What companies offer Microsoft deliverability certification besides Validity?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 19 Jun 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
6 min read
Many email senders seek ways to improve their inbox placement, especially with major providers like Microsoft. One common approach is pursuing certifications that signal trustworthiness to mailbox providers. When it comes to Microsoft deliverability certification, Validity (formerly Return Path) has long been a prominent name in the industry. This often leads senders to wonder if other companies offer similar, direct certification programs specifically for Microsoft.
The landscape of email deliverability is constantly evolving, with ISPs (Internet Service Providers) like Microsoft regularly updating their filtering algorithms and requirements. While third-party certifications can play a role, direct benefits of certification often depend on the specific program and its relationship with the major mailbox providers. It is important to understand what these programs entail and how they integrate with ISP filtering mechanisms.
This article explores the options available beyond Validity for Microsoft deliverability certification and, more broadly, how to maintain a strong sender reputation and ensure your emails reach the inbox effectively.
Exploring certification alternatives
While Validity (with its Everest product, which includes Sender Certification) is widely recognized for its certification program that offers specific advantages with Microsoft, direct alternatives providing an identical Microsoft IP certification or domain certification are limited. Most other certification bodies operate more broadly across various ISPs rather than having a unique, direct agreement specific to Microsoft. This makes the question of alternatives somewhat nuanced.
However, there are other organizations that offer certifications or accreditation services designed to improve email deliverability more generally. These services aim to signal to mailbox providers, including Microsoft (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, MSN), that a sender adheres to best practices and is less likely to send unwanted mail. While they might not be an exclusive Microsoft deliverability certification, they contribute to overall sender reputation which is crucial for Microsoft inboxes.
Understanding these broader programs and how they impact deliverability can help shape a comprehensive strategy. It is not just about a single certification, but a combination of factors that collectively build a positive sender reputation and prevent your emails from landing in the junk folder or being blocklisted (blacklisted).
Microsoft's own tools and requirements
Beyond direct certifications, adhering to Microsoft's own sender guidelines is paramount. Microsoft, like Google and Yahoo, has strict requirements for high-volume senders, which significantly impact deliverability. These include robust email authentication protocols such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Ensuring these are properly configured is more impactful than any third-party certification alone.
Microsoft also provides its own tools for senders to monitor their reputation and address deliverability issues. The Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) and JMRP (Junk Mail Reporting Program) are essential resources. SNDS provides data on your sending IP's reputation and spam complaint rates, while JMRP offers feedback loop data, helping you identify and remove recipients who mark your emails as spam. Utilizing these tools is a fundamental step in managing deliverability to Microsoft inboxes.
Key authentication methods
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Digitally signs outgoing emails, allowing the receiving server to verify that the email was not altered in transit and came from the claimed domain.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): Builds on SPF and DKIM, telling receiving servers what to do with emails that fail authentication and providing reporting on email authentication results. Consider setting up a p=none policy to start.
Beyond these technical configurations, consistent monitoring of your email program is vital. This includes tracking bounces, spam complaints, and engagement metrics. A sudden spike in complaints, for instance, can quickly lead to your IP or domain being placed on a blocklist (or blacklist), impacting your deliverability to Microsoft and other providers.
Broader email accreditation programs
While Validity may have a unique position with Microsoft, other reputable organizations offer broader email accreditation or sender certification programs. These services often focus on general email best practices and maintaining a clean sending reputation, which benefits deliverability across all ISPs. They might not offer a Microsoft-specific certification, but their general accreditation can still positively influence how Microsoft views your sending practices.
One such example is the European Certified Sender Alliance (CSA), which maintains a whitelist of legitimate senders that is recognized by various mailbox providers, including some that filter for Microsoft. Another is ISIPP's SuretyMail service, which aims to certify good senders across the board. While neither is a direct Microsoft certification, their adherence to best practices and vetting processes can contribute to improved deliverability. You can also explore alternatives to Return Path (now Validity) in the broader certification space.
It's important to remember that these third-party certifications often complement, rather than replace, good sending practices. They provide an additional layer of trust and may offer benefits like reduced filtering or preferential treatment. However, maintaining a clean sending list, ensuring proper email authentication, and monitoring engagement remain the cornerstones of successful email deliverability to Microsoft inboxes.
Strategic approach to Microsoft deliverability
Ultimately, achieving high deliverability to Microsoft inboxes boils down to consistently demonstrating good sender behavior. This involves a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes recipient engagement, list hygiene, and technical compliance. Relying solely on a certification without addressing underlying issues will likely lead to continued deliverability challenges.
For senders experiencing persistent issues, a comprehensive audit of their email program is often necessary. This includes reviewing list acquisition methods, email content, sending infrastructure, and bounce management. Sometimes, the problem lies in the quality of your recipient list or the relevance of your content, not just a technical blocklist (or blacklist) issue.
Microsoft's new sender requirements, effective May 2025, emphasize strong authentication and low spam complaint rates. Senders need to adapt to these changes by ensuring their email practices align with the updated guidelines. This proactive approach will yield better results than seeking a silver bullet certification. For more guidance on this, consider resources on how to comply with Outlook's new sender requirements.
Focus on building a solid reputation through consistent, desired sending, and leverage Microsoft's own tools for diagnostics and support. These efforts, combined with maintaining a clean list and proper authentication, will be far more effective in securing your inbox placement than relying on third-party certifications alone. You can find more information on alternatives to Validity for email certification that provide broader deliverability data and services.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Actively monitor Microsoft's Sender Network Data Services (SNDS) for your IP and domain health. This free tool offers insights into your email traffic and reputation with Microsoft.
Implement and maintain strong SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your sending domains. Microsoft heavily relies on these authentication standards.
Routinely clean your email lists by removing inactive subscribers, bounced addresses, and spam trap hits to reduce complaint rates and maintain high engagement.
Segment your audience and tailor your content to ensure relevance, which leads to higher engagement and lower spam complaints.
Common pitfalls
Over-relying on a third-party certification program as a silver bullet without addressing underlying email sending practices.
Neglecting to monitor your spam complaint rates and feedback loop data, especially from Microsoft's JMRP.
Ignoring inactive or unengaged subscribers, which can lead to higher spam complaints and lower sender reputation.
Sending emails from domains or IPs that are not properly authenticated with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Expert tips
Proactively engage with Microsoft's sender support, providing detailed information about your email program and business practices to aid in issue resolution.
Understand that certification is a signal, not a guarantee; continuous optimization of email sending practices is essential for sustained deliverability.
Consider the holistic view of your email program, including content quality, list hygiene, and sending frequency, as all contribute to your sender reputation.
Leverage DMARC reports to identify authentication failures and sources of unauthorized sending, which are critical for Microsoft deliverability.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says there isn't a direct Microsoft deliverability certification offered by other companies.
2021-06-03 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that while the European Certified Sender Alliance and SuretyMail offer certifications used by various mailbox providers, Validity still has a unique service directly related to Microsoft.
