Summary
The overwhelming consensus from email marketers, experts, and official documentation is that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are necessary for transactional email servers, even when these servers are not used for marketing. These protocols ensure email authenticity, improve deliverability and sender reputation, reduce the risk of emails being marked as spam, protect against phishing and spoofing, and provide domain-level protection. Authentication is regarded as a best practice, regardless of the email type.
Key findings
- Universal Need for Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for all email types, including transactional emails.
- Enhanced Deliverability: Implementing these protocols improves deliverability and sender reputation.
- Spam Reduction and Security: Authentication helps reduce spam risks and guards against phishing and spoofing.
- Domain-Level Protection: DMARC provides domain-level protection, securing against fraudulent activities.
- Best Practices Compliance: Following authentication standards aligns with email deliverability best practices.
Key considerations
- Technical Implementation: Proper implementation of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requires technical expertise and DNS record adjustments.
- Comprehensive Security Approach: Applying authentication measures to all email streams ensures a robust and comprehensive security posture.
- Mailbox Provider Perception: Mailbox providers often favor authenticated emails, potentially improving inbox placement rates.
What email marketers say
7 marketer opinions
The consensus among email marketers is that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are essential for transactional email servers, even if they are not used for marketing. These authentication protocols verify the authenticity of emails, signal to ISPs that the sending server is authorized, improve deliverability and sender reputation, reduce the risk of emails being marked as spam, and guard against phishing and spoofing.
Key opinions
- Authentication Importance: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for verifying the authenticity of transactional emails.
- Deliverability Boost: Implementing these protocols improves deliverability and sender reputation.
- Spam Reduction: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help reduce the risk of transactional emails being marked as spam.
- Security Enhancement: These mechanisms guard against phishing and spoofing attacks.
Key considerations
- Implementation Effort: Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requires technical knowledge and adjustments to DNS records.
- Universal Application: These protocols are not just for marketing emails; they should be applied to all email types for comprehensive security.
- Mailbox Provider Treatment: Mailbox providers tend to treat authenticated emails more favorably, potentially improving inbox placement.
Marketer view
Email marketer from MailerSend shares that both DKIM and SPF records are important for transactional emails to improve deliverability, build trust, and authenticate emails that you're sending.
25 Feb 2022 - MailerSend
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that while transactional emails might seem less susceptible to spam filters, implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial. These protocols help in verifying the authenticity of your emails, signaling to ISPs that your server is authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain, which in turn improves deliverability and sender reputation.
21 Feb 2023 - Mailjet
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Experts agree that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are necessary for transactional email servers, even if they are not used for marketing. This is because authentication protocols are essential for providing domain-level protection, ensuring legitimate emails are delivered, preventing fraudulent activities, and maintaining deliverability best practices.
Key opinions
- Domain-Level Protection: DMARC provides domain-level protection, safeguarding against fraudulent activities.
- Best Practices: Authentication is recommended for transactional emails to follow deliverability best practices.
- Legitimate Delivery: Authentication ensures that only legitimate emails are delivered.
Key considerations
- Implementation: Requires implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for all email types, including transactional.
- Comprehensive Security: Implementing security measures for all emails ensures a comprehensive approach to protection.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource says that even though your email server is only used for transactional emails, authentication is still recommended to follow best practices to ensure deliverability.
19 Jan 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, emphasizes that DMARC should be used for all email types, including transactional emails, because it provides domain-level protection. It ensures that only legitimate emails are delivered and prevents fraudulent activities, irrespective of the email's nature.
22 Aug 2021 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Technical documentation consistently emphasizes that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are essential for all email types, including transactional emails, regardless of whether they are used for marketing purposes. These protocols authenticate the sending server, prevent spoofing and unauthorized use, ensure that emails are not tampered with during transit, and enhance deliverability and security.
Key findings
- Essential for All Emails: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are not limited to marketing emails; they are necessary for transactional emails as well.
- Authentication and Verification: These protocols authenticate the sending server and verify the sender's domain.
- Spoofing Prevention: SPF helps prevent email spoofing, while DMARC protects against unauthorized use of your domain.
- Trust and Security: DKIM ensures emails are not tampered with, maintaining trust and security.
- Improved Deliverability: Implementing these protocols enhances deliverability and overall email security.
Key considerations
- Implementation Scope: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC should be implemented across all email streams for comprehensive protection.
- Technical Expertise: Setting up these records requires a good understanding of DNS and email authentication mechanisms.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC Editor shares that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an authentication method that cryptographically signs emails, verifying the sender's domain. This is crucial for establishing trust and ensuring that emails, including transactional ones, are not tampered with during transit.
9 Apr 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft details that an SPF record helps prevent spoofing and improves deliverability. Although it mentions bulk emails, SPF is necessary for any domain sending email, including for transactional purposes.
25 Jun 2021 - Microsoft
Are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as important in B2B as in B2C email marketing?
Do I need DMARC for transactional emails from a small website, and what are the best low-cost alternatives for sending emails if my IP is blocked?
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How do I setup and manage transactional emails through my own SMTP server?
Should I include List-Unsubscribe headers in transactional emails and what are the DKIM best practices?
Should I separate transactional and marketing emails?
Should transactional emails have separate authentication from bulk emails?
What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and when are they needed?
