What is SPF and How Does IT Work?
We also have this information in video format.
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol designed to prevent email spoofing and spam. It restricts who can use an organization's domain as the sender of the email. In most phishing attacks, threat actors usually spoof the sender's email address to look official. SPF prevents that from being received.
How does SPF work?
SPF uses a Domain Name System (DNS) record (oddly called the SPF record) that lists hosts and IP addresses that are authorized to send email for your domain. It gives a simple method for receiving mail servers to check that the host of the incoming email is authorized by the domain's administrators. That's fancy IT talk for the SPF being the bouncer checking to see if the email sender made it on the list.
SPF verifies if the email sender is actually “really you” or if it's a facade for a threat actor to break in. But SPF can't work alone. SPF is just one part of a multi-layered approach that also implements DKIM & DMARC. Don't worry we have videos explaining all of those fun acronyms.
Why is SPF important?
prevents spoofing
enhances deliverability
improves domain reputation
helps fight phishing attacks
supports compliance
Do I need an SPF record?
While we can't make you do anything, having an SPF record is definitely a good idea. This record protects your domain reputation. Without it, your legitimate emails could get blocked and sent to spam folders which destroys your domain reputation and makes it increasingly difficult to communicate with customers and potential clients.
SPF Limitations
Like all great technology, SPF still has some limitations. It’s a DNS record, so there are length and complexity limitations.
And it can be a pain to maintain, especially for organizations with complex email infrastructures. As organizations add more email servers or third-party email services, keeping the SPF record up to date can become difficult. It’s also difficult for organizations who don’t have control over folks signing up for new services that might send out emails without considering whether an SPF update is needed.
And remember, if your organization uses more than one domain for emails, each domain probably could use at least a single SPF entry.
SPF, along with DKIM, are the cornerstones behind the new DMARC requirements from organizations like Google requiring SPF, DKIM and DMARC configurations to be accurate and up to date. Click here for a free DMARC test for your organization's email domain!
