SPF management
Sendmarc’s email authentication platform delivers enterprise-grade SPF features to configure, monitor, and optimize SPF records across any domain environment.
With automated SPF flattening, continuous DNS monitoring, and comprehensive SPF record validation, Sendmarc helps organizations maintain compliant, efficient, and high-performing SPF records.
Whether managing a few domains or thousands, Sendmarc provides the infrastructure, visibility, and feedback required to overcome SPF limitations and enhance email deliverability.
SPF management & configuration
SPF integration with DMARC
SPF flattening
Automatically resolves all DNS lookups in your business’s SPF record into IP addresses, bypassing the 10 DNS lookup limit to prevent SPF failures and improve deliverability.
SPF record checker
Enterprise capabilities for all
SPF record management
SPF optimization & flattening
Continuous monitoring
SPF record checker
DMARC integration & alignment
Automated alerts
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What is the Sender Policy Framework (SPF)?
When it comes to email, the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a critical authentication protocol that prevents unauthorized senders from spoofing your business’s domain. It works by verifying whether the sender’s IP address is approved in your company’s domain DNS records. The protocol significantly lowers the risk of phishing attacks, Spam, and email fraud, protecting brand reputation.
Sendmarc’s features simplify, streamline, and scale the protocol’s management, ensuring your organization’s Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) compliance is simple and effective.
Why does SPF matter?
This protocol protects your business’s domain from spoofing and unauthorized use by authenticating email sources. Domain owners can define which email servers are authorized to send emails on their behalf by publishing a record in their DNS settings.
This protocol is essential because it:
- Prevents successful spoofing attempts by ensuring emails are sent from authorized senders
- Boosts email deliverability by reducing the chance of legitimate emails being marked as Spam
- Enables DMARC compliance – correct configuration of the standard is needed to achieve this
DMARC builds on SPF (and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) to provide full visibility and protection of your company’s domain.
How does SPF work?
This protocol allows your organization to define which email servers are allowed to send messages from its domain. When an email is sent, the receiving server checks the domain’s record to verify if the sending server is listed and authorized. If it is, the email passes the check. If not, the email might be flagged as Spam or rejected.Benefits of SPF for email security
Implementing the standard provides several key benefits:- Reduced email spoofing: Makes it harder for cybercriminals to impersonate your organization’s domain
- Improved email deliverability: Increases the chance that authenticated emails reach recipients’ inboxes
- Enhanced brand reputation: Builds trust with customers and partners by protecting your business’s domain
- Strengthened email security posture: Serves as a core part of a comprehensive email security strategy
Limitations of SPF
While this is a valuable security protocol, it has some limitations:
- Doesn’t cover all addresses: It only authenticates the envelope sender, not the header sender, which is the address that users will see
- Forwarding issues: When an email is forwarded, the check might fail because the forwarding server isn’t authorized in the original sender’s record
- 10 DNS lookup limit: Records are limited to 10 DNS lookups, which can make authentication difficult for complex setups with multiple domains
How to create an SPF record (step-by-step)
Step 1: Identify authorized senders
Identify all servers authorized to send email from your business’s domain, including its primary email servers, marketing email services, transactional email systems, and third-party senders. Each of the services will have a unique entry, and Sendmarc’s Knowledgebase includes a large directory of these different entries.Step 2: Publish the DNS record
Create a TXT record in the DNS settings with the list of authorized senders. A typical record looks like this:| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| @ | TXT | v=spf1 ip4:192.168.0.1 include:mail.example.com -all |
Step 3: Test the record
After publishing a record, test it to ensure it’s functioning correctly. DMARC reporting will show if SPF is authenticating all the required services. Your company can also use Sendmarc’s lookup and header analyzer tools to validate that its record is correctly configured.SPF, DKIM, & DMARC: How they work together
The three protocols work together to provide comprehensive email security:SPF FAQs
What is the Sender Policy Framework (SPF)?
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol that allows domain owners to specify which servers or IP addresses are authorized to send emails on behalf of their domain.
What is an SPF record?
An SPF record is a TXT record published in your company’s domain DNS settings that lists all the email servers authorized to send messages on behalf of a domain.
Is SPF required if my organization already uses DMARC or DKIM?
Yes, SPF is required even if your organization already uses DMARC or DKIM. It is a foundational part of DMARC, which relies on it and DKIM to authenticate email and enforce policies.
Can a domain have multiple SPF records?
No, a domain should only have one SPF record. Multiple records can cause authentication issues and result in email delivery failures.
What does an SPF fail mean?
An SPF fail means that the email was sent from a server that wasn’t listed in the domain’s record. The receiving server might reject the message, mark it as Spam, or handle it based on the domain’s policy.
How can I check if my SPF record is set up correctly?
Your business can check its SPF record by using Sendmarc’s free lookup tool or other online validation features to verify that the record is correctly configured and functioning as intended.
What happens if my SPF record exceeds the 10 DNS lookup limit?
If an SPF record exceeds the 10 DNS lookup limit, it will return a permanent error (PermError), and the email might be rejected. Use a flattening tool to consolidate lookups and keep your company’s records valid.
Does SPF protect against all types of spoofing?
No, SPF primarily protects against domain spoofing. It doesn’t defend against display name spoofing or other types of fraud. To ensure full protection, combine the protocol with DKIM and DMARC.
What is the difference between SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) are complementary email authentication protocols that enhance email security.
SPF verifies the sender’s IP address to confirm it’s authorized to send emails on behalf of a domain. DKIM adds a digital signature to emails to ensure the communication’s integrity and authenticity. DMARC builds on the two protocols by specifying how unauthenticated emails should be handled and providing reporting on email traffic and failed authentication attempts.
Can SPF improve email deliverability?
Yes, the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) can improve email deliverability by helping recipient servers distinguish legitimate emails from Spam or fraudulent messages. Properly configured records reduce the chances of your organization’s emails being marked as Spam or rejected.
What are common mistakes when setting up an SPF record?
How often should I review my SPF record?
We recommend reviewing the SPF record regularly, especially when adding or removing any email services. Keeping the record updated ensures continued compliance and reduces the risk of delivery and security issues.
Can third-party email services send emails on behalf of my domain?
Yes, but your business must include the sending IP addresses or domains in its record. Failure to do so can cause authentication issues and reduce email deliverability.
What is SPF alignment in DMARC?
SPF alignment means the domain in the ‘Return-Path’ (envelope sender) matches the domain in the ‘From’ header. DMARC requires either SPF or DKIM alignment for an email to pass authentication and be delivered.
How long does it take for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC changes to take effect?
DNS changes for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records typically happen within a few minutes to a few hours but can take up to 48 hours, depending on DNS caching.
Reduce spoofing and deliverability issues with Sendmarc’s SPF management. Find out how we simplify implementation, management, and common challenges.
