Nowadays, email communication is a cornerstone of both business and personal exchanges. However, with the increase in the volume of spam and phishing attempts, it is important to ensure the authenticity and reliability of your emails. This is where DNS records, SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) come into play.
In this article, we will explore how you can improve the reputation of your sent emails by setting up SPF and DKIM records on your cPanel hosting.
Table of Contents
The Importance of Email Authentication
Email authentication is essential for the following reasons:
- Reliability: SPF and DKIM records help recipients verify that an email truly comes from your domain and has not been altered during transmission.
- Email Deliverability: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and mail servers use SPF and DKIM records to evaluate the legitimacy of incoming emails. Properly authenticated emails are less likely to end up in spam folders.
- Reputation Management: Gaining a positive email reputation is critical for maintaining successful email marketing campaigns and business communications. SPF and DKIM records play a vital role in this process.
Definition of SPF and DKIM Records
The SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is an email authentication protocol designed to prevent email spoofing and phishing by verifying that incoming mail from a domain is sent from authorized mail servers. SPF records are DNS (Domain Name System) records that specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of a particular domain.
The DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) record is an email authentication method that allows the sender’s domain to digitally sign outgoing emails. This prevents identity theft, phishing, and email forgery by enabling recipient mail servers to verify the signature, confirming that the email came from an authorized source and has not been altered during the sending process.
Configuring SPF and DKIM Records
To add SPF and DKIM records to your cPanel hosting, follow these steps:
Go to the “Email” section and then click on “Email Deliverability”
Manage SPF and DKIM records: If a warning sign is displayed next to your domain name with which you send your emails, it means the records are not always configured on your domain. Follow the instructions below accordingly.
If your domain uses Cap Connect’s default DNS servers, you can directly click on Repair.
The SPF and DKIM records will be automatically added to the DNS zone by cPanel. Wait a few seconds, and the email deliverability status will be updated to Valid.
If your domain uses external DNS servers, click on Manage.
A new page will appear with the SPF and DKIM records. Click the copy buttons one by one and paste them directly into the DNS zone of your domain in the appropriate fields.
If you have difficulties adding the records, it is highly recommended to contact the provider managing your domain to do it for you. Once the updates are applied, wait a few hours for DNS propagation and return to the same page to confirm that the email deliverability status is Valid.
Conclusion
By setting up SPF and DKIM records on your cPanel hosting, you improve the credibility and deliverability of your emails. However, it is essential to constantly monitor your email reputation. You can use various online tools and email deliverability services to check the status of your email authentication configuration and quickly resolve any issues.