If you're seeing SPF alignment failures when using an email service provider platform, don’t worry! This is such a common point of confusion among senders (and it even came up on a Valimail webinar I hosted last week with Ed Fisher from Microsoft) that I decided to devote last week's video to this very topic.
I cover all this, and more, including visuals on how to better understand alignment in email authentication, in the video. Find it embedded above or here on Youtube.
If you're not the video watching type, read on for the more detail below. I know that SPF alignment is a common point of confusion, so I'm hopeful that this will help folks out.
Alignment in email authentication refers to the domain used in authentication headers matching the visible “From” domain. This applies to both SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). DMARC requires that either SPF or DKIM align with the visible “From” domain for a message to pass authentication.
There are two types of alignment:
Strict Alignment: The domain in the authentication header must exactly match the “From” domain (e.g., spamresource.com = spamresource.com).
Relaxed Alignment: The authentication domain can be a subdomain of the “From” domain (e.g., email.spamresource.com aligns with spamresource.com).
For SPF, alignment is determined by the Return-Path header, also known as the envelope sender or bounce domain. DKIM, on the other hand, uses a cryptographic signature, which includes a domain that must align with the “From” domain.
Many ESPs set their own Return-Path domain to handle bounce tracking efficiently. This means the SPF domain often doesn’t match the visible “From” domain, resulting in a failure of SPF alignment. However, this is not necessarily a problem as long as DKIM is properly configured.
BECAUSE: If DKIM aligns and the signature is valid, SPF alignment failures do not impact DMARC compliance. Some security gateways may flag messages that lack both aligned SPF and DKIM, but in most cases, DKIM alignment alone is sufficient.
To ensure your ESP setup passes DMARC checks:
Enable DKIM for your custom domain: Most ESPs allow you to set up DKIM to sign messages with your domain.
Don’t worry about SPF alignment failures: As long as DKIM aligns, you’re fine.
Check your ESP’s documentation: Many platforms offer detailed guidance on setting up authentication correctly.
And remember, SPF alignment failures with an ESP are not the end of the world. If DKIM is aligned, you’re passing DMARC, and that’s what really matters. Don’t stress about the SPF alignment failure unless you have a specific need for strict alignment. It's a nice-to-have, but not always strictly necessary.
If you're seeing SPF alignment failures when using an email service provider platform, don’t worry! This is such a common point of confusion among senders (and it even came up on a Valimail webinar I hosted last week with Ed Fisher from Microsoft) that I decided to devote last week's video to this very topic.
I cover all this, and more, including visuals on how to better understand alignment in email authentication, in the video. Find it embedded above or here on Youtube.
If you're not the video watching type, read on for the more detail below. I know that SPF alignment is a common point of confusion, so I'm hopeful that this will help folks out.There are two types of alignment:
- Strict Alignment: The domain in the authentication header must exactly match the “From” domain (e.g., spamresource.com = spamresource.com).
- Relaxed Alignment: The authentication domain can be a subdomain of the “From” domain (e.g., email.spamresource.com aligns with spamresource.com).
For SPF, alignment is determined by the Return-Path header, also known as the envelope sender or bounce domain. DKIM, on the other hand, uses a cryptographic signature, which includes a domain that must align with the “From” domain.Many ESPs set their own Return-Path domain to handle bounce tracking efficiently. This means the SPF domain often doesn’t match the visible “From” domain, resulting in a failure of SPF alignment. However, this is not necessarily a problem as long as DKIM is properly configured.
BECAUSE: If DKIM aligns and the signature is valid, SPF alignment failures do not impact DMARC compliance. Some security gateways may flag messages that lack both aligned SPF and DKIM, but in most cases, DKIM alignment alone is sufficient.
To ensure your ESP setup passes DMARC checks:
- Enable DKIM for your custom domain: Most ESPs allow you to set up DKIM to sign messages with your domain.
- Don’t worry about SPF alignment failures: As long as DKIM aligns, you’re fine.
- Check your ESP’s documentation: Many platforms offer detailed guidance on setting up authentication correctly.
And remember, SPF alignment failures with an ESP are not the end of the world. If DKIM is aligned, you’re passing DMARC, and that’s what really matters. Don’t stress about the SPF alignment failure unless you have a specific need for strict alignment. It's a nice-to-have, but not always strictly necessary.Comments
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