Why are telcos using Oracle MX hosts and how does Synacor relate to their email policies?

Key findings

• Oracle MX hosts: A significant number of telcos, including FOCUS Broadband, Comporium, GCI, Armstrong, Hughes, PenTeleData, RCN, TDS, WideOpenWest, Windstream, Altafiber, Scottsboro EPB, and SELCO, use MX records that point to Oracle IP addresses.
• Oracle bare metal instances: These Oracle MX hosts are specifically identified as Oracle Bare Metal instances, suggesting a shared email delivery infrastructure.
• Synacor association: The common thread among these telcos points to their association with Synacor, a company that provides email and other services to internet service providers (ISPs).
• Validity FBL feed: The platform (Synacor) appears to participate in the Validity FBL feed, which is important for sender reputation and email deliverability.
• Policy control: While Oracle provides the hosting infrastructure, Synacor is generally responsible for setting the email policies and managing mail flow for these telcos.

Key considerations

• Deliverability impact: Understanding that Synacor manages policies is key for senders, as their rules will dictate inbox placement for these domains, not necessarily Oracle’s.
• Troubleshooting: For troubleshooting email deliverability issues to these telcos (e.g., Windstream), focus should be on Synacor's policies and infrastructure, rather than generic Oracle cloud policies. More information on filtering methods of telcos is available.
• FBL participation: Participation in the Validity FBL feed means senders can receive feedback on their email campaigns, which is valuable for maintaining good sender reputation. Learn more about ISPs using DKIM domains for FBLs.
• Security implications: While hosting large-scale email infrastructure on cloud platforms like Oracle offers benefits, it also presents security considerations. For example, the Linux malware Hadooken targeting Oracle WebLogic servers highlights potential risks.

Key opinions

• Discovery through FBL audits: Marketers doing FBL audits have identified a pattern of telcos using Oracle MX hosts.
• Potential Oracle CRM tie-in: There's a speculation that Oracle might have a specific CRM product tailored for the telco industry, which includes email hosting.
• Noteworthy for future troubleshooting: This setup, while not an immediate issue, is important to note for diagnosing future deliverability problems.
• Impact on mail flow and policy: Oracle’s infrastructure will likely influence mail flow and policy for these telecom networks.

Key considerations

• Strategic adjustments: Marketers must understand the specific email policies and infrastructure of providers like Synacor to improve email deliverability issues.
• Monitoring blocklists: Since Synacor is part of the Validity FBL feed, marketers should be diligent in monitoring blocklists and managing sender reputation.
• Addressing security risks: Awareness of potential vulnerabilities (e.g., malware targeting large cloud infrastructures, as seen with Hadooken and Oracle WebLogic) can help marketers understand policy shifts.
• Regional ISP specifics: Recognizing that smaller telcos might outsource their email services to providers like Synacor (hosted on Oracle) helps marketers tailor their approach for better inbox placement.

Key opinions

• Oracle bare metal confirmation: MX lookups confirm the use of Oracle Bare Metal instances for hosting these telco email systems.
• Strong Synacor association: There's a strong consensus that these Oracle-hosted telco domains are associated with Synacor, based on MX aliases like mx.armstrong.syn-alias.com.
• Policy vs. hosting: Experts emphasize that while Oracle hosts the infrastructure, Synacor is the entity responsible for defining and implementing the email policies.
• Validity FBL integration: Synacor's presence in the Validity FBL feed is confirmed, making it a key player in reputation management for these domains.

Key considerations

• Infrastructure complexity: The use of large cloud providers like Oracle for email infrastructure highlights the complexity of modern mail transfer agents (MTAs) and services.
• Authentication standards: Despite external hosting, telcos and Synacor must still adhere to email authentication standards like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to ensure deliverability.
• Deliverability responsibility: Senders need to understand that their deliverability to these domains depends on Synacor's policies, making direct communication with them crucial for resolving any issues.
• Outbreak awareness: Monitoring security alerts, like the FortiGuard Outbreak Alerts, can provide context for policy changes on shared infrastructure.

Key findings

• Cloud infrastructure for email: Major cloud providers, including Oracle, offer robust infrastructure suitable for hosting high-volume email services, allowing telcos to outsource these operations.
• Managed service model: Companies like Synacor operate as managed service providers, building their email platforms on top of cloud infrastructure to serve specific industries, like telecommunications.
• Separation of concerns: Email policy and filtering rules are typically defined and enforced by the managed service provider (Synacor), while the underlying hardware and network are managed by the cloud host (Oracle).
• FBL and reputation: Managed email platforms often integrate with industry feedback loops and blacklists/blocklists to maintain network reputation and minimize abuse.

Key considerations

• MX record delegation: Telcos delegate their MX records to the cloud provider's infrastructure, which then routes email traffic through the managed service provider's systems. For more details, see our guide on domains using Charter MX records.
• Scalability and reliability: Leveraging large cloud platforms provides telcos with enhanced scalability and reliability for their email services, crucial for high traffic volumes.
• Security protocols: While Oracle provides baseline security for its cloud, the email service provider (Synacor) implements specific email security protocols, including DMARC benefits and anti-spam measures.
• Compliance and regulations: The managed service provider is typically responsible for ensuring compliance with email regulations and privacy laws pertinent to email communications.