How do SPF, DKIM, and DMARC affect email deliverability with Cvent?

Summary

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for email deliverability with Cvent. Cvent supports DKIM, requiring key setup and DNS publication. DMARC builds on SPF/DKIM, providing policies for authentication failure handling. Correct SPF records, including Cvent's IPs, are vital. DMARC policies, from 'none' to 'reject,' affect deliverability. Monitoring DMARC reports is essential. Consider a dedicated sending domain and IP warm-up. Maintain a good sender reputation. Some businesses block emails not from their MX servers, so testing is needed. Regularly update SPF records to reflect changes.

Key findings

  • Authentication Core: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC establish the foundation for deliverability ensuring Cvent is authorized to send emails.
  • DMARC Policies: DMARC policies dictate how emails are handled if SPF and DKIM checks fail, impacting delivery rates.
  • SPF Configuration: Accurate SPF records, including Cvent’s sending IPs, prevent emails from being flagged as spam.
  • Sender Reputation: A positive sender reputation, based on engagement and avoiding spam complaints, is critical for consistent deliverability.
  • MX Server Restrictions: Some recipients restrict emails to originate from their own MX servers requiring testing of emails from Cvent.
  • Reporting insights: Analysing DMARC reports highlights failure points, spoofing, and areas for adjustment.

Key considerations

  • Enable DKIM in Cvent: Set up and enable DKIM within Cvent, publishing the public key correctly in DNS.
  • Review DMARC reports: Routinely analyze DMARC reports to identify authentication issues and improve email configurations.
  • Update SPF records: Maintain up-to-date SPF records, especially when Cvent's sending infrastructure changes.
  • Implement IP warm-up: Gradually increase sending volume to establish a positive sending reputation with receiving mail servers.
  • Test email configurations: Test email deliverability by sending to different mailbox providers to reveal configuration problems.
  • DMARC 'reject' impact: Consider the implications of the 'reject' policy as that may inadvertently block emails.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are critical for email deliverability when using Cvent. Proper configuration ensures that Cvent is authorized to send emails on your behalf, preventing them from being marked as spam. Issues with SPF records, incorrect DKIM setup, or restrictive DMARC policies can lead to deliverability problems. Monitoring DMARC reports, using a dedicated sending domain, and gradually increasing sending volume (IP warm-up) are essential practices. Maintaining a positive sender reputation through good engagement rates is also crucial.

Key opinions

  • Authentication Importance: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for authenticating emails sent through Cvent, preventing them from being flagged as spam.
  • DMARC Impact: DMARC policies dictate how receiving mail servers handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks; 'reject' policies can block emails if authentication fails.
  • SPF Configuration: Incorrect SPF records are a common cause of deliverability issues; ensure Cvent's sending IPs or domain are included.
  • DKIM Key: Using a sufficient DKIM key length (e.g., 2048 bits) and correctly publishing the public key in DNS is important for DKIM effectiveness.
  • Monitoring: Monitoring DMARC reports provides insights into authentication failures and helps identify areas for improvement.

Key considerations

  • DMARC Monitoring: Regularly analyze DMARC reports to identify and address authentication issues.
  • Dedicated Domain: Consider using a dedicated sending domain or subdomain for Cvent emails to isolate reputation.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradually increase sending volume when starting to send emails through Cvent to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintain a positive sender reputation through good engagement rates (opens and clicks) and avoid spam complaints.
  • Cvent Support: Contact Cvent support to enable DKIM and ensure proper configuration.
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost explains that sender reputation is a key factor in email deliverability. Consistently sending authenticated emails with good engagement rates (opens and clicks) through Cvent helps build a positive sender reputation. Negative signals, such as spam complaints, can harm your reputation and lower deliverability.

June 2021 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid details that DMARC policies tell mail servers how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. If your DMARC policy is set to 'reject' and Cvent's emails fail authentication, those emails will be blocked by receiving mail servers. Monitoring DMARC reports is crucial to identify and resolve any authentication issues.

October 2021 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that Cvent supports email authentication via DKIM, but it may require contacting support to enable it. Suggests direct messaging account information for assistance.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus emphasizes the importance of monitoring your email authentication results through DMARC reports. These reports provide insights into which servers are sending emails on behalf of your domain and whether they are passing authentication checks. Regular monitoring can help identify and resolve deliverability issues with Cvent.

February 2025 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid details that gradually increasing your sending volume (IP warm-up) when starting to send emails through Cvent can improve deliverability. Sudden spikes in email volume from a new IP address can trigger spam filters. Proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration is crucial during the warm-up process.

April 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow highlights that DKIM uses cryptographic signatures to verify the authenticity of an email. To effectively use DKIM with Cvent, ensure that your DKIM key length is sufficient (typically 2048 bits) and that the public key is correctly published in your DNS record. Incorrect DKIM setup can lead to failed authentication and deliverability issues.

December 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeek Forum shares that issues with SPF records are a common cause of deliverability problems with platforms like Cvent. Ensure your SPF record includes Cvent's sending IPs or domain. A poorly configured SPF record can cause receiving mail servers to reject your emails or send them to the spam folder.

September 2024 - EmailGeek Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet suggests using a dedicated sending domain or subdomain for your Cvent emails. This isolates your marketing email reputation from your primary domain, minimizing the risk of deliverability issues. Proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup on the dedicated domain is still essential.

January 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for ensuring Cvent emails reach recipients' inboxes. Without proper authentication, emails are more likely to be flagged as spam. Setting these up correctly tells receiving mail servers that Cvent is authorized to send emails on your behalf.

March 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that if DMARC is set up to quarantine or reject all and Cvent is trying to send from your domain, it could cause issues. Recommends using a DMARC monitoring tool to see systems sending from your domains.

April 2024 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

When using Cvent, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are vital for ensuring email deliverability. Some organizations block emails claiming to be from their domain unless sent via their own MX servers, so testing with a personal Gmail account is advised. Regularly analyzing DMARC reports is essential for understanding and improving deliverability by revealing authentication failures. It's also critical to maintain and update SPF records to reflect changes in sending infrastructure, including Cvent's configurations, to accurately authorize sending sources.

Key opinions

  • MX Server Restrictions: Some businesses reject emails claiming to be from their domain unless they originate from their corporate MX servers.
  • DMARC Report Importance: Analyzing DMARC reports is crucial for identifying and addressing authentication failures to improve email deliverability with Cvent.
  • SPF Record Maintenance: Regularly updating SPF records is essential to ensure they accurately reflect authorized sending sources like Cvent.

Key considerations

  • Testing with Personal Account: Test email deliverability to a personal Gmail account to check if restrictive MX settings are in place.
  • DMARC Analysis: Implement a process for regularly reviewing and acting upon DMARC reports.
  • SPF Updates: Establish a schedule for reviewing and updating your SPF records whenever your sending infrastructure changes, including Cvent configurations.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that regularly analyzing DMARC reports is crucial for understanding and improving email deliverability when using Cvent. These reports highlight authentication failures, potential spoofing attempts, and areas where your email setup may need adjustments. Ignoring DMARC reports can lead to continued deliverability problems.

January 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that some businesses have settings that reject emails claiming to be from their domain unless they originate from their corporate MX servers. Suggests testing by sending an email to a personal Gmail account.

February 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes that it's important to maintain your SPF record and update it as your sending infrastructure changes, including any changes to how Cvent sends emails. Regularly reviewing and updating your SPF record ensures it accurately reflects authorized sending sources, preventing deliverability issues.

June 2022 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for ensuring email deliverability when using Cvent. Cvent supports DKIM, which requires generating a key pair and publishing the public key in DNS records to verify email authenticity. DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, providing a policy framework to indicate email protection and instruct receivers on handling authentication failures. SPF records specify authorized mail servers, necessitating the inclusion of Cvent's servers/IPs. DMARC policies ('none,' 'quarantine,' or 'reject') dictate how recipient servers handle authentication failures, with 'reject' offering strong protection but risking blocking legitimate emails if misconfigured.

Key findings

  • Cvent DKIM Support: Cvent supports DKIM, requiring key pair generation and public key publication in DNS.
  • DMARC Policy Framework: DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, providing a policy framework for handling authentication failures.
  • SPF Record Necessity: SPF records must include Cvent's mail servers or IP addresses to authorize sending.
  • DMARC Policy Options: DMARC policies ('none', 'quarantine', 'reject') dictate how recipient servers handle authentication failures, impacting deliverability.

Key considerations

  • DKIM Setup: Ensure proper DKIM key generation and DNS record publication within Cvent.
  • DMARC Policy Selection: Choose a DMARC policy that balances protection with the risk of blocking legitimate emails.
  • SPF Record Updates: Update SPF records to include Cvent's sending infrastructure to avoid deliverability issues.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. If Cvent is used to send emails, you must include Cvent's mail servers or IP addresses in your SPF record to ensure deliverability. The SPF record is a TXT record in your DNS settings.

November 2021 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that DMARC allows domain owners to specify how recipient mail servers should handle messages that fail authentication checks (SPF and DKIM). DMARC policies can be set to 'none,' 'quarantine,' or 'reject,' each affecting deliverability differently. 'Reject' offers the strongest protection but can also block legitimate emails if misconfigured.

May 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from Cvent Knowledge Base explains that Cvent supports DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), which is an email authentication method designed to detect email spoofing. Setting up DKIM involves generating a DKIM key pair within Cvent and then publishing the public key in your domain's DNS records. This allows receiving mail servers to verify that emails claiming to be from your domain are actually authorized by you.

May 2022 - Cvent Knowledge Base
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a policy framework for email authentication. A DMARC policy allows the sender to indicate that their emails are protected by SPF and/or DKIM, and tells the receiver what to do if authentication fails, such as reject the message. This helps prevent phishing and spoofing attacks, which can indirectly improve deliverability by protecting your domain's reputation.

May 2022 - DMARC.org