What is SPF?

SPF is an important part of online security. It stands for Sender Policy Framework and is a technology intended to combat spam. SPF prevents messages from being sent from domains or IP addresses not officially assigned to an organization. SPF uses a TXT record in a domain's DNS configuration to determine which servers the domain is allowed to use to send emails. If a server tries to send a message from a domain without a valid SPF record, it will be rejected by an email provider. Besides SPF, it's also worth looking at the DKIM & DMARC settings.

Improve your cyber resilience

Setting up SPF is an important step for any organization that sends emails. By activating this, you can strengthen trust in your domain and reduce the chance it will be used for spam. It also helps improve your domain's reputation, making emails you send appear more trustworthy and more likely to be delivered (and not end up in the spam folder)!

How do you install SPF?

To install SPF, you need to add a TXT record to your domain's DNS configuration. This record contains a list of IP addresses or other domains allowed to use the domain to send emails. If a message is sent from an IP address or domain not listed in the SPF record, it will be rejected by the email provider.

Setting this up can be a complex task, depending on the number of servers your organization uses to send emails. If your organization runs into problems setting up SPF, you can contact your hosting provider or seek advice from a professional email marketing service.

Why SPF is important

SPF is an important part of email marketing but therefore also within your cybersecurity strategy. If SPF is not set up correctly, cybercriminals can misuse your domain. If you're interested in further improving your cybersecurity, be sure to read our blog with our 5 cybersecurity tips! Or expand your cybersecurity knowledge even further with a customized Cyber Security Awareness Training.