---
title: "Improve email deliverability: SPF - DKIM - DMARC"
description: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are email authentication mechanisms that help protect your domain against email spoofing and unauthorized use. They allow receiving mail servers to verify whether an email is authorized and appears to come from a legitimate source.
---
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# Improve email deliverability: SPF - DKIM - DMARC
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are email authentication mechanisms that help protect your domain against email spoofing and unauthorized use. They allow receiving mail servers to verify whether an email is authorized and appears to come from a legitimate source.
Each mechanism has a different purpose, and together they help improve email security and deliverability.
In this article you will learn about these 3 as well how they can be setup:
- [SPF](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#spf)
- [Configure SPF](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#configure-spf)
- [Example: Microsoft 365](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#example-microsoft-365)
- [Example: Basic Mailbox (Combell)](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#example-basic-mailbox-combell)
- [DKIM](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#dkim)
- [Configure DKIM](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#configure-dkim)
- [DMARC](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#dmarc)
- [Configure DMARC](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#configure-dmarc)
- [How SPF, DKIM & DMARC work together](https://support.sitemanager.io/en/go-live/advanced/improve-email-deliverability-spf-dkim-dmarc#how-spf-dkim-dmarc-work-together)
---
### SPF
SPF is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails using your domain in the sender information checked by SPF. Receiving mail servers use this record to verify whether an email was sent from an authorized server.
This check helps identify emails sent from unauthorized sources. The receiving mail server can use the SPF result, together with other authentication checks, to help decide whether to accept, flag, or reject a message.
An SPF record applies to a domain, not to an individual email address. A domain should generally have only one SPF record.
#### Configure SPF
If your domain sends email through our mail server, you can authorize the following IP address:
**IP address:** `185.86.17.50`
#### Example: Microsoft 365
For a domain that also sends email through Microsoft 365, an example SPF record is:
`v=spf1 ip4:185.86.17.50 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all`
This example authorizes the specified IP address and the mail servers covered by Microsoft's SPF mechanism. The `-all` mechanism indicates that other sources should fail the SPF check.
#### Example: Basic Mailbox (Combell)
For a domain that also sends email through Combell, an example SPF record is:
`v=spf1 ip4:185.86.17.50 include:_spf.relay.mailprotect.be -all`
---
**Important:** These examples are suitable only if both sending sources are used by your domain.
If an SPF record already exists, it should be updated rather than adding a second SPF record.
All legitimate email-sending services must be accounted for.
You can provide the IP address and your email-sending requirements to your DNS hosting provider, who can configure the appropriate SPF record for your domain.
---
### DKIM
DKIM is an email authentication method that uses a digital signature to help verify that an email was authorized by the signing domain and that signed parts of the message have not been altered in transit.
When an email is sent, the sending mail server adds a DKIM signature to the message. The receiving mail server uses a public key published in the domain's DNS records to verify that signature.
DKIM helps receiving mail servers verify the authenticity and integrity of an email. Unlike SPF, DKIM can continue to provide authentication when an email is forwarded, provided the signature remains valid and the relevant message content has not been altered.
#### Configure DKIM
Your DNS hosting provider can configure DKIM for your domain.
Once the record has been added and the configuration has been verified, DKIM can be enabled for the relevant sending service.
---
### DMARC
DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM to help protect your domain against email spoofing and phishing.
It allows a domain owner to specify how receiving mail servers should handle messages that fail DMARC authentication. It can also provide reports that help domain owners identify who is sending email using their domain.
For an email to pass DMARC, it must pass either SPF or DKIM authentication, and the authenticated domain must align with the domain shown in the email's visible From address. This alignment requirement helps prevent unauthorized senders from impersonating your domain.
DMARC policies can instruct receiving mail servers to:
- **Monitor (`p=none`):** Collect information about authentication results without requesting additional handling based on the DMARC policy.
- **Quarantine (`p=quarantine`):** Request that messages failing DMARC be treated as suspicious, often by sending them to the spam folder.
- **Reject (`p=reject`):** Request that messages failing DMARC be rejected.
The receiving mail server ultimately determines how it handles a message.
#### Configure DMARC
DMARC is published as a TXT record in your domain's DNS settings.
Before implementing DMARC, SPF and/or DKIM should be configured correctly for all legitimate email-sending services. Both SPF and DKIM are recommended, even though DMARC requires only one of them to pass with the correct domain alignment.
A common starting point is a monitoring policy, which allows you to review authentication reports before enforcing a stricter policy.
Your DNS hosting provider can help you add the required DMARC record.
---
### How SPF, DKIM & DMARC work together
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC complement one another:
- **SPF** checks whether the sending server is authorized for the relevant domain.
- **DKIM** verifies the email's digital signature.
- **DMARC** checks whether SPF or DKIM passes with the required domain alignment and specifies a policy for messages that fail.
Correctly configuring these will help to improve email deliverability.
However, successful authentication does not guarantee that an email will reach the recipient's inbox, as other factors, such as sender reputation and spam filtering, also influence delivery.
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