Are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records necessary for transactional email servers not used for marketing?

Summary

The overwhelming consensus from email marketers, experts, and official documentation is that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are necessary for transactional email servers, even when these servers are not used for marketing. These protocols ensure email authenticity, improve deliverability and sender reputation, reduce the risk of emails being marked as spam, protect against phishing and spoofing, and provide domain-level protection. Authentication is regarded as a best practice, regardless of the email type.

Key findings

  • Universal Need for Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for all email types, including transactional emails.
  • Enhanced Deliverability: Implementing these protocols improves deliverability and sender reputation.
  • Spam Reduction and Security: Authentication helps reduce spam risks and guards against phishing and spoofing.
  • Domain-Level Protection: DMARC provides domain-level protection, securing against fraudulent activities.
  • Best Practices Compliance: Following authentication standards aligns with email deliverability best practices.

Key considerations

  • Technical Implementation: Proper implementation of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requires technical expertise and DNS record adjustments.
  • Comprehensive Security Approach: Applying authentication measures to all email streams ensures a robust and comprehensive security posture.
  • Mailbox Provider Perception: Mailbox providers often favor authenticated emails, potentially improving inbox placement rates.

What email marketers say
7Marketer opinions

The consensus among email marketers is that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are essential for transactional email servers, even if they are not used for marketing. These authentication protocols verify the authenticity of emails, signal to ISPs that the sending server is authorized, improve deliverability and sender reputation, reduce the risk of emails being marked as spam, and guard against phishing and spoofing.

Key opinions

  • Authentication Importance: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for verifying the authenticity of transactional emails.
  • Deliverability Boost: Implementing these protocols improves deliverability and sender reputation.
  • Spam Reduction: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help reduce the risk of transactional emails being marked as spam.
  • Security Enhancement: These mechanisms guard against phishing and spoofing attacks.

Key considerations

  • Implementation Effort: Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requires technical knowledge and adjustments to DNS records.
  • Universal Application: These protocols are not just for marketing emails; they should be applied to all email types for comprehensive security.
  • Mailbox Provider Treatment: Mailbox providers tend to treat authenticated emails more favorably, potentially improving inbox placement.
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerSend shares that both DKIM and SPF records are important for transactional emails to improve deliverability, build trust, and authenticate emails that you're sending.

January 2023 - MailerSend
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that while transactional emails might seem less susceptible to spam filters, implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial. These protocols help in verifying the authenticity of your emails, signaling to ISPs that your server is authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain, which in turn improves deliverability and sender reputation.

March 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC emphasizes the universal need for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), highlighting that transactional emails are not exempt. These mechanisms assure recipients that the email genuinely originates from your domain, guarding against phishing and spoofing, regardless of the email's content.

June 2021 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit answers that SPF/DKIM is essential for transactional emails. Even if it's not bulk, without authentication, your emails are more likely to end up in spam.

August 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark explains that SPF and DKIM are essential for deliverability, especially for transactional emails. These help receiving servers verify that you are who you say you are and ensures your email reaches the inbox.

January 2025 - Postmark
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow mentions that using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for transactional email is best practice. Mailbox providers treat you better with authentication.

July 2021 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from AuthSMTP explains that even for transactional emails, setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is critical. It helps to prove your emails are legitimate and reduces the risk of them being marked as spam.

April 2023 - AuthSMTP

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts agree that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are necessary for transactional email servers, even if they are not used for marketing. This is because authentication protocols are essential for providing domain-level protection, ensuring legitimate emails are delivered, preventing fraudulent activities, and maintaining deliverability best practices.

Key opinions

  • Domain-Level Protection: DMARC provides domain-level protection, safeguarding against fraudulent activities.
  • Best Practices: Authentication is recommended for transactional emails to follow deliverability best practices.
  • Legitimate Delivery: Authentication ensures that only legitimate emails are delivered.

Key considerations

  • Implementation: Requires implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for all email types, including transactional.
  • Comprehensive Security: Implementing security measures for all emails ensures a comprehensive approach to protection.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource says that even though your email server is only used for transactional emails, authentication is still recommended to follow best practices to ensure deliverability.

August 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, emphasizes that DMARC should be used for all email types, including transactional emails, because it provides domain-level protection. It ensures that only legitimate emails are delivered and prevents fraudulent activities, irrespective of the email's nature.

August 2021 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Technical documentation consistently emphasizes that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are essential for all email types, including transactional emails, regardless of whether they are used for marketing purposes. These protocols authenticate the sending server, prevent spoofing and unauthorized use, ensure that emails are not tampered with during transit, and enhance deliverability and security.

Key findings

  • Essential for All Emails: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are not limited to marketing emails; they are necessary for transactional emails as well.
  • Authentication and Verification: These protocols authenticate the sending server and verify the sender's domain.
  • Spoofing Prevention: SPF helps prevent email spoofing, while DMARC protects against unauthorized use of your domain.
  • Trust and Security: DKIM ensures emails are not tampered with, maintaining trust and security.
  • Improved Deliverability: Implementing these protocols enhances deliverability and overall email security.

Key considerations

  • Implementation Scope: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC should be implemented across all email streams for comprehensive protection.
  • Technical Expertise: Setting up these records requires a good understanding of DNS and email authentication mechanisms.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor shares that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an authentication method that cryptographically signs emails, verifying the sender's domain. This is crucial for establishing trust and ensuring that emails, including transactional ones, are not tampered with during transit.

May 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft details that an SPF record helps prevent spoofing and improves deliverability. Although it mentions bulk emails, SPF is necessary for any domain sending email, including for transactional purposes.

May 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help emphasizes that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for all email types, including transactional emails, to authenticate the sending server and prevent spoofing, which enhances deliverability and security, regardless of whether the email is marketing-related or not.

March 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org advocates for using DMARC across all email streams, including transactional ones. Implementing DMARC ensures that your domain is protected from unauthorized use, which is equally important for transactional emails to maintain trust and prevent phishing attacks.

July 2021 - DMARC.org