Summary
Cvent, a prominent event management platform, does support email authentication standards such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) for emails sent through its platform. However, achieving proper alignment for DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) requires specific configurations. While DKIM alignment for custom domains is generally supported by Cvent through their support team, SPF alignment can be more nuanced and may require future product development from Cvent's side to be fully supported for customer domains. IP whitelisting alone is not sufficient for DMARC compliance.
Key findings
- DKIM support: Cvent supports DKIM signing for custom domains, which typically requires opening a support ticket to obtain and publish the necessary DKIM key pair.
- SPF alignment: While Cvent handles SPF for its sending infrastructure, true SPF alignment for a customer's sending domain, essential for DMARC, may not be fully implemented and is a stated future development goal for Cvent.
- DMARC compliance: For emails to be DMARC compliant when sent via Cvent, they must pass either SPF or DKIM authentication, and critically, the domains in the 'From' header must align with the authenticated domain.
- IP whitelisting: Simply whitelisting Cvent's IP addresses is not enough to achieve DMARC alignment, as it does not address domain-level authentication.
- Importance of alignment: Proper SPF and DKIM alignment is crucial for preventing email spoofing and improving email deliverability by ensuring that emails are trusted by recipient mail servers.
Key considerations
- Contact Cvent support: To set up DKIM for your custom domain when sending through Cvent, reach out to their support team for the necessary keys and instructions.
- Monitor DMARC reports: Even if SPF alignment is not fully supported by Cvent, a correctly configured DKIM record that aligns with your 'From' domain can satisfy DMARC requirements. Monitor your DMARC reports to verify authentication and alignment results.
- Review Cvent documentation: Always refer to the latest Cvent documentation or contact their support for the most up-to-date information on their authentication capabilities and setup processes. For more information, read how DMARC helps prevent email spoofing.
- Understand DMARC requirements:Familiarize yourself with how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work together to ensure email authentication. A simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM can be very helpful.
What email marketers say
Email marketers using Cvent often encounter questions regarding SPF and DKIM alignment, particularly as these impact email deliverability and DMARC compliance. Many prioritize custom DKIM setup over SPF return-path alignment, considering DKIM sufficient for DMARC. There's a general understanding that while Cvent handles some authentication, direct user configuration is key for optimal performance and avoiding spam folders.
Key opinions
- DKIM sufficiency: Many marketers believe that achieving custom DKIM alignment is enough for DMARC compliance, even if SPF return-path alignment isn't possible.
- Support engagement: It's commonly advised to contact Cvent's support team directly to configure DKIM for custom domains, as this process isn't self-service.
- Addressing deliverability: Marketers seek to stop Cvent emails from going to junk or spam folders by implementing proper SPF and DKIM.
- Historical concerns: Some marketers recall past negative feedback regarding Cvent's authentication capabilities, prompting them to verify current support before making changes.
Key considerations
- Prioritize DKIM: Focus on setting up DKIM for your custom domain if Cvent doesn't fully support SPF alignment. This often satisfies DMARC requirements.
- Proactive setup: Before sending large volumes, ensure authentication is correctly configured to avoid deliverability issues. This is part of how to properly set up SPF and DKIM records.
- Address spam issues: If Cvent emails land in junk, consider verifying your SPF and DKIM setup. Learning how to set up DKIM for Cvent can help. More broadly, here's why your emails are going to spam.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks inquires about Cvent's support for SPF or DKIM alignment, noting that IP whitelisting alone is insufficient for proper authentication and that their documentation can be misleading.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks believes Cvent supports DKIM and advises that users may need to contact their support team to set up DKIM signing for their custom domain, indicating it's not a self-service option.
What the experts say
Experts in email deliverability acknowledge that Cvent supports DKIM alignment, which is critical for DMARC compliance. While SPF alignment for custom domains might not be a current feature, it's recognized as a potential future enhancement. Experts highlight that one form of alignment (SPF or DKIM) is often sufficient for DMARC, stressing the importance of proper setup for improved inbox placement and sender reputation.
Key opinions
- DKIM priority: Experts confirm Cvent's support for DKIM setup for custom domains, often via their support team, which is generally considered sufficient for DMARC alignment.
- SPF future: While SPF alignment for customer domains is not currently committed, it is a recognized area for future product development at Cvent.
- One alignment is enough: For DMARC, passing either SPF or DKIM alignment is generally sufficient, meaning DKIM alone can satisfy the requirement.
- Importance of DMARC: Proper SPF and DKIM alignment are crucial for DMARC compliance, which in turn significantly enhances email deliverability and sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Engage support early: For DKIM setup with Cvent, engage their support team to ensure correct configuration and key publication.
- Focus on DMARC: Even without SPF alignment, ensuring DKIM alignment is correctly configured will help achieve DMARC compliance. Understand best practices for setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
- Monitor blocklists: A lack of proper authentication can lead to domains being placed on blocklists, affecting deliverability. Be aware of what happens when your domain is on a blacklist. Regular monitoring of your sender reputation, including blocklist status, is advised.
- Stay updated: Keep an eye on Cvent's announcements for future updates regarding SPF alignment or other authentication features. For more expert insights, review content from Word to the Wise deliverability experts.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks (Cvent representative) confirms that DKIM alignment is currently supported via their support team, while SPF alignment is a planned feature for the near future but not yet committed. This gives a direct insight into Cvent's authentication roadmap.
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource emphasizes that proper SPF and DKIM alignment are crucial for DMARC compliance, which significantly improves email deliverability and sender reputation, minimizing the risk of emails being marked as spam.
What the documentation says
Official documentation and technical guides consistently emphasize that DMARC compliance relies on successful SPF and DKIM authentication combined with domain alignment. They detail how Cvent, like other sending platforms, facilitates DKIM setup, which is crucial for authenticating the sender's domain. The importance of the 'header FROM' domain matching the authenticated domain for DMARC pass is a recurring theme, clarifying why simple IP whitelisting is inadequate.
Key findings
- DMARC compliance definition: Email messages achieve DMARC compliance by passing both SPF and DKIM authentication, along with domain address alignment.
- Header FROM matching: DMARC critically matches the 'header FROM' domain name with the authenticated domain from either SPF or DKIM for alignment to pass.
- DKIM key provision: Platforms like Cvent-Planner provide a DKIM key pair, where the public key must be published in the user's public DNS.
- Spoofing prevention: Proper SPF and DKIM alignment, as part of DMARC, is a primary mechanism for preventing email spoofing and enhancing trust.
Key considerations
- DNS records: Ensure the public DKIM key (and SPF record) provided by Cvent is correctly published as TXT records in your domain's DNS. Learn more about DMARC tags and their meanings.
- Alignment requirement: Remember that DMARC requires SPF or DKIM to align with the 'From' domain, not just pass authentication checks. Do SPF and DKIM records need to be aligned for all ESPs?
- Beyond IP whitelisting: Do not rely solely on IP whitelisting; implement domain-based authentication for robust security and deliverability. Duke OIT explains DMARC compliance.
Technical article
Documentation from Duke OIT states that email messages achieve DMARC compliance if they successfully pass SPF, DKIM, and the necessary domain address alignment for the 'header FROM' domain.
Technical article
Documentation from Skysnag indicates that configuring a specific SPF record, often involving an 'include' mechanism, is necessary for external sending platforms like Cvent-planner to pass SPF checks and ensure proper propagation.
Related resources
5 resources
Related pages
How do SPF, DKIM, and DMARC affect email deliverability with Cvent?
How do I properly set up SPF and DKIM records for email marketing?
What are the best practices for setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for email authentication?
A simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM
Why your emails are going to spam in 2024 and how to fix it
A practical guide to DKIM selector name examples
What is the full form of SPF in email?
List of DMARC tags and their meanings
Do SPF and DKIM records need to be aligned for all email service providers?
What happens when your domain is on an email blacklist?
