rely on alternative authentication strategies?
You should avoid SPF flattening whenever your sending footprint is dynamic (CDNs, cloud ESPs with fast-changing IPs), when flattening would inflate DNS bey
16 min read advanced
Complete Guide by AutoSPF: How to Configure SPF and DKIM for Exclaimer and Secure Your Email Domain
Email authentication is one of the most critical foundations for protecting your brand and domain from spoofing, phishing, and deliverability problems. In
8 min read intermediate
How can I find which sending IP produced the spf=permerror result in message headers?
To find which sending IP produced spf=permerror in message headers, locate the Authentication-Results line that reports spf=permerror, match its authserv-i
16 min read intermediate
Office 365 SPF Best Practices: Protecting Your Domain From Spoofing
The best-practice SPF configuration for Office 365 is to publish a single TXT record of v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all for your primary dom
17 min read advanced
How AutoSPF Enables SPF & DKIM in cPanel — A Friendly Deep Dive
As AutoSPF, I live and breathe email-authentication best practices. Protecting your domain’s reputation, reducing spam, and ensuring your legitimate messag
9 min read intermediate
Best practices for SPF record syntax to avoid the "permerror" from receivers?
To avoid SPF permerror with receivers, publish exactly one TXT record beginning with v=spf1 that uses only valid mechanisms/modifiers, stays within the 10-
18 min read intermediate
Elkdata OÜ: SPF & DKIM Configuration — A Step-by-Step Guide by AutoSPF
At AutoSPF, we believe that proper email authentication is the foundation of secure and reliable email communication. That’s why we’re pleased to walk you
8 min read foundational
How can I use SPF lookup results to troubleshoot email deliverability problems?
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Email may seem like a simple tool for communication, but behind the scenes, it’s a battleground for security and credibility. You might think that just sen
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Does SPF play a significant role in BIMI and VMC?
No doubt that placing your logo beside every email you send makes your brand stand out in a crowded inbox and boosts engagement. Yes, deploying BIMI helps
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Mailchimp SPF Record Setup: Ensure Your Email Deliverability
Setting up your email system can often feel like tackling a giant puzzle—each piece needs to fit just right for everything to work smoothly. If you’re usin
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Wix SPF Record: A Complete Guide to Configure DNS Settings
Email security can often feel like a daunting task, especially when you hear about phishing scams and spoofing. But what if I told you that the solution co
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What are dangling SPF records and why are they a threat to email security?
SPF records are highly sensitive— even a minor change can invalidate them or trigger an error, resulting in improper email authentication. Dangling SPF rec
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Google SPF Record: Complete Guide for Proper Email Configuration
When it comes to email communication, you might think that simply hitting "send" is enough. However, behind the scenes, there's a complex system at work to
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Email Rejected Per SPF Policy: Troubleshooting Sender Authentication Issues
Email communication is a critical lifeline for businesses and individuals alike, but what happens when that essential connection breaks down? You might fin
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Flattening SPF records: Why is it worth the effort?
Maintaining an SPF record is pretty easy, given that you use only one or two email services. But that’s not always the case. For most organizations, there
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Zix SPF Record: A Complete Guide to Configuration and Setup
Setting up an SPF record can feel like navigating a maze, especially for those not deeply familiar with the world of email security. Imagine sending out an
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GoDaddy SPF Record: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide for Email Configuration
To set up an SPF record for your domain using GoDaddy, log in to your Domain Portfolio, select the domain you wish to configure, navigate to the b, and add
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SPF and multi-tenant email service providers: a collision course?
During the 2024 Black Friday to Cyber Monday (BFCM) period, Mailchimp customers sent billions of emails. Notably, on Black Friday alone, over 133 million e
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SPF DNS lookup limits: exploits, mitigations, and best practices
SPF (Sender Policy Framework), one of the three email authentication protocols, enables recipient email servers to verify whether or not the email received
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Efficient DMARC tools are needed after the UK NCSC changes
Starting 24 March 2025, the National Cyber Security Center in the UK has put an end to DMARC aggregate reporting— a feature that helped domain owners and a
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SPF Records in DNS: A Complete Guide for Email Security
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records in DNS are TXT records that specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of a domain, helping t
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Are no-reply emails safe? Understanding the security risks of these emails
If you regularly send out marketing emails for your business, you probably know what kind of emails we’re talking about— those automated messages sent from
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SPF Records for Email: Essential Authentication Setup for Your Domain
SPF records, or Sender Policy Framework records, are essential components of email authentication that allow domain owners to specify which IP addresses ar
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Brevo SPF Record: A Complete Guide to Optimize Email Deliverability
A Brevo SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is essential for ensuring that emails sent from your domain are properly authenticated, improving deliverabili
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Shadow admins: How do you uncover the mask of these stealthy accounts?
Most organizations have strict norms and regulations on what resources their employees can access— like which systems are open to all, who gets special per
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Understanding the Trello Breach: Security Concerns and Expert Response
The Trello breach, which occurred in January 2024, resulted in approximately 15 million users having their email addresses, names, usernames, project manag
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The right way to transition to SPF HardFail (-all)
Sender Policy Framework, or SPF, is a simple way to tell the receiving servers which IPs or mail servers are allowed to send emails on behalf of your domai
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Free SPF Flattening Tool: Download the Best Software for Your Needs
There are several free tools available for SPF flattening, including cfspf, which is tailored for users of Cloudflare, and DMARCDuty, which provides automa
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Multiple SPF records open avenues for phishing
If your SPF is not working efficiently, chances are that your domain is linked with multiple SPF records. The problem with numerous SPF records is that the
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What Is SPF Alignment? Understanding Email Security Protocols
SPF alignment refers to the process of ensuring that the domain used in an email's "MAIL FROM" header matches the domain specified in the "From" address. T
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How does SPF flattening simplify DNS records?
Each SPF record should not have more than 10 DNS lookups; otherwise, validation failures are triggered. SPF records of organizations with an intricate emai
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Microsoft Security Alert Email: How to Recognize Phishing and Scams
If you receive a Microsoft security alert email, first verify its authenticity by checking that it comes from 'account-security-noreply@accountprotection.m
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Why is IoT email authentication a hot topic?
These days, IoT (Internet of Things) devices are everywhere. These are basically smart gadgets that are connected to the internet and communicate with each
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How to Check SPF Record for Domain: Verify Your DNS Settings
You can check the SPF record for your domain by using various online tools, such as MXToolbox or Kitterman's SPF Record Validator. Simply enter your domain
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Bluehost SPF Record: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide for Email Configuration
Setting Up Your Bluehost SPF Record Configuring an SPF record is like putting a lock on your front door; it helps keep unwanted visitors (or spam) out of y
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Broken SPF record- What does it mean and how to fix it!
Sender Policy Framework, or SPF, is one of the policies that keeps your email communications safe from malicious attempts of threat actors. But what happen
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Managing relaying in application emails
Over the past few years, there has been a significant evolvement in email relay controls, especially in how application-generated emails are handled. The r
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Proofpoint SPF: Essential Guide to Email Security Configuration
Proofpoint SPF: Enhancing Email Security The Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is more than just an email authentication protocol; it is a crucial element that
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How to Create Your Amazon SES SPF Record: Essential Configuration Steps
How to Set Up Amazon SES SPF Record Setting up a custom MAIL FROM domain is the cornerstone of configuring your SPF record for Amazon SES. This subdomain w
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SPF Record for Google: A Complete Guide to DNS Configuration
What is an SPF Record? An SPF record, or Sender Policy Framework record, is a crucial component of your domain's DNS (Domain Name System) settings that spe
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KnowBe4 SPF: The Key to Email Protection Against Phishing
KnowBe4 SPF: Overview At its core, Sender Policy Framework (SPF) serves as a defense mechanism against email spoofing, a common tactic used in phishing att
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SPF (Sender Policy Framework) Tester: Check Your Email Sender Configuration
In a digital age where our inboxes can quickly become a battlefield against spam and phishing attempts, understanding how to protect your email communicati
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Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail warn users ahead of anticipated AI menaces in 2025
Gone are the days when incorrect grammar, poor graphics, an unprofessional tone, and other flaws were red flags of a phishing email. It’s 2025, and AI has
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Kitterman SPF Check: A Comprehensive Guide to Accurate Analysis
Email is a major part of our daily communication, yet many people overlook the importance of securing it. Imagine sending an email that never reaches your
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Office 365 SPF Record: Essential Configuration Steps for Email Protection
Email has become a lifeline for communication, both in our personal lives and in the world of business. Yet, with increasing threats of phishing and spoofi
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Do even ESPs get SPF wrong? Here’s what you should know
Email security is a two-way street, which means both the client and the email service provider are responsible for maintaining the legitimacy and authentic
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Google SPF Record: A Complete Guide to Setup for Your Domain
In the digital age, sending emails is as routine as breathing, but did you know that simply hitting "send" doesn’t guarantee your message will land where y
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Generate SPF TXT Records: The Ultimate Tool for Your Domain
When you send an email, have you ever wondered if it lands in the recipient's inbox rather than their spam folder? That's where SPF records come in! SPF, w
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Cyber resilience 2025- a bigger picture of technical agility and adaption for businesses
In general, cyber resilience is a company’s ability to withstand, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks or IT failures while continuing to operate smoo
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What is a DNS TXT record?
You may already know that SPF records are TXT-type DNS records that domain owners create to mention SPF policies and enlist the mail servers they authorize
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How long do SPF and DMARC records take to propagate across the internet?
Once you are done with creating SPF and DMARC records to safeguard your email communications, the next step requires you to publish the records onto your d
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Reducing DNS lookups using SPF flattening
In SPF, a DNS lookup is the process using which the receiving mail server fetches the SPF TXT record of the sender’s domain. This is done to verify if the
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SPF record +all mechanism- why is it the most dangerous SPF setting
SPF prevents emails sent by unauthorized people from landing in the inboxes of targeted recipients. However, if your SPF record is misconfigured, it can do
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Email security protocols that must be a part of your security strategy
We know that email is one of the most crucial aspects of your business communication, but we hate to break it to you; it's also the most vulnerable one. Wh
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Why SPF prevailed among other email security solutions?
Back in the days when SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) was designed, it lacked any authentication techniques. Over time, threat actors started misusing
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Why does DKIM fail? What can you do about it?
Has it ever happened to you that you sent an email, but it never reached the recipient despite doing everything right? You authenticated your email-sending
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Yahoo Japan made it mandatory to have DMARC
Email security has seen many developments over the years. Starting in February 2024, Google and Yahoo made it mandatory for bulk senders to implement SPF,
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The point where DORA and DMARC intersect
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is a Europe-based framework explicitly designed to establish regulatory compliance for the finance sector. This a
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SPF soft fail and SPF hard fail; what are these, and which one is right for your domain?
You would be surprised to know that as many as 3.4 billion emails are sent by threat actors every single day around the globe to gain illegitimate access t
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Why do legitimate emails fail SPF checks sometimes?
It’s common for legitimate emails to be falsely marked as spam or rejected because they failed the SPF verification checks. While this is not a one-off occ
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Pros and cons of using wildcarding in SPF
SPF is the email authentication protocol that allows domain owners to specify which mail servers they officially allow to be used to send emails on behalf
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Your SPF record is broken- What does it mean and how do you fix it?
A broken SPF record means there is some issue in it; either it’s misconfigured, incomplete, or exceeds the technical limits. Such an SPF record fails to pe
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SPF format explanation- Basic and advanced
An SPF record includes the servers and IP ranges a domain owner allows to be used to send emails on behalf of their brand. It’s composed of syntaxes, prima
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Email security standards for SPF in RFC 5322
RFC 5322 includes the syntax for Internet email headers. This means it does not say anything directly about how SPF should be configured and maintained. Ho
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Implementing DMARC is the right way to gain visibility and maintain GDPR compliance
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the European compliance that came into effect in 2018. It aims to protect the personal data of European reside
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Merging multiple SPF records into one to avoid the PermError
Having multiple SPF records for a domain results in the PermError, which indicates a fundamental problem with the configurations and violation of the SPF s
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How does Privileged Account and Session Management (PASM) help strengthen DMARC and email security?
The truth is that the most important people in your organization are also the most targeted individuals for cyber-attacks due to their access to the most c
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Understanding the concept of wildcarding in Sender Policy Framework
Integrating wildcard in your SPF record minimizes the risk of impersonation of your domain or subdomain. A wildcard DNS record with * acts as a catch-all f
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Everything you should know about setting up BIMI for your domain
A typical user receives multiple emails a day, some of which are essential updates or personal messages, while others are marketing emails from various bra
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Overly permissive SPF configurations that make your email infrastructure vulnerable to phishing and spoofing
Overly permissive SPF configurations refer to settings that are set so loosely and broadly that anyone on the Internet can send emails from your domain. Th
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Everything you should know about typosquatting and how to stay protected
They say familiarity is deceptive, and we absolutely agree with it, especially in the context of cybersecurity. We base this statement on the paradigm that
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What should you do if your SPF record has exceeded the limit of 255 characters?
If you have just started with SPF implementation for your domain, your SPF record can run into multiple technical issues since there are many limitations a
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What are BreakSPF attacks and how can you defend against them?
In today’s digital age, email is the most commonly used mode of communication. It is simple and quick, which is its greatest strength and biggest vulnerabi
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Stay cyber vigilant this Black Friday
Black Friday sales are the perfect breeding ground for threat actors lurking to exploit excited shoppers. They trick innocent and less tech-savvy people in
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Understanding the use cases for SPF soft fail and hard fail
SPF works on two core components: soft fail and hard fail. Domain owners should understand the conditions under which each of these mechanisms works perfec
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How to update an SPF record for added senders?
Creating an SPF record is a one-time job, but you have to keep updating it with new senders. In an SPF record, the term ‘sender’ refers to the IP addresses
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5 key contributors to the development of the Sender Policy Framework
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” — Ken Blanchard Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol created in the late 1990s that is
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SPF Soft fail and hard fail in email marketing
As of August 13, 2024, the United States is the world's largest sender of spam emails, with as many as 8 billion of them sent daily. China and Germany are
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Decoding SPF mechanisms and their role in maximizing email deliverability
In today’s email ecosystem, security and deliverability must go hand-in-hand. Sender Policy Framework is the email authentication protocol that acts as a c
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Understanding DKIM’s cryptographic algorithms: RS256 vs. RS512 and emerging trends
When it comes to maintaining the integrity of the contents of an email and verifying that they genuinely come from a trusted sender, DKIM is the authentica
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Troubleshooting the common SPF authentication issues for the best email deliverability
If your SPF record has any errors and you don’t fix them soon, then recipients’ mailboxes start marking your emails as spam or rejecting them outright. Thi
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Resolving custom domain configuration issues for Azure Email Communication
It’s important to properly configure your domains so that email deliverability is not hampered. If your emails are marked as spam or rejected, the recipien
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Revisiting the basics of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in 2024
Be it corporate entities or business enterprises, emails tend to be one of the strongest modes of communication for conveying professional messages. Howeve
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Impersonation is the leading phishing strategy of 2024
A famous software firm, Egress, published its Phishing Threat Trends Report in October 2024, highlighting how impersonation became the most prolific phishi
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The future of SPF flattening; trends and emerging practices
SPF flattening prevents your SPF record from exceeding the maximum lookup limit and becoming invalid. The process works by simplifying the SPF record, elim
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Invalid DKIM signature error: Here’s how you can fix it
To thrive in today's digital world laden with cybersecurity threats, you must implement certain measures to tighten your security. One way is to guard your
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Difference between email cybersecurity and email authentication
Businesses with an online presence need robust measures to protect their authenticity and identity. We are living in a time where the global average cost o
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Setting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for Omnisend
If you send emails using the Omnisend platform and still don’t have SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in place, then your emails can get blocked. Deploying and managing
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Do’s and don’ts of an SPF record
SPF records include syntaxes and many rules and limitations. If you don’t follow them, you will face SPF record failures, false positives, or false negativ
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Building a strong defense: training your employees for email security
Emails are an integral aspect of any business communication, and we’re sure that your employees send dozens of emails every day. But do they know the poten
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8 cybersecurity trends that will redefine the digital landscape in 2024
The ever-evolving digital landscape is bringing both solace and trouble to people. Cyber advancement has made both our professional and personal lives easy
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Understanding quid pro quo attacks and how to avoid falling victim to them
You might have often come across the term quid pro quo, perhaps in the context of legal or business dealings. This Latin phrase, which means “something for
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The role of SPF records in enhancing email security and deliverability
When it comes to upholding the integrity and security of your email communications, SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is the frontline barrier that keeps malic
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What are the fallback mechanisms in SPF?
In SPF, fallback mechanisms come into play when an email fails SPF checks, but the recipient’s server or policies offer ways to handle or mitigate the fail
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Automating SPF macro management with scripting and APIs: a step-by-step guide
SPF macros are placeholders used within SPF records. They dynamically dilate to specific values based on the characteristics of the email being processed,
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Adding your SPF record to your domain provider
To enable SPF for your domain, you need to add a DNS TXT record at your domain provider. When doing so, keep the following points in mind to ensure everyth
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How threat actors managed to send millions of phishing emails from trusted domains- explaining echo-spoofing
In the first half of 2024, a simple toggle in Proofpoint’s email service allowed threat actors to send millions of hard-to-detect emails impersonating blue
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Why subdomains should not inherit the SPF policy of the parent domain?
It’s common for businesses to have multiple subdomains, but what about their security? While some domain owners completely ignore securing their subdomains
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Spotting spoofed emails with DMARC: A guide
Here’s a harsh truth: spoofing attacks are more frequent and prevalent than you think. They are not just about someone pretending to be you by using sneaky
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How to configure SPF to identify valid email sources for Microsoft 365 domains?
SPF, which is short for Sender Policy Framework, is an email authentication protocol that allows Microsoft 365 domain owners to prevent threat actors from
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4 ChatGPT and AI-based scams to be wary of in the second half of 2024
We are more than halfway down in 2024, and the number of AI-based scams is not looking like it’s in the mood for dwindling anytime soon. Since the launch o
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SPF for multi-domain environments: challenges and solutions
Most large-scale businesses own multiple domains and subdomains, which are heavily used for sending emails. A multi-domain environment is more prone to ema
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Is the Microsoft Account Security Alert email a scam? How to differentiate between a genuine and fake alert email
Have you been receiving security alert emails from Microsoft lately? Well, you are not alone! If, like most people, you are also concerned about the validi
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Threat actors are exploiting multiple SMTP servers and bypassing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication
Cybersecurity works only if there are no vulnerabilities in the tools and protocols themselves. However, experts have recently found security loopholes in
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What is a secure email gateway?
Secure email gateways, or SEGs for short, are email security solutions that have been proven effective in detecting and blocking phishing emails. If your e
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Configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo is a digital marketing platform that caters to the marketing and communication needs of businesses. Its suite of tools and services includes email ma
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Setting up SPF for Sophos
Sophos is a British security software and hardware company that offers a suite of products. It specializes in communication endpoints, encryption, network
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Does SPF break for forwarded emails and mailing lists?
The one-word answer to the above question is ‘yes.’ Here’s a detailed answer to it. SPF breaks when you forward emails because it encounters SPF validation
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Trello data breach results in massive exposure of data on the dark web!
Big and small brands across the globe are falling prey to cyberattacks, and this time, it is Trello– the insanely popular project management tool. A hacker
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Are Your SPF and DKIM Identifiers Aligned?
As you know, DMARC is based on SPF and DKIM, and the alignment of both these protocols is crucial for its processing. Identifier alignment builds a connect
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Generative artificial intelligence and machine learning are overcoming the limitations of traditional cybersecurity measures
Threat actors are leveraging the speed and accuracy of artificial intelligence to launch sophisticated, difficult-to-detect cyberattacks. AI has enabled th
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What is the ‘554 5.7.5’ permanent error in DMARC and how to fix it?
The response from the remote server was: Have you been receiving this error message lately? If so, then your DMARC has an issue – it has encountered a "554
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What is ARC (Authenticated Received Chain) and its role in email security?
ARC or Authenticated Received Chain helps overcome the shortfalls of DMARC, further strengthening the overall email security standards. ARC is an extension
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Troubleshooting the ‘SPF alignment failed’ error for unaffected email authentication and delivery
When you create an SPF record, the most important step you perform is mentioning all the mail servers or IP addresses allowed to send emails as your brand’
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SPF record lookup: A much-needed diagnosis
These days, LLMs, or large language models, are making it easier for threat actors to write convincing phishing emails without leaving suspicious red flags
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Which IP addresses you should not add to your SPF records?
The foremost step of creating an SPF record is enlisting all the IP addresses and mail servers that you want to add to it. These should be all the authoriz
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SPF vs DKIM vs DMARC: The Battle of Email Authentication Protocols
You might have heard a lot about email authentication and how implementing protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail),
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Setting SPF and DKIM for Salesforce
When using an external email sender, like Salesforce, to send emails from addresses within your domain, it's crucial to set up SPF and DKIM. Without these
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Reasons for Code 550 SPF Check Failed Error and How to Fix it?
Domain owners may often come across the ‘550 SPF check failed’ error, which is generally triggered by the absence of a valid SPF record in the domain’s DNS
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What is the Role and Relevance of SPF Surveys?
SPF or Sender Policy Framework is the first line of defense between your email ecosystem and email-based cyberattacks. It ensures that only authorized mail
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How is Sender Policy Framework (SPF) Delegation Done?
SPF delegation is a one-time setup where a domain owner gives control of their SPF record to an external email server or a third-party service to send emai
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New Update: Microsoft Joins Forces for Stronger Email Authentication
It was not long ago when Google and Yahoo revamped their email-sending policies and made DMARC authentication a mandatory exercise for organizations sendin
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Difference Between SPF Setup for Small, Medium, and Large Businesses
You have a company? You have a domain? You and your team send emails? If the answer to all these questions is a solid ‘yes,’ then you surely can be under t
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7 Myths and Misconceptions about Sender Policy Framework
Understanding the realities and limitations of the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is crucial for making informed decisions about your email security. Believ
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Setting Up Sender Policy Framework for Amazon SES
Amazon Simple Email Service, or SES, is a cloud-based email-sending service developed for businesses that send marketing, notification, and transactional e
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Background of Scott Kitterman and His Contribution to Sender Policy Framework
Email security was a headache for tech giants (and even some smaller companies) in the late 1990s. It was the time when threat actors started exploiting em
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A Comprehensive Guide to Manually Generating SPF Records for Custom Domains
SPF records, as you may be aware, are like the bouncers of your email servers. They're the DNS records that explicitly specify which email servers are offi
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Qualtrics, Moosend, Shopify, and Other Major Email Service Providers are Emphasizing the Deployment of DMARC
Threat actors look for unprotected emails. They use various social engineering and phishing tactics to manipulate recipients into sharing confidential info
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How Does the CIDR Notation Error Affect SPF?
All the IP addresses that you officially allow to be used for sending emails on your behalf are listed in an SPF record. When domain owners have to mention
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New Update: DMARC to be Mandatory for PCI DSS Compliance by 2025
Here’s a harsh truth- your customers’ card transactions are not as secure as you might think. Even though card payments have opened up new avenues in the b
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Sender Policy Framework Risk Exposures in 2024
Sender Policy Framework is an email authentication protocol that allows a domain owner to publish an SPF record corresponding to their name. This SPF recor
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The Role and Relevance of DNS SPF Records for Email Authentication
Email authentication, a crucial practice in today's digital world, is the process of verifying the true identity of an email sender. By implementing robust
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Understanding Homoglyphing: The Craft of Deception in Phishing Attacks
Have you ever come across a URL that seems legitimate at first glance, yet there is something fishy about it? In most cases, if you look closely, you will
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Impersonation Attacks During Tax Season- Here’s How You Can Protect Yourself
During the tax season, cybercriminals impersonate IRS officials and call taxpayers, scarring them into taking desperate and hasty action. If you fall victi
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How Does DNS Packet Fragmentation Affect the Sender Policy Framework?
For network administrators, understanding DNS packet fragmentation is crucial. When a DNS response packet is large and unable to fit within the MTU size, i
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How Does SPF Help Marketers in Improving Email Deliverability?
Imagine a situation where all your well-crafted emails land in your audience’s inbox, and they actively engage with them! Sounds like every marketer’s drea
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Why the SPF Character Limit Exists and How Can You Stay Within It?
As per RFC 7208, all SPF records should not be more than 255 characters long. This includes the characters in the SPF record itself as well as any DNS name
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What is an SPF Record Flattener and Why Should you Consider Using it for Your Domain?
If your domain is already protected with the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and you regularly update and monitor your SPF records, then we are sure you must
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Why Sender Policy Framework (SPF) Has a Lookup Limit of 10?
SPF helps recipients’ mailboxes verify the authenticity of senders’ domains by referring to their predefined policies. To do this, the receiving server ret
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10 Reasons Why DIY-ing SPF isn’t a Good Choice for Companies
Are you also tempted to take care of the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) on your own? Do you also feel it’s an easy task and you don’t need to onboard an ema
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How Phishing Paves the Way for Ransomware Attacks?
Hyperconnectivity is one of the key determinants of the digital world. This means that nothing exists in isolation, not even the cybersecurity attacks that
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Middle East is Ahead of other Nations in Adopting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
The Middle East is outshining other nations with its remarkable commitment to email security. Starting February 1, 2024, both Google and Yahoo mandated SPF
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SPF Flattening vs. SPF Macros: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Organization
Email authentication standards are maturing and now, the SPF protocol also has some new elements to add to its list; we are talking about the SPF flattenin
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When Should You Rotate Your DKIM Keys?
DKIM key rotation is an important security measure that ensures your DKIM records and email ecosystem aren’t exploited for long if keys are compromised. Wh
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SPF Best Practices for Protection Against Email Spoofing and Phishing; A Guide for CISOs
Emails are important yet one of the most vulnerable strings of corporate communication. Not to forget how AI-written sophisticated emails are making it mor
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Sender Policy Framework Error Code 550- What Prompts it?
Sender Policy Framework allows domain owners to specify all the IP addresses that they allow to be used for sending emails. They can instruct recipients ho
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The UK’s Central Digital and Data Office Solved a Unique Problem with Sender Policy Framework
In 2022, the Securing Government Services team at the Central Digital and Data Office came across an interesting problem with SPF. The team found a small b
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Including Third-Party Vendors in Your SPF Record is Important; Here’s How It’s Done
Businesses outsource many tasks to third-party vendors, and if they send emails on your behalf, it’s important you make them a part of your SPF record. Oth
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AI Automation is Enabling CISOs and Their Teams to Be Quick and Accurate
Tech experts say that AI won’t replace humans any time soon. This is true. However, AI is empowering humans to automate easy and voluminous tasks, allowing
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How to Fix “550 5.7 0 Email Rejected Per SPF Policy”
Email deliverability is one of the most pertinent struggles that most organizations struggle with. The hardest part about this is getting to the root cause
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The Emergence of Sender Policy Framework to Combat Email Phishing
Digitization is both a boon and a bane. With the rapid advancements in the technological sphere, there has been a steep rise in spiteful activities. The sa
6 min read foundational
What is Gmail's ‘Best Guess’ SPF Status?
Gmail sometimes guesses the SPF status of senders lacking an SPF record published in their domain’s DNS. This so-called ‘best guess’ can harm genuine commu
5 min read intermediate
6 Steps to Outplay BEC Attackers
Starting the blog on a good note- the second quarter of 2023 celebrated a record low of only 34% of victims paying off to ransomware attackers. This declin
6 min read foundational
Understanding How to Fix SPF Failure
Sender Policy Framework or SPF improves the sender’s reputation and email delivery in addition to keeping phishing and spoofing attacks at bay. However, th
5 min read intermediate
How do you set up SPF and DKIM for Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform based out of Canada, and if you have an online store listed on it, then adding SPF and DKIM records is important. This en
4 min read advanced
How to Set Up SPF and DKIM Records in GoDaddy?
GoDaddy is a popular hosting provider that offers easy-to-follow instructions on adding SPF and DKIM DNS records to stay abreast of phishing and spoofing a
5 min read intermediate
Solving the 'Too Many DNS Lookup' Error
An SPF record can encounter different types of errors, causing it to become invalid and incapable of offering protection against phishing and spoofing emai
6 min read advanced
How to Merge SPF Records to Fix the ‘Multiple SPF Records’ Error?
It’s a good practice to regularly run your SPF record through a trusted and credible online SPF checker to come across any existing configurational and syn
6 min read intermediate
Email Header Analysis: Let’s Know an Email’s Anatomy
You receive much more than a message and attachments in an email; we are talking about bits of information retrieved during an email header analysis. An em
6 min read intermediate
A Guide to Choosing the Right SPF Flattening Tool for Your Organization
With organizations with complex email infrastructure, implementing SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is no easy feat! If you’ve ever encountered the “SPF PermE
6 min read intermediate
Resolving “The DNS Record Type 99 (SPF) Has Been Deprecated” Error
As per RFC 7208 Section 3.1, the developers felt the necessity to assign a new DNS RR type. However, in 2014, it was deprecated as they discovered that TXT
4 min read advanced
Reasons Behind Discouraging the Use of PTR Mechanism in an SPF Record
Domain owners who care about email delivery and prevention from phishing attacks take no chances when it comes to the validation and correctness of their S
4 min read foundational
Ushering a New Era of Security: Google and Yahoo’s Take on Email Authentication
With email communication reigning in the digital world, email-based attacks are at an all-time high! Gauging the magnitude and the far-reaching impact of t
5 min read foundational
SPF Softfail is a Smarter Choice Than SPF Hardfail; Let’s Find Out Why?
There’s a constant online debate about which is better – SPF softfail or SPF hardfail. While the former is considered less secure, the latter has the risk
10 min read foundational
SPF Record Generator : What is it? And, How to Choose the Right One?
This article is for those who have just begun their email authentication journey and are looking for ways to create SPF records for their domains using com
6 min read intermediate
SPF Record Checker : What is it? How Does it Work? And, Why Do You Need One?
An SPF record checker is a diagnostic tool that checks your SPF record to ensure it’s valid and free of syntactical and configurational errors. Let’s see h
7 min read foundational
What is SPF? A Detailed Guide on Sender Policy Framework
These days, hackers are getting highly sophisticated with their techniques which has resulted in a higher frequency of successful cyberattacks, including p
11 min read foundational
How to Merge Multiple SPF Records For a Domain?
Can you have multiple SPF records for a domain? No, you can’t; otherwise, recipient servers will decline all the existing SPF records for that domain. This
3 min read intermediate
SPF Records Explained : All About Basic and Advanced Syntaxes
It can be a bit confusing to create an SPF record if it’s your first time. This guide on SPF record explanation talks about basic and advanced SPF syntaxes
4 min read foundational
What are SPF Records – Their Benefits, Uses, and How to Generate Them
SPF records for a domain can specify all the IP addresses allowed to send emails on behalf of your company. They work to prevent spoofing and phishing atta
6 min read foundational
How to Create an SPF TXT Record
Sender Policy Framework or SPF prevents phishing and spoofing attacks by enabling domain owners to specify which IP addresses or servers they trust. These
4 min read foundational
SPF Too Many DNS Lookups : What Does it Mean and How to Fix it
Every time you query your DNS, it costs the validator (the recipient’s email system) resources like bandwidth and CPU memory. A maximum limit of 10 DNS loo
2 min read foundational