Why do ESPs deny SNDS access and what are the risks?

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection.com responds that when ESPs deny access, it's often due to concerns about data misuse or misinterpretation. Raw SNDS data can be complex and might lead users to draw incorrect conclusions about their sending reputation, potentially causing unnecessary changes to their email program.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that it's not uncommon for an ESP to deny direct SNDS access to customers, as the ESP owns the IPs. He is not acutely aware of any security concerns that would be presented by a customer accessing SNDS, but that doesn't mean none exist.

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that by denying direct access and acting as an intermediary by supplying the right information to their customer, ESP's protect other parties data from being leaked.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that some ESPs prefer to manage SNDS data internally and provide summarized reports to their customers. This approach allows the ESP to control the narrative and offer guidance on how to interpret the data in the context of their platform.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that there's a "request reauthorization" button for someone with IP access in SNDS to trigger re-validation for another user with access to the IP. Part of the problem is that end users with access to SNDS have that same button, and can trigger the validation process for the ESP, removing those IPs rom the ESP's SNDS account if the validation process isn't completed.

Email marketer from Litmus shares that by preventing access they're able to improve their security implementations by restricting the amount of users that have access to sensitive information.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains the issue with an ESP giving access to SNDS for an IP within their network is there is no way to revoke that access in the future. If someone had SNDS access for ESP X and moved off of ESP X, there would be no way to prohibit them from still seeing data for the IP in SNDS even after their brand was no longer using the IP.

Email marketer from StackOverflow explains that some ESPs are hesitant to give SNDS access due to fears that customers might misinterpret the data and blame the ESP for deliverability issues that are actually caused by the customer's sending practices. This can lead to support escalations and strained relationships.

Email marketer from Quora mentions that the complexity of SNDS data can lead to misinterpretations, potentially resulting in misguided actions that harm deliverability. ESPs might prefer to offer guidance and support to ensure customers correctly understand the data.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that ESPs might deny direct SNDS access to protect the overall reputation of their shared IP pools. Unmonitored customer activity could negatively impact other senders on the same IP, leading to deliverability issues for everyone.

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that ESPs might deny direct SNDS access due to liability concerns. If a customer misuses SNDS data or engages in activities that violate Microsoft's terms of service, the ESP could be held responsible.

Documentation from Amazon states that they do not want to be responsible for customers using information they shouldn't be, therefore they deny SNDS access to protect themselves from liabilities.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) provides data regarding your IP address's reputation with Microsoft services, including spam complaint rates and traffic volume. Access is typically granted to IP owners to help them monitor and improve their sending practices.

Documentation from Sendgrid shares that by preventing SNDS access, they're able to provide an overall better experience for their customers by giving them what they need, whilst preventing them from accessing more complex data that may cause issues.

Documentation from Validity (ReturnPath) states that providing direct SNDS access to multiple customers can introduce security vulnerabilities. If a customer's account is compromised, it could potentially expose sensitive data about other senders using the same ESP.

Documentation from SparkPost shares that direct access to SNDS could allow customers to see reputation data that may reflect other senders who share the same IP pool. This exposure can create privacy concerns and potential competitive disadvantages for the ESP.

Documentation from Google explains that while SNDS provides Microsoft-specific data, Google Postmaster Tools offers similar insights into your sender reputation with Gmail users. ESPs might encourage customers to use these tools instead of SNDS for a more holistic view.

Documentation from Mailjet shares that some ESPs believe they can provide more valuable insights by aggregating SNDS data with other deliverability metrics and presenting it in a user-friendly format. This allows customers to focus on actionable recommendations rather than raw data.