Should I configure SSL or TLS on my sending domains for email marketing?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that Gmail may show a lock icon if emails aren't sent over a TLS encrypted session but isn't aware of providers weighting it for reputation. The bigger benefit is minimizing plain text email transmission.
Email marketer from Mailgun states that TLS is important for encrypting email communication and preventing man-in-the-middle attacks. They say that TLS makes sure your data is protected in transit.
Email marketer from SparkPost shares that using TLS ensures that emails are encrypted while in transit between servers, preventing potential eavesdropping. They emphasize TLS as a standard security practice to protect sensitive information. TLS is essential for maintaining trust and security in email communications.
Email marketer from Reddit answers TLS is generally recommended for all SMTP connections to encrypt email transit, particularly when sending sensitive data. It can prevent attackers viewing the email.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that having an SSL certificate might indicate domain care but doesn't believe it's weighted by antispam filters unless the domain/subdomain is used for link tracking or image hosting, in which case SSL is recommended. TLS for outbound emails, specifically STARTTLS, is recommended but doesn't directly impact deliverability.
Marketer from Email Geeks votes for implementing SSL and TLS as a general best practice for STARTTLS, landing pages, etc., because it makes the internet a bit better. It's not always a deliverability consequence unless domain reputation is borderline or previously hijacked.
Email marketer from SocketLabs answers that TLS should be configured to encrypt data during transmission, preventing interception. They state that without TLS, email communications can be vulnerable. It's crucial for protecting sensitive information and ensuring compliance with security standards.
Email marketer from Stackoverflow explains that it is important to use TLS to protect your emails from being intercepted during transmission across the internet. He recommends using TLS, especially if sending sensitive information.
Marketer from Email Geeks states that it's best practice to deliver using TLS.
Email marketer from Stackoverflow answers that SSL is an older, deprecated protocol, and TLS is its successor. Therefore, you should always prefer TLS for encrypting email communications.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that SSL is for HTTPS connections, not SMTP connections, and that TLS encryption is needed for SMTP.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that SSL on HTTP(S) is not needed if there's no webpage for the sending subdomain, but if the domain is used in URLs inside emails, then SSL certificate should be implemented.
Email marketer from Reddit answers that enforcing TLS is useful if you work in a regulated industry. They say to do some research, but it's usually a good idea.
Email marketer from FastComet answers that installing an SSL certificate on your website hosting email services is essential to encrypt the transfer of data between the server and the user. This protects sensitive information such as passwords and email content from being intercepted. They say to also use TLS to secure the actual email transmission.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that encryption is very important to modern email practices. It protects your email in transit and keeps bad actors from viewing what is being sent. It makes it so data can’t be read as it travels across the internet.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) recommends using TLS to protect the confidentiality of email messages in transit. It highlights the importance of STARTTLS for opportunistic encryption, where the connection is encrypted if supported by both mail servers. They also advise on configuring DANE (DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities) for verifying TLS certificates.
Documentation from RFC explains that STARTTLS enables opportunistic TLS, which allows email servers to negotiate a secure connection if both support it. It mentions that STARTTLS is a key component for providing backward compatibility while improving security.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that TLS (Transport Layer Security) encrypts and delivers email securely, preventing eavesdropping between mail servers. Google requires TLS for SMTP connections and recommends its use between mail servers whenever possible. They also indicate that enforcing TLS can enhance security for sensitive communications.
Documentation from Microsoft Learn explains that TLS encrypts connections between email servers to prevent unauthorized access to messages. Microsoft recommends enabling TLS 1.2 or later for SMTP client submission. You can configure TLS settings in the Exchange admin center or using PowerShell commands. They strongly suggest prioritizing TLS 1.2 for enhanced security.