Why defend DKIM key size and what key sizes do ESP's support?

Summary

While 1024-bit DKIM keys are currently considered secure and meet the DKIM standard's minimum requirement, there is a growing consensus that 2048-bit keys offer a greater security margin against potential attacks. Most ESPs support both, however, there are cases where some older systems may not support the larger key size. There are different opinions on the level of increased security and the need to balance security with compatibility. Implementing larger key sizes should be balanced with interoperability and industry best practices to show a commitment to security. ESP support varies, and while some default to 1024-bit keys, they often encourage upgrading to 2048-bit.

Key findings

  • Enhanced Security: 2048-bit keys provide more robustness against potential attacks than 1024-bit keys. This is generally recommended for enhanced long-term security.
  • Industry Trend: A trend to move towards 2048-bit keys is being observed aligning with industry best practices and compliance. There is a general recommendation for more robust standards for domain security.
  • ESP Support: Many ESPs support both 1024-bit and 2048-bit. However, implementation and default settings may vary.

Key considerations

  • Compatibility Issues: Ensure compatibility with older systems, as 2048-bit keys may not be supported universally.
  • Implementation Complexity: Implementing 2048-bit keys might require DNS record and ESP configuration updates. Proper testing is vital to ensure proper implementation.
  • Balancing Security: Balance enhanced security with practical requirements of deliverability. Not all receivers may benefit from increased key size and might cause issues for senders.

What email marketers say
14Marketer opinions

The consensus is that while 1024-bit DKIM keys are currently considered secure, 2048-bit keys offer a larger security margin against potential cryptographic attacks and are increasingly recommended. Most major ESPs support both, with some defaulting to 1024-bit but encouraging or allowing upgrades to 2048-bit. Compatibility with older systems and internal security policies are important factors to consider.

Key opinions

  • Security: 2048-bit DKIM keys offer enhanced security compared to 1024-bit keys, providing better protection against brute-force attacks and key compromise.
  • ESP Support: Many ESPs support both 1024-bit and 2048-bit DKIM keys, including SparkPost, SendGrid, and Mailgun. Some default to 1024-bit but offer 2048-bit as an option.
  • Best Practice: While 1024-bit is still acceptable, the trend is towards recommending 2048-bit for future-proofing and alignment with evolving security standards.

Key considerations

  • Compatibility: Some older email clients and servers may not fully support 2048-bit DKIM keys, potentially causing issues with email delivery. Testing is crucial.
  • Security Policies: Internal security policies within organizations may dictate a minimum DKIM key size of 2048-bit, regardless of current cryptographic vulnerabilities.
  • Implementation: Implementing 2048-bit keys might require updates to DNS records and configurations within ESP platforms. Proper setup and testing are vital.
Marketer view

Email marketer from AuthSMTP shares that both 1024-bit and 2048-bit are acceptable but some older systems might not work with larger keys so you may need to use 1024 bit. They also mention that it is down to the individual companies security policy.

April 2021 - AuthSMTP
Marketer view

Email marketer from expert.ai explains that DKIM key length is the size (in bits) of the cryptographic key used to sign email messages. A longer key length provides stronger security but may not be supported by all email providers.

September 2024 - expert.ai
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperOffice mentions that not all email clients and servers support 2048-bit DKIM keys so it's important to check and test your settings work correctly. They recommend checking which type is best suited for your requirements.

October 2024 - SuperOffice
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that there isn’t really any reason _not_ to support 2048-bit keys that he can think of beyond “we haven’t gotten around to putting in the dev hours yet.” He suggests confirming that 1024-bit isn’t deprecated and there haven’t been any known successful collision attacks against 1024-bit DKIM keys in the wild. He also notes that a 2048-bit key will require multiple DNS TXT record strings which may be marginally more likely to experience errors by the receiver.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from dmarcanalyzer indicates that DKIM is vital to ensure that your emails aren't compromised or spoofed and they recommend using 2048-bit keys for the optimal security.

June 2021 - dmarcanalyzer
Marketer view

Email marketer from Postmark explains both 1024-bit and 2048-bit keys are acceptable. Larger keys take slightly longer to process, but for the increase in security, they recommend 2048-bit keys.

February 2024 - Postmark
Marketer view

Email marketer from SocketLabs shares that 2048-bit DKIM keys provide enhanced security compared to 1024-bit keys, making them more resistant to potential attacks and tampering. They recommend larger key size where possible.

December 2021 - SocketLabs
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailgun allows users to choose between 1024-bit and 2048-bit DKIM keys. They suggest using 2048-bit keys for optimal security unless there's a specific compatibility reason to use 1024-bit.

March 2025 - Mailgun
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that while 1024-bit keys haven't been compromised, security standards evolve. Some organizations require 2048-bit keys to align with internal security policies.

September 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid supports 1024-bit DKIM keys but recommends upgrading to 2048-bit when possible for better security. They note that some older systems might have issues with longer keys, but these are increasingly rare.

July 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailhardener explains that 1024-bit keys are considered sufficient for DKIM security, but 2048-bit keys offer a larger security margin against potential cryptographic attacks. They recommend using 2048-bit keys if supported by your ESP.

January 2024 - Mailhardener
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost indicates that they support both 1024-bit and 2048-bit DKIM keys. They recommend using 2048-bit keys for enhanced security.

July 2024 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange responds that larger DKIM keys (2048-bit) offer more resistance against brute-force attacks and key compromise, which is increasingly important as computing power grows.

January 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that SparkPost supports 2048 bit keys, but the default key size is 1024.

August 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts suggest that while 2048-bit DKIM keys offer improved security, the practical benefits over 1024-bit keys might be minimal in some situations. Defending a specific key size involves balancing security enhancements with the need for compatibility across different email systems. Alignment with industry best practices and demonstrating a commitment to security also contribute to defending the choice of a larger key.

Key opinions

  • Security vs. Practicality: While larger key sizes are generally more secure, the real-world impact compared to smaller keys might be limited in certain contexts.
  • Compliance: Defending the larger key size is not always about the enhanced security, but alignment with industry best practices to demonstrate security awareness.

Key considerations

  • Compatibility: Ensure that the chosen key size is supported by all receiving systems to avoid deliverability issues. Not all systems support 2048 bit.
  • Interoperability: Balance the need for enhanced security with the practical requirements of ensuring seamless email delivery across diverse platforms.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, in the context of a comment, explains that choosing key size requires considering compatibility, noting that while 2048-bit keys offer better protection, they may not be supported by all receiving systems. "Defending" a choice involves balancing security with practical interoperability.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource shares that while larger DKIM key sizes (2048-bit) are generally recommended for improved security, the practical benefits over 1024-bit keys might be minimal in certain contexts. The primary reason to 'defend' it would be to align with industry best practices and demonstrate a commitment to security.

August 2021 - SpamResource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

DKIM documentation suggests a move towards stronger key lengths. The DKIM standard specifies a minimum of 1024 bits. Implementation guides, such as OpenDKIM and Google Workspace Admin Help, recommend 2048-bit keys for enhanced long-term security and compliance.

Key findings

  • Minimum Standard: The DKIM standard (RFC Editor) suggests using at least 1024-bit keys.
  • Recommendation: OpenDKIM recommends generating 2048-bit keys for signing.
  • Security Enhancement: Google Workspace Admin Help advocates using 2048-bit keys to improve domain security.

Key considerations

  • Long-term Security: Larger keys are recommended for long-term security to ensure compliance with evolving security standards.
  • Compliance: Using 2048-bit keys assists with compliance to meet current security standards.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor, the DKIM standard, specifies that key lengths of at least 1024 bits SHOULD be used with RSA. It doesn't explicitly forbid shorter keys but implies they are less secure and future-proof.

May 2024 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace admin help recommends using a 2048-bit DKIM key as this increases your domain's security.

April 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from OpenDKIM recommends generating 2048-bit RSA keys for DKIM signing to ensure long-term security and compliance with evolving security standards.

March 2023 - OpenDKIM