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 expanded within it. If your SPF record exceeds this limit, there will be parsing issues and DNS lookup failures, impeding the email authentication process. So,…

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 be aware of the SPF lookup limit. But do you know how to get rid of this problem and stay within the lookup limit to avoid invalidation of…

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 retrieves the SPF record linked to the sender’s domain. A standard SPF record consists of one or more mechanisms (like ip4, ip6, include, mx, etc.) that specify which IP addresses and domains are…

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 email authentication expert or outsource the work to a cybersecurity agency?  Well, there are many business owners like you, but there are several reasons…

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 impend over this space. This is particularly true for phishing and ransomware attacks.  The synergy between the two cyberattacks is executed through the initial success of phishing, which allows ransomware to…

Middle East is Ahead of other Nations in Adopting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

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 and DKIM for bulk senders, while companies sending out over 5,000 emails per day are also required to have DMARC in place. While other nations are still making slower moves, almost…

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 flattening technique and SPF macros. These relatively newer features offer an alternative approach to address the complexities linked with email authentication and deliverability.  This blog discusses SPF flattening and…

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. While the frequency of rotation depends on the nature of your organization, the complexity level of your email infrastructure, the availability of resources, etc., it’s suggested that you rotate them at…

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 more challenging for CISOs to deploy filters to detect and burn illegitimate emails. Gone are the days when detecting poor grammar, inconsistencies, unprofessional graphics, etc., was enough to tag an email as…

Sender Policy Framework Error Code 550- What Prompts it?

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 how to deal with emails sent from unauthorized IP addresses. However, sometimes, their SPF record encounters error code 550– which can prompt due to several reasons. At times, it prompts…