What is DKIM v2 and what are its benefits?

Summary

DKIM v2 is an evolving email authentication standard designed to address the limitations of the original DKIM specification. It aims to enhance deliverability, security, and trust through stronger authentication methods, forward compatibility, and improved handling of email forwarding and mailing lists. It builds upon existing DKIM and ARC concepts to establish an authenticated delivery chain. While still in the draft stage and not yet widely adopted, DKIM v2 offers improved key management, better support for multiple signatures, and more granular control over signing policies. Implementing DKIM v2, along with SPF and DMARC, helps build a positive sending reputation, prevents phishing attacks, increases trust by allowing verification of message integrity, and improves overall email security. However, it requires infrastructure updates, industry collaboration, and an understanding of its ongoing development.

Key findings

  • Enhanced Security & Authentication: DKIM v2 provides a more robust framework for message authentication, improving security against spoofing and tampering compared to the original DKIM specification.
  • Addresses DKIM Limitations: DKIMv2 is designed to overcome the shortcomings of the original DKIM, offering enhanced key management, signature support, and signing policy control.
  • Forward Compatibility: DKIM v2 is designed to be forward-compatible, enabling gradual adoption without disrupting existing DKIM setups.
  • Improved Deliverability: DKIM v2 aims to improve email deliverability by establishing a verifiable chain of custody and reducing the chances of emails being marked as spam.
  • Trust & Reputation: Implementing DKIM v2 increases trust with mailbox providers and helps build a positive sending reputation, contributing to improved inbox placement.
  • Phishing Prevention: DKIM v2 helps prevent phishing attacks by making it harder to spoof legitimate email addresses.
  • Industry Backing: The developers behind DKIM v2 have real operational experience.
  • Part of Holistic Solution: DKIM, alongside SPF and DMARC, builds a sending reputation by allowing verification of sender authenticity.

Key considerations

  • Implementation Requirements: Implementing DKIM v2 requires updates to email infrastructure and collaboration among email service providers.
  • Still in Draft Stage: DKIM v2 is still in the draft stage, meaning its features and implementation may be subject to change.
  • Technical Expertise: Proper key management, policy configuration, and a solid understanding of email authentication protocols are crucial for effective implementation and maintenance.
  • Combined Approach: To maximize the benefits of DKIM v2, it should be used in conjunction with other email authentication methods like SPF and DMARC.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

DKIM v2 is an evolving email authentication standard designed to enhance deliverability, security, and trust compared to the original DKIM. It achieves this through stronger authentication methods, forward compatibility, and improved handling of email forwarding and mailing lists. While promising, DKIM v2 is still in the draft stage, requiring infrastructure updates and collaboration for widespread adoption. It helps prevent phishing by making it harder to spoof legitimate addresses, increases trust by allowing verification of message integrity, and contributes to a positive sending reputation when combined with other authentication methods like SPF and DMARC.

Key opinions

  • Enhanced Deliverability: DKIM v2 aims to improve email deliverability by providing a stronger authentication method and creating a verifiable chain of custody.
  • Improved Security: DKIM v2 helps prevent phishing attacks and enhances email security by making it harder to spoof legitimate email addresses.
  • Forward Compatibility: DKIM v2 is designed to be forward-compatible, allowing gradual adoption without disrupting existing DKIM setups.
  • Not yet Mainstream: DKIM v2 is still in the draft stage, and widespread adoption is not yet common.
  • Boosted Trust: Implementing DKIMv2 can significantly increase trust in your emails because recipients can verify messages.

Key considerations

  • Adoption Challenges: Implementing DKIM v2 requires updates to email infrastructure and collaboration among email service providers.
  • Evolving Standard: DKIM v2 is still in the draft stage, so its features and implementation may change.
  • Holistic Approach: To maximize the benefits of DKIM v2, it should be used in conjunction with other email authentication methods like SPF and DMARC.
Marketer view

Email marketer from emailonacid.com says that DKIM is one of the main three email authentication methods to setup along with SPF and DMARC.

June 2024 - emailonacid.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailSecurityPro explains that DKIM v2 is designed to be forward-compatible, meaning it can be gradually adopted without breaking existing DKIM setups. This allows for a smoother transition to a more secure email authentication system.

December 2022 - EmailSecurityPro
Marketer view

Email marketer from authsmtp.com shares that DKIM helps improve deliverability by building reputation and proving that your mail is legitimate.

September 2023 - authsmtp.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit notes that DKIM v2, while promising, is still in the draft stage and widespread adoption is not yet common. Implementation requires updates to email infrastructure and collaboration among email service providers.

August 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailDeliverabilityBlog shares that DKIMv2 helps prevent phishing attacks by making it harder for malicious actors to spoof legitimate email addresses, as messages without a valid DKIMv2 signature are more likely to be flagged as suspicious.

September 2024 - EmailDeliverabilityBlog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares an internet draft about DKIM v2.

September 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeekForum explains implementing DKIMv2 can significantly increase trust in your emails, as it provides a reliable way for recipients to verify that messages are genuinely from your domain and haven't been tampered with.

May 2023 - EmailGeekForum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailArch shares that DKIMv2 aims to improve email deliverability by providing a stronger authentication method. This is achieved by creating a verifiable chain of custody for each email. This reduces the chance of emails being marked as spam or rejected. It's especially useful for forwarding and mailing lists.

July 2023 - EmailArch
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow answers that DKIMv2 offers stronger authentication and forward compatibility. It also overcomes limitations of the original DKIM standard.

June 2021 - StackOverflow

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

DKIM v2 is described as an authenticated delivery chain, based on an improved profile of DKIM signing and ARC (Authenticated Received Chain) ideas. Experts emphasize its role, alongside SPF and DMARC, in building a positive sending reputation by enabling email providers to verify sender authenticity. This comprehensive authentication strategy is vital for sender identification, fostering trust with mailbox providers, and ultimately improving email deliverability, reducing the risk of emails being marked as spam.

Key opinions

  • Authenticated Delivery Chain: DKIM v2 functions as an authenticated delivery chain, leveraging improvements in DKIM signing and ARC concepts.
  • Reputation Builder: DKIM, in conjunction with SPF and DMARC, aids in building a positive sending reputation by verifying sender authenticity.
  • Core Deliverability Component: DKIM is an essential component of a comprehensive deliverability strategy, playing a critical role in sender identification.
  • Trust Enhancement: Implementing DKIM increases trust with mailbox providers, improving the likelihood that emails reach the inbox.

Key considerations

  • Holistic Implementation: To maximize the benefits, DKIM v2 should be implemented within a holistic email authentication strategy alongside SPF and DMARC.
  • Operational Expertise: The people backing DKIM are experienced.
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource highlights that DKIM, along with SPF and DMARC, helps build a positive sending reputation by providing a way for email providers to verify the authenticity of the sender. This contributes to improved deliverability and reduced risk of being flagged as spam.

July 2022 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that DKIM is an important component of a comprehensive deliverability strategy. It is essential for sender identification and helps increase trust with mailbox providers, improving the chances that your emails will reach the inbox.

May 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains it's basically an authenticated delivery chain, based on an improved profile of DKIM signing by the originator and some of the ARC ideas.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the folks backing it have real operational experience and a history of producing good protocols.

February 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

DKIM v2 is designed to address the limitations of the original DKIM specification by providing a more robust and secure framework for message authentication. It enhances the original standard through improved key management, better support for multiple signatures, and more granular control over signing policies. DKIM in general improves deliverability, reduces spoofing, and enhances overall security by enabling verification of the sender's identity using digital signatures, establishing a domain-level authentication framework.

Key findings

  • Addresses Limitations: DKIMv2 is designed to overcome the shortcomings of the original DKIM specification.
  • Enhanced Authentication: It offers a more robust framework for message authentication and enhanced security against spoofing and tampering.
  • Improved Key Management: DKIM v2 introduces improved key management features.
  • Better Signature Support: It provides better support for multiple signatures, increasing flexibility.
  • Granular Control: DKIM v2 allows for more granular control over signing policies.

Key considerations

  • Technical Understanding: Implementing DKIM and DKIM v2 requires a solid understanding of email authentication protocols and digital signatures.
  • Ongoing Maintenance: Proper key management and policy configuration are essential for maintaining the effectiveness of DKIM and DKIM v2.
Technical article

Documentation from Mailhardener explains that DKIM v2 enhances the original DKIM standard by introducing features such as improved key management, better support for multiple signatures, and more granular control over signing policies, allowing for more secure and flexible email authentication.

April 2023 - Mailhardener
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains DKIM defines a domain-level authentication framework for email using digital signatures.

February 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Wikipedia explains DKIM helps improve email deliverability, reduce spoofing, and enhance the overall security of email communications by providing a mechanism to verify the sender's identity.

November 2022 - Wikipedia
Technical article

Documentation from datatracker.ietf.org introduces DKIMv2 as a mechanism to address the limitations of the original DKIM specification, aiming to provide a more robust framework for message authentication and enhanced security against spoofing and tampering.

March 2025 - datatracker.ietf.org