The names SPF, DKIM, and DMARC might seem daunting for many people who see them for the first time. Today, we are going to explain what these terms are and how these are changing the methods of protection against spam emails.

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are the new standards that mail servers and ISPs are deploying to reduce the number of spam emails. These services help them identify and authenticate the source of emails. It makes sure that the emails being received are not sent on behalf of someone else. ISPs and mail servers are getting stricter in their policy, and soon it will be necessary that all three of these services are deployed.

SPF:

SPF is short for Sender Policy Framework. It utilizes a DNS TXT to whitelist the IP addresses which are allowed to send an email from a domain. It basically means that an email will include the email address that sent it. Thus, you can think of it as the return address on a letter.

DKIM:

DomainKeys Identified Mail, or DKIM, is another form of DNS TXT record. DKIM provides a type of certification for the email. It ensures that the received email has not been changed or altered on its way. It also enables the receiver to verify that the sender of the email is authorized by the domain.

DMARC:

DMARC stands for Domain-based Message Authentication. It is a tool that works with SPF and DKIM. It ensures that the received email is compliant with both the other services. Moreover, it also provides instructions on what to do if the email is not protected by either SPF or DKIM.