Summary
SendGrid's IP blocklisting by Spamhaus stemmed from a combination of factors including insufficient enforcement of acceptable use policies, the perception of prioritizing revenue over actively combating spam, and a resulting poor IP reputation. This allowed spammers to exploit their services, leading to Spamhaus's intervention to protect recipients. The situation highlights the critical role of ESPs in managing abuse, maintaining sender reputation, and adhering to best practices to avoid blocklists. Historical issues and a lingering reputation further compounded the problem, suggesting a need for ongoing vigilance and proactive measures.
Key findings
- Lax Enforcement: Inadequate enforcement of acceptable use policies allowed spammers to exploit SendGrid's services.
- Revenue vs. Compliance: A perceived prioritization of revenue over active spam prevention exacerbated the problem.
- Poor IP Reputation: Spam complaints, spam traps, and bad sending practices contributed to a negative IP reputation.
- ESPs' Responsibility: ESPs are responsible for managing abuse, maintaining IP reputation, and adhering to best practices.
- Historical Impact: Past issues and a lingering negative reputation continued to impact deliverability.
- Spamhaus's Role: Spamhaus identifies and blocks sources of spam, including ESPs that allow spammers to thrive on their platforms.
- Third Party Observations: Others have seen the issue as one where the company has become loose on enforcement.
Key considerations
- Strengthen Policies: ESPs must strengthen their acceptable use policies and enforcement mechanisms.
- Proactive Management: Proactively manage IP reputation, monitor sending practices, and address spam complaints promptly.
- Balance Revenue: Balance revenue generation with robust spam prevention and compliance measures.
- Monitor Blocklists: Monitor blocklists and address any listings promptly to mitigate deliverability impact.
- Auditing Systems: ESPs should audit sending activities and patterns to ensure that bad actors are not getting around security policies.
What email marketers say
7 marketer opinions
SendGrid's IP addresses were blocked by Spamhaus due to concerns over lax enforcement of acceptable use policies, leading to spammers exploiting the platform. This issue, particularly prominent post-acquisition, prioritized revenue over actively combating spammers and phishers. While SendGrid may have improved its practices, the historical reputation for allowing spam persists, causing deliverability problems and hesitancy among legitimate senders. Spamhaus's action reflects a broader frustration with ESPs not adequately preventing spam originating from their networks, impacting overall email ecosystem health.
Key opinions
- Enforcement Issues: SendGrid experienced periods of inadequate enforcement of acceptable use policies, allowing spammers to exploit their services.
- Revenue Prioritization: Post-acquisition, there was a perceived shift towards prioritizing revenue generation over actively combating spam and phishing activities.
- Reputation Lingers: Despite potential improvements, SendGrid's historical reputation for allowing spam continues to cause deliverability challenges.
- Industry Frustration: Spamhaus's action reflects a broader industry frustration with ESPs not effectively preventing spam from originating on their networks.
Key considerations
- Acceptable Use Policy: ESPs must enforce their acceptable use policies to prevent spammers from exploiting their platform.
- Sender Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for email deliverability.
- Blocklist Impact: Being listed on a blocklist can negatively impact email deliverability, preventing messages from reaching their intended recipients.
- Balance Revenue and Compliance: ESPs must balance revenue generation with the need to actively combat spam and phishing activities.
Marketer view
Email marketer from StackExchange comments that in the past, Sendgrid had issues with vetting their clients properly, leading to spammers using their platform. Although they've improved, the historical reputation lingers and can still cause deliverability problems.
7 Dec 2022 - StackExchange
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares it's not just spamhaus blocking their IPs, and they aren't the only ESP falling into this category either and that "sick and tired" is probably the polite way to describe it.
19 Feb 2024 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
SendGrid's IP addresses were blocked by Spamhaus primarily due to their perceived failure to adequately prevent spammers from using their network to send unsolicited emails. This lack of enforcement of policies and procedures related to abuse management led to Spamhaus listing SendGrid's IPs. Furthermore, maintaining a good sender reputation and taking responsibility for the mail originating from one's network are crucial for avoiding such blocklistings. Spamhaus's role is to identify and block sources of spam, including ESPs that allow spammers to thrive.
Key opinions
- Lack of Enforcement: SendGrid's inadequate enforcement of policies against spammers led to Spamhaus intervention.
- Responsibility of ESPs: ESPs are responsible for managing abuse and maintaining the reputation of their IPs.
- Spamhaus's Role: Spamhaus identifies and blocks sources of spam, including ESPs that harbor spammers.
- Importance of Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is critical to avoid being blocklisted.
Key considerations
- Strengthening Abuse Policies: ESPs should strengthen their abuse policies and enforcement mechanisms to prevent spam.
- Proactive Reputation Management: ESPs need to proactively manage their IP reputation to ensure deliverability.
- Cooperation with Blocklists: ESPs should cooperate with blocklists like Spamhaus to address spam issues effectively.
- Balancing Revenue and Security: ESPs need to balance revenue generation with the security and integrity of their email platform.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains the purpose of Spamhaus is to identify and block sources of spam. He says that they add IPs and domains to their blocklists when they find evidence of spamming activity. Sometimes ESPs are added to their lists when they allow spammers to flourish on their platform.
2 Jan 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that ESPs need to take responsibility for the mail that originates from their networks. They need to set and enforce appropriate policies and procedures for managing abuse. They also must carefully manage the reputation of their IPs.
2 Dec 2024 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
SendGrid's IP was likely blocklisted by Spamhaus due to activities associated with spam, stemming from inadequate measures to prevent spammers from using their services. Blocklists like Spamhaus are real-time databases identifying IPs involved in spamming, and being listed can significantly hinder email deliverability. Factors contributing to this include spam complaints, hitting spam traps, and poor sending practices, all impacting the overall IP reputation which is a scored representation of sending history.
Key findings
- Blocklist Definition: Blocklists are real-time databases of IPs associated with spam activity.
- Spamhaus Policy: Spamhaus lists IPs involved in sending, hosting, or promoting spam, including ESPs with inadequate spam prevention measures.
- IP Reputation Impact: Poor IP reputation, influenced by spam complaints and spam traps, leads to deliverability issues and blocklisting.
Key considerations
- Preventing Spam Activity: ESPs must implement robust measures to prevent spammers from using their services.
- Monitoring IP Reputation: Regularly monitor IP reputation and address any negative factors affecting it.
- Avoiding Spam Traps: Implement practices to avoid sending to spam traps.
- Managing Complaints: Actively manage and address spam complaints from recipients.
Technical article
Documentation from Twilio SendGrid explains that blocklists, like Spamhaus, are real-time databases of IP addresses and domains that have been associated with spamming activity. Being listed on a blocklist can prevent your emails from reaching their intended recipients. They get listed for spam complaints, spam traps, or bad sending practices.
4 Feb 2024 - Twilio SendGrid
Technical article
Documentation from SparkPost explains that IP reputation is a score assigned to an IP address based on its sending history. Poor IP reputation can lead to deliverability issues, including being blocklisted. Things that impact reputation are spam traps, complaints and low engagement.
13 Oct 2023 - SparkPost
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