How do I set up DNS records for GoDaddy, Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo to be ready for email authentication updates?

Summary

Configuring DNS records for email authentication involves setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for GoDaddy, Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo. SPF authorizes sending sources, DKIM validates email integrity, and DMARC instructs recipient servers on handling authentication failures. It's crucial to include all third-party senders in your SPF record. Microsoft 365 requires adding two DKIM TXT records. Follow a phased DMARC deployment, starting with a 'p=none' policy for monitoring. DMARC reporting is essential for analyzing authentication performance. Email authentication enhances deliverability and protects against spoofing. BIMI allows displaying brand logos in inboxes with DMARC authentication. Ensure provider-specific instructions are followed when adding records. DMARC helps protect the email program and ensure that any sender who can use your domain, will comply with authentication standards.

Key findings

  • SPF Authorization: SPF authorizes sending sources by listing permitted IP addresses or domains.
  • DKIM Validation: DKIM uses digital signatures to ensure email integrity and detect tampering.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC provides instructions to recipient servers on handling emails failing SPF and DKIM checks.
  • Third-Party Inclusion: SPF records must include all third-party senders to prevent deliverability issues.
  • Microsoft DKIM: Microsoft 365 requires adding two specific DKIM TXT records.
  • Reporting Importance: DMARC reporting helps monitor authentication performance and adjust policies.
  • Protection Benefits: Email authentication protects against spoofing and phishing attacks.
  • Email Authentication Control: Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) lets you take control of your email program and ensure that any sender who can use your domain, will comply with authentication standards.

Key considerations

  • Provider Instructions: Follow specific instructions from your email and DNS providers for setting up each record.
  • Phased Deployment: Implement DMARC in phases, starting with 'p=none' to monitor the impact.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports and adjust configurations as needed.
  • SPF Maintenance: Update SPF records to include all legitimate sending sources, including new third-party vendors.
  • Comprehensive Authentication: Combine SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for the most robust email protection.
  • Gradual DMARC Policy Enforcement: Transition from 'p=none' to 'p=quarantine' and then 'p=reject' only after thorough monitoring and verification.
  • Valid DKIM Records: Ensuring you have valid DKIM records

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Setting up DNS records for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) is crucial for improving email deliverability, preventing spoofing, and protecting your domain's reputation. SPF verifies the sender's IP address, DKIM adds a digital signature to validate email integrity, and DMARC instructs recipient servers on handling emails that fail authentication checks. All sending sources, including third-party services, must be included in your SPF record. DMARC reporting is essential for monitoring email authentication performance. BIMI allows you to display your brand logo in supporting inboxes but requires DMARC authentication.

Key opinions

  • SPF: SPF verifies the sender's IP address against a list of authorized sending sources.
  • DKIM: DKIM uses a digital signature to validate the integrity of the email and verify that the message hasn't been altered during transit.
  • DMARC: DMARC provides instructions to recipient servers on how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks.
  • Authentication Benefits: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC reduces the risk of phishing and spam, improving email deliverability and sender reputation.
  • BIMI: BIMI allows you to display your brand logo in supporting inboxes and requires DMARC authentication.

Key considerations

  • Include All Senders: Your SPF record must include all sending sources, including third-party services like email marketing platforms.
  • DMARC Reporting: Monitor DMARC reports to identify sending sources, detect authentication failures, and adjust your DMARC policy safely.
  • DMARC Policy: Start with a DMARC policy of 'none' to monitor the effects before implementing stricter policies like 'quarantine' or 'reject'.
  • DKIM Setup: Ensure DKIM is properly configured to provide authentication
  • Prevent Spoofing: Proper setup helps prevent email spoofing.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user u/SomeTechGuy explains that for GoDaddy, Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo, you'll need to add TXT records for SPF and DMARC, and a DKIM record if supported. The SPF record should include all sending sources, like Microsoft and any third-party senders. The DMARC record tells receiving servers what to do with non-compliant emails.

January 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailmodo explains that SPF and DKIM are crucial for email authentication. SPF verifies the sender's IP address, and DKIM uses a digital signature to validate the email's integrity. Implement both to improve deliverability and prevent spoofing.

April 2024 - Mailmodo
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) allows you to display your brand logo next to your email in supporting inboxes. It requires DMARC authentication with a policy of 'quarantine' or 'reject' and a verified trademark.

October 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow user TechGuru123 answers that an SPF record is a TXT record in your DNS settings that lists the IP addresses or domains authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. You must include any services that send emails for you, such as Google Workspace, Outlook, or third-party marketing tools.

March 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark explains that DMARC reporting is essential for monitoring email authentication performance. Analyzing DMARC reports helps you identify sending sources, detect authentication failures, and adjust your DMARC policy safely.

November 2023 - Postmark
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost shares that implementing email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) reduces the risk of phishing and spam. Authentication helps mailbox providers verify that you are who you say you are, improving your email deliverability and sender reputation.

May 2021 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Email marketer from AuthSMTP explains that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method designed to detect email spoofing. It allows an organization to take responsibility for transmitting a message, by signing it in a way that mailbox providers can verify.

July 2024 - AuthSMTP
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC shares that setting up DMARC, DKIM, and SPF records involves generating the records, publishing them in your DNS zone, and validating them. SPF authorizes sending sources, DKIM adds a digital signature, and DMARC tells recipient servers what to do with emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Always start with a DMARC policy of 'none' to monitor the effects.

September 2021 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Cloudflare explains that email authentication is essential for protecting your domain's reputation and ensuring that your messages reach their intended recipients. Without proper authentication, your emails are more likely to be marked as spam.

November 2021 - Cloudflare

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

Setting up DNS records for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for protecting your email program and improving deliverability. Experts advise starting with SPF and following your email provider's instructions for each record type. For DKIM, follow the specific instructions for each sending service, like Klaviyo and Microsoft. When deploying DMARC, use a phased approach, beginning with a policy of 'p=none' to monitor the impact before gradually increasing restrictions. Including all third-party senders in your SPF record is critical.

Key opinions

  • Start with SPF: Begin the process by setting up SPF records, following the guidance of your email provider.
  • DKIM Configuration: Configure DKIM for each service sending emails on your behalf, such as Klaviyo and Microsoft, using their provided DNS records.
  • DMARC Phased Approach: Implement DMARC in phases, starting with 'p=none' to monitor and assess the impact on email delivery.
  • Third-Party Senders: Ensure all third-party senders are included in your SPF record to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Email Authentication Benefits: Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) lets you take control of your email program and ensure that any sender who can use your domain, will comply with authentication standards.

Key considerations

  • Provider Instructions: Always follow the specific instructions provided by your email and DNS providers for setting up each DNS record.
  • Monitoring DMARC: Carefully monitor DMARC reports to understand the impact of your authentication settings and adjust accordingly.
  • Phased DMARC Deployment: Avoid immediately implementing a 'reject' policy in DMARC to prevent legitimate emails from being discarded.
  • Comprehensive SPF: Regularly review and update your SPF record to include any new third-party sending services.
  • Gradual DMARC Policy Enforcement: Transition from 'p=none' to 'p=quarantine' and then 'p=reject' only after thorough monitoring and verification.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC deployment involves a phased approach. Start with a policy of 'p=none' to monitor the impact of your authentication settings. After analyzing reports and ensuring correct configuration, gradually move to 'p=quarantine' and then 'p=reject'.

January 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises to follow the email provider's instructions for setting up DNS records like SPF and DKIM, and to start with SPF.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that starting with p=none for DMARC policies is the wise choice to prevent legitimate emails being discarded if they are not compliant with DMARC rules.

October 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that when setting up SPF records, it's crucial to include all third-party senders (like email marketing services) that send mail on your domain's behalf. Neglecting to do so can cause deliverability issues.

April 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains the process of setting up DKIM for Klaviyo and Microsoft, including finding the DNS records, checking DKIM status in Gmail, and publishing a DMARC record with a 'none' policy initially.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) helps protect your email program. They are not magic bullets, but they do let you take control of your email program and ensure that any sender who can use your domain, will comply with authentication standards.

April 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recommends monitoring DMARC reports before implementing a 'reject' policy to avoid discarding legitimate emails.

October 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
6Technical articles

Setting up DNS records for email authentication involves configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. SPF records, created as TXT records in your DNS settings, authorize sending mail by including mechanisms such as `include:_spf.google.com`. Microsoft 365 requires adding two DKIM TXT records. Yahoo requires valid SPF and DKIM records. DMARC, built on SPF and DKIM, protects domains from email spoofing. GoDaddy provides tools to add, edit, or delete DNS records and requires the host, value, TTL, and record type to be configured. SPF syntax begins with `v=spf1` and uses mechanisms and qualifiers to define authorized senders and their behavior.

Key findings

  • SPF Record: SPF records are TXT records that authorize sending mail from specified sources.
  • DKIM Records: Microsoft 365 requires two DKIM TXT records using specific hostnames.
  • Yahoo Requirements: Yahoo requires valid SPF and DKIM records for reliable email delivery.
  • DMARC Protocol: DMARC is built on SPF and DKIM and protects against email spoofing.
  • GoDaddy DNS Management: GoDaddy provides tools for adding and managing various DNS record types.

Key considerations

  • SPF Syntax: Understand SPF record syntax, including mechanisms (e.g., `include`, `ip4`) and qualifiers (e.g., `-all`).
  • Microsoft 365 DKIM: Follow Microsoft's specific instructions for generating and adding DKIM TXT records.
  • Provider-Specific Instructions: Refer to your email service provider (e.g., Google, Yahoo) for their specific DNS record requirements.
  • DMARC Implementation: Implement DMARC on top of SPF and DKIM for enhanced protection.
  • GoDaddy Configuration: Accurately input host, value, TTL, and record type when adding DNS records in GoDaddy.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a protocol that allows email senders to protect their domain from unauthorized use, commonly known as email spoofing. It is built on top of SPF and DKIM.

April 2024 - RFC-7489
Technical article

Documentation from OpenSPF details the syntax for SPF records. The record starts with `v=spf1` and includes mechanisms such as `include`, `a`, `mx`, `ip4`, `ip6`, and qualifiers like `+`, `-`, `~`, and `?`. The `all` mechanism is used to specify the default behavior for addresses that do not match any of the other mechanisms.

October 2023 - OpenSPF
Technical article

Documentation from Yahoo explains that to use Yahoo Mail, you need to configure your DNS records to send email correctly and securely. They require that you have valid SPF and DKIM records to ensure reliable email delivery. They recommend that you implement DMARC for enhanced email authentication.

July 2024 - Yahoo
Technical article

Documentation from GoDaddy explains how to add, edit, or delete DNS records. Sign in to your GoDaddy Domain Control Center, select your domain, then go to DNS and add the required records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.). You'll need to input the host, value, TTL, and record type according to the specifications provided by your email service.

September 2023 - GoDaddy
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains how to add a DKIM TXT record in Microsoft 365. You need to generate the DKIM key, then add two TXT records to your DNS: one for the hostname `selector1._domainkey.yourdomain.com` and another for `selector2._domainkey.yourdomain.com`. The values are provided in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Email Authentication settings.

July 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that to create an SPF record, you need to add a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings. The value should include `v=spf1` followed by the mechanisms that authorize sending mail, such as `include:_spf.google.com` for Google Workspace. End with a qualifier like `-all` to specify how receivers should handle mail that doesn't match the SPF record.

January 2023 - Google