AuthSMTP SPF and DKIM configuration: Step By Step Guideline

This instructional article will demonstrate the AuthSMTP configuration process of Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Signatures to ensure AuthSMTP passes the DMARC alignment check and eliminates spam from your domain, and increases security.

The SPF record identifies the mail servers and domains that are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain. The DKIM record, on the other hand, is a specially formatted DNS TXT record that stores the public key the receiving mail server will use to verify a message’s signature. These email authentication methods will be used to prove to ISPs and mail services that senders are truly authorized to send email from a particular domain and are a way of verifying your email-sending server is sending emails through your domain.

The process of configuring SPF

In order to authenticate AuthSMTP on SPF, please follow these steps:

1. Login and head to your DNS Zone provider
2. Create a new TXT record
3. Input the DNS name as @ or your domain name
4. Input the DNS value as v=spf1 include:authsmtp.com ~all
5. Save the record
6. Wait up to 72 hours to allow your DNS to process the changes

Screenshot below will show you an example of the SPF record. We’ll be using CloudFlare for this example.

Important Note: Each domain must have only one SPF TXT Record. If you have multiple SPF Records, SPF will return a PermError. 

If you are using multiple IPs, ESPs, and Third-Party services for your various email strategies, you should include them in a single SPF Record.
E.g v=spf1 ip4:18.57.156.221 include:authsmtp.com include:thirdpartyservice.com ~all

The process of configuring DKIM

In order to authenticate AuthSMTP on DKIM, please follow these steps:

7. Login to your Control Panel in AuthSMTP
8. Head to Advanced Config > DKIM Signing
9. Generate and receive the DKIM record and copy it
10. Follow the process mentioned to implement the DKIM record on your DNS zone

Congratulations, you now successfully authenticated your outgoing mail stream from AuthSMTP with SPF and DKIM.