Looking ahead to 2024, if you're using Pardot (Account Engagement) to send emails, you'll need to consider SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings . In this article, we'll review each authentication method and provide a step-by-step guide to implementing SPF and DKIM policies in Pardot.
Email Authentication Definitions
Protocols: These were initially developed as a way to strengthen the security of SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and combat the rise of spam, since SMTP itself does not include authentication mechanisms. The following protocols have their own configuration and must be implemented and verified before sending emails from each platform.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) - is an email authentication telegram philippines technique used to prevent spammers from sending messages on behalf of your domain . As a sender, you will be required to add SPF records to your DNS to allow Pardot to send emails from your organization's domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is a protocol that allows a company to take responsibility for the transmission of a message by signing it so that mailbox providers can verify it. Similar to SPF configuration, DKIM requires a public key in the DNS and the recipient's email server will use this information to accept emails with the corresponding private key.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is designed to allow email domain owners to protect their domain from unauthorized use (email spoofing). This protocol informs recipients' email servers how to handle emails originating from the company's domain.
How does email authentication work in Pardot Account Engagement?
While SPF verifies that the email is sent from an authorized sender, DKIM authenticates the email by comparing and validating the public and private keys.
Pardot Email Authentication
Why implement authentication protocols?
There are multiple reasons to implement these protocols:
Correct implementation of SPF, DKIM and DMARK can protect your company's brand image, your customers and leads .
These email authentication methods prevent phishing attempts , and mail servers can stop delivering emails that were not generated directly by your company.
They also affect email deliverability. If email authentication protocols are not configured correctly, there is a high probability that customers will not receive them and that the email will end up in the spam folder.