Summary
Common issues with Microsoft SNDS encompass access problems, data discrepancies and interpretation difficulties, blocking events, integration challenges, limitations in scope, the impact of IP reputation, and potential authentication failures and false positives. Users report challenges accessing the platform, as well as discrepancies between SNDS data and other sources, potentially caused by differences in data processing. Expert opinions highlight SNDS's complexity and limited scope, as it only reflects traffic to Microsoft's email services. Improving sender reputation, ensuring proper authentication, maintaining clean email lists, and adhering to Microsoft's guidelines are essential for mitigating these issues and achieving successful email delivery.
Key findings
- Access Issues: Difficulties in accessing the SNDS platform, potentially linked to Microsoft-side issues or incorrect user permissions.
- Data Discrepancies: Discrepancies between SNDS data and other analytics platforms, possibly due to variations in data processing and tracking.
- Interpretation Difficulties: The SNDS platform's complexity and lack of comprehensive documentation make it difficult for users to interpret data accurately and diagnose deliverability problems effectively.
- Blocking Issues: SNDS blocking issues arising from spikes in email volume, poor list hygiene, and spam trap hits.
- Integration Challenges: Difficulties in integrating SNDS with ESPs due to compatibility issues with the SNDS API.
- Limited Scope: SNDS's limitation to data related to Microsoft's email services (Outlook, Hotmail), requiring users to supplement with other data sources for a comprehensive view.
- Authentication Failures: Occurrences of SNDS authentication failures due to incorrect credentials or misconfigured API settings.
- Rate Limiting: Potential for rate limiting by SNDS to protect its infrastructure, requiring users to optimize API requests.
- Reputation Matters: IP reputation, complaint rates, and data retention are all factors to consider.
- False Positives: SNDS potentially reporting false positives, leading to inaccurate identification of legitimate emails as spam.
Key considerations
- Check Permissions: Verify and correct user permissions within the Microsoft 365 environment to ensure access to SNDS.
- Cross-Reference Data: Compare SNDS data with other analytics platforms to gain a comprehensive understanding of deliverability performance.
- Optimize API Requests: Adhere to SNDS guidelines and optimize API requests to prevent rate limiting.
- Verify Authentication: Confirm and correct authentication credentials and API settings to resolve authentication failures.
- Clean Lists: Maintain clean email lists and practice good list hygiene to prevent spam trap hits and reduce blocking.
- Monitor Reputation: Actively monitor IP reputation and other sending metrics.
- Be Patient: Be patient when trying to access SNDS, give time for data updates and address block issues.
What email marketers say
13 marketer opinions
Common issues with Microsoft SNDS (Sender Network Data Services) include access problems, data discrepancies, blocking issues, integration challenges, and the impact of IP reputation, complaint rates, and spam trap hits. Users also report issues with data refresh rates and potential false positives. Proper list hygiene, careful integration testing, and close monitoring of sender reputation are essential.
Key opinions
- Access Issues: Users report difficulties accessing the SNDS portal, possibly due to Microsoft-side problems.
- Data Discrepancies: SNDS data may not always align with other analytics platforms due to processing delays or different measurement methodologies.
- Blocking Issues: Sudden spikes in email volume, poor list hygiene, and spam traps can lead to SNDS blocking.
- Integration Challenges: Compatibility issues between ESPs and the SNDS API can create integration problems.
- IP Reputation Impact: Maintaining a good IP reputation is crucial for SNDS performance, with sender authentication, bounce rates, and complaint rates all playing a role.
- Data Refresh Rate: SNDS data updates can be delayed, requiring users to wait before making decisions based on the data.
- False Positives: SNDS may occasionally misidentify legitimate emails as spam, requiring careful investigation.
Key considerations
- Cross-Reference Data: Compare SNDS data with other analytics platforms to get a comprehensive view.
- List Hygiene: Maintain clean email lists to avoid spam traps and improve sender reputation.
- Monitor Sender Reputation: Actively monitor IP reputation and address any issues promptly.
- Integration Testing: Thoroughly test SNDS integrations to avoid compatibility problems.
- Address Complaints: Reduce complaint rates by improving email content, targeting, and subscription practices.
- Handle Blocking: Understand the underlying causes of blocking and take action to remedy them.
- Patience: Be patient with data updates
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that the SNDS data refresh rate can vary, and there may be delays in data updates. Users should be patient and allow sufficient time for data to be updated before making critical decisions based on SNDS data.
11 Jun 2025 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Deliverability Forum shares that SNDS blocking issues can arise from sudden spikes in email volume, poor list hygiene practices, and sending emails to spam traps. Consistent monitoring of SNDS data is essential to identify and address these issues.
10 Jun 2022 - Email Deliverability Forum
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Experts agree that common issues with Microsoft SNDS involve data inaccuracies and difficulties interpreting the data due to the platform's complexity and lack of comprehensive documentation. The data is also limited, only reflecting traffic to Microsoft's services (Outlook/Hotmail). Maintaining a good IP reputation is important as reported by SNDS to delivery your email
Key opinions
- Data Inaccuracies: Discrepancies exist in reported complaint rates and spam trap hits because of variations in data processing and tracking methods.
- Interpretation Difficulties: The complexity of SNDS and the lack of clear documentation make it hard to diagnose deliverability issues.
- Limited Scope: SNDS data only covers email traffic to Microsoft services (Outlook, Hotmail) so use with other email sources is important.
- Reputation Matters: Your IP reputation via SNDS directly affects email delivery to Outlook and Hotmail users.
Key considerations
- Holistic View: Combine SNDS data with other sources for a comprehensive understanding of deliverability performance.
- Reputation Management: Prioritize maintaining a good IP reputation through legitimate sending practices.
- Careful Data Analysis: Recognize that SNDS has limitations and interpret data accordingly.
- Clear documentation Needed: There is not clear documentation so you should use forums and blogs to understand what is being shown
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise answers question about how SNDS reports your IP reputation which directly affects delivery of emails to Outlook and Hotmail accounts. Maintaining a good reputation, achieved through legitimate sending practices, is vital for reaching Microsoft's users' inboxes consistently.
1 Aug 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that difficulties in interpreting SNDS data can arise from the platform's complexity and lack of comprehensive documentation, making it challenging for senders to accurately diagnose deliverability issues and implement effective remediation strategies.
26 Nov 2022 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
According to Microsoft's documentation, common SNDS issues involve access problems due to incorrect permissions, rate limiting due to excessive requests, authentication failures from incorrect credentials, awareness of data retention policies and addressing the root causes for blocking. To resolve these issues, one should improve sender reputation, reduce complaint rates, and implement proper authentication.
Key findings
- Access Restrictions: Users may lack necessary permissions (e.g., global administrator) to access SNDS.
- Rate Limiting: SNDS implements rate limits to prevent abuse; users should optimize API requests.
- Authentication Failures: Incorrect credentials or misconfigured API settings can cause authentication failures.
- Data Retention: SNDS retains data for a limited period, requiring users to plan data analysis accordingly.
- Blocking Issues: Resolving requires improving sender reputation, reducing complaint rates, and proper authentication
Key considerations
- Verify Permissions: Ensure users have the correct permissions within the Microsoft 365 environment.
- Optimize API Requests: Adhere to SNDS guidelines and optimize API requests to avoid rate limiting.
- Authentication Details: Verify and correct authentication credentials and API settings.
- Plan Data Analysis: Be aware of SNDS data retention policies and plan data analysis and reporting accordingly.
- Address Blocking Issues: Improve sender reputation, lower complaint rates, and authenticate properly to resolve blocking issues.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Documentation explains that SNDS can implement rate limiting to protect its infrastructure from abuse or excessive data requests. Users encountering rate limiting should optimize their API requests and adhere to documented guidelines.
14 Aug 2023 - Microsoft Documentation
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Support explains that SNDS authentication failures can occur due to incorrect credentials or misconfigured API settings. Users should verify their authentication details and follow the recommended troubleshooting steps.
14 Sep 2021 - Microsoft Support
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