Article

SPF, DKIM & DMARC Explained

Web, Email & DNS Troubleshooting
Created 2025-12-18 16:16:47
Updated 2025-12-26 23:52:44
Views 210

Overview

SPF, DKIM and DMARC are email authentication methods that prove your emails are genuine.

Without these, many providers will automatically mark your messages as spam or reject them entirely.


SPF – Sender Policy Framework

SPF defines which servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain.

What SPF does

  • Prevents spoofing

  • Confirms sending server legitimacy

Example SPF record

 
v=spf1 include:mail.eclipsehosting.com -all

Only one SPF record should exist per domain.


DKIM – DomainKeys Identified Mail

DKIM adds a digital signature to every outgoing email.

What DKIM does

  • Proves email hasn’t been altered

  • Confirms sending domain authenticity

DKIM is typically enabled automatically on Eclipse mail servers.


DMARC – Domain-based Message Authentication

DMARC tells receiving servers what to do if SPF or DKIM fails.

What DMARC does

  • Protects against spoofing

  • Provides reporting and visibility

  • Improves reputation