{"id":17913,"date":"2021-04-02T12:03:15","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T12:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/?p=17913"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:44:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:44:01","slug":"step-by-step-guide-zendesk-spf-and-dkim-configuration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/step-by-step-guide-zendesk-spf-and-dkim-configuration\/","title":{"rendered":"Zendesk SPF and DKIM Configuration: Step by Step"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This informative article will demonstrate the Zendesk configuration process of Sender Policy Framework<\/a> (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail<\/a> (DKIM) Signatures to ensure Zendesk passes the DMARC alignment<\/a> check.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPF records<\/a> allow receiving servers to check whether an email with the specified source domain was actually sent from a server authorized by the owner of this domain.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DKIM<\/a> adds a digital signature to each message. This allows the receiving server to check if the message has been sent from an authorized sender, faked or changed upon delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Zendesk configuration process is crucial to let ISPs know that you are a trusted sender. One of the many benefits you will enjoy with this setup will surely be improved open rates. ISPs reward authenticated email with better inboxing<\/a>. Improved open rate means more conversions because more prospects will see your messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SPF Record<\/b> Setup<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

To ensure the emails from Zendesk are sent on behalf of your domain, we need to create or update your existing SPF record by including the following mechanism: <\/span>include:mail.zendesk.com. <\/span><\/i> You can easily create a record using our <\/span>SPF Record Generator<\/span><\/a> tool. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The steps to create a new Zendesk SPF record:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Navigate to SPF Record<\/a> Generator.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Add <\/span>include:mail.zendesk.com <\/span><\/i>in the include:__ section.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Choose the Policy (The options are: Fail (Not Compliant will be rejected), Soft<\/a><\/span> Fail (Not Compliant will be accepted but marked), and Neutral (Mails will be probably accepted)).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. When the proper steps are made click on the \u201cGenerate SPF Record \u201d \"SPF_Record_Generate\"<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Copy the provided Zendesk SPF record and navigate to your DNS provider TXT record (CloudFlare, Godaddy, etc.). <\/span>We\u2019ll be using CloudFlare for this example. \"SPF_DNS_Setup\"
    Important Note: Make sure you don\u2019t create multiple SPF TXT records on one domain. If you do,     SPF will return a PermError<\/a>.

    If you are using multiple IPs, ESPs, Third-Party services for your various email strategies, you should include them in a single SPF Record.
    E.g v=spf1 ip4:17.67.137.221<\/i> include:mail.zendesk.com include:thirdpartyservice.com ~all <\/i><\/p> <\/li>\n\n\n\n

  6. After the record is added in your DNS zone, navigate to Zendesk and select <\/span>Admin > Channels > Email\"Zendesk_nav_bar\" <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Hover over \u201cAdd Address\u201d and select \u201cConnect External Address\u201d.\"Zendesk_Add_Address\"<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Provide an email address or connect to Google Workspace if you already use their services.\"forwarding_email_setup\"<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Ensure automatic forwarding incoming email to Zendesk Support.<\/span><\/span>

    Here are the steps for some email vendor automatic forwarding steps:<\/span><\/p>\n