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Securing Your Emails: A Simple Guide to Email Authentication and Best Practices


Email security is crucial in today's digital landscape, and implementing authentication measures like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM can go a long way in safeguarding your domain. Here's an easy-to-follow guide to ensure your emails are authenticated and delivered securely:

1. Implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM:

Follow these steps for popular email services:
  • Postmark
    • Refer to the instructions provided in this link
  • SendGrid
  • Mailchimp
    • Follow the recommended steps on their platform.

2. Validate Forward and Reverse DNS Records:

Make sure your sending domains or IPs have valid forward and reverse DNS records (PTR records). Check resources for each service:

  • Postmark
    • Provides coverage for this aspect.
  • SendGrid
    •  Find the necessary information here
  • Mailchimp
3. Maintain Low Spam Rates:

Keep spam rates below 0.3% in Postmaster Tools and consider configuring Google Postmaster for additional insights into your domain and IP reputation.

4. Format Messages According to RFC 5322:

Adhere to the Internet Message Format standard when formatting messages. Default solutions are available in SendGrid, Mailchimp, and Postmark.

 5. Set Up DMARC and Implement ARC:

Ensure DMARC authentication for your sending domain and implement ARC email authentication.

 6. Avoid Impersonation:

Refrain from impersonating Gmail From: headers, and never send emails from addresses like 'test@gmail.com.'

 7. Align Sender's Domain in Direct Mail:

For direct mail, ensure the domain in the sender's From: header aligns with either the SPF domain or the DKIM domain.

8. Facilitate Easy Unsubscribe for Subscribed Messages:

For subscribed messages, provide a one-click unsubscribe option and include a visible unsubscribe link in the message body. Follow these steps for each service:

  • Postmark
    • Utilize the List-Unsubscribe header.
  • SendGrid
    •  Enable subscription tracking to include the List-Unsubscribe header, or follow specific steps if not using subscription tracking.
  • Mailchimp
    • Provides coverage for this aspect, in the event that you prefer to manage it independently using the List-Unsubscribe header.
9. Use TLS Connections:

Ensure a secure transmission of emails by using TLS connections. Most email providers, including Postmark, SendGrid, and Mailchimp, handle this automatically.

By following these simple steps, you can enhance the security of your emails and build trust with your recipients. Stay secure, and happy emailing!

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