What to do when Gsuite IP is blacklisted on SORBS?

Key findings

• Shared IPs: Gsuite uses shared IP addresses, meaning a blacklist listing on SORBS (or other blocklists) is likely due to the aggregate sending behavior of many users, not solely your account's activity.
• Limited control: Direct removal requests for shared Gsuite IPs from SORBS are often ineffective, as you do not own or control the IP address in question.
• SORBS impact: While SORBS (Spam and Open Relay Blocking System) is a well-known blocklist, its impact on overall email deliverability can vary. Some mail servers and ISPs weigh SORBS listings less heavily than others, though some, like Proofpoint, may integrate it into their filtering.
• Holistic issues: If you are experiencing consistent delivery problems, such as emails landing in spam folders or being rejected by recipients like Mimecast, a SORBS listing on a shared IP might be a symptom of a broader deliverability challenge rather than the root cause itself. It's crucial to consider why your emails are going to spam.

Key considerations

• Focus on domain reputation: Since you can't directly control the shared IP, focus on maintaining a strong domain reputation. Ensure your DMARC, SPF, and DKIM records are correctly configured and aligned, which helps ISPs trust your domain regardless of the underlying IP reputation. You can read more about DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
• Address specific rejections: If you receive bounce messages with specific error codes (e.g., from Mimecast), investigate those directly. Mimecast provides a sender feedback mechanism where you can address specific Mimecast issues.
• Monitor deliverability metrics: Regularly check your sender reputation through Google Postmaster Tools for Gsuite and monitor your overall email deliverability rates.
• Review sending practices: Even on shared IPs, your sending volume, engagement rates, complaint rates, and spam trap hits can influence your overall sender reputation. Ensure your lists are clean and your content is relevant.

Key opinions

• Limited delisting success: Many marketers report difficulty in getting shared IPs delisted from SORBS, even if they can prove their own sending practices are clean. SORBS's unresponsiveness to such requests is a common frustration.
• Shared IP challenges: The nature of shared IP addresses means that individual users have little to no control over the IP's overall reputation, making it hard to mitigate blocklist issues caused by others.
• Focus on personal domain reputation: Instead of battling shared IP listings, marketers often shift their focus to ensuring their domain's health, including proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and maintaining low complaint rates. This aligns with advice on how to improve domain reputation.
• Correlated, not causal: A SORBS listing on a shared IP might correlate with delivery problems but isn't always the direct cause. Other factors like content, recipient engagement, or other more influential blocklists could be at play.

Key considerations

• Alternative sending solutions: For critical transactional emails or high-volume marketing, marketers might consider using a dedicated IP address with a different email service provider if Gsuite's shared IP issues become too disruptive.
• Monitoring bounce messages: Pay close attention to bounce messages, as they often provide specific reasons for rejection, pointing to the exact blocklist or policy that triggered the block. This is a critical step in running an email deliverability test.
• Engage with recipient ISPs: If a specific recipient domain or ISP consistently blocks your emails (e.g., Mimecast), reaching out to their support or postmaster can sometimes help clarify the issue, even if it's a shared IP problem.
• Prioritize major blocklists: While SORBS is a concern, marketers generally prioritize addressing listings on more impactful blocklists like Spamhaus before dedicating significant resources to shared IP issues on less influential lists. Learn more about how email blacklists actually work.

Key opinions

• SORBS as a lower impact list: Experts often view SORBS as having a lower impact compared to other major blocklists. While it can cause issues, it may not be the sole or primary reason for significant deliverability problems, especially for Gsuite shared IPs.
• Direct communication for delisting: Some experts suggest that even with automated responses, following up with human contact (e.g., John at SORBS) can sometimes lead to manual review and delisting, even for shared IPs. However, this is not guaranteed.
• Correlation vs. causation: A key expert viewpoint is that a SORBS listing on a Gsuite IP is often correlated with deliverability issues but not necessarily the direct cause. A more holistic view of sending practices and overall sender reputation is needed to identify root problems. This is similar to evaluating why your Gsuite IP is blacklisted.
• Proofpoint's use of SORBS: There are reports from experts that Proofpoint, which owns SORBS, sometimes points to SORBS listings as a reason for blocking mail. This indicates that some major filters do indeed consider SORBS data.

Key considerations

• Investigate all symptoms: If you observe SORBS listings, Mimecast blocks, and general complaints about non-delivery, it's indicative of a broader deliverability problem that requires a comprehensive investigation into your email program. Don't just focus on the SORBS listing, but also understand what to do if listed in Spamhaus and other blacklists.
• Understand ISP filtering: Recognize that ISPs like Google and others use complex algorithms for filtering, not just simple blocklist lookups. Many factors contribute to inbox placement beyond a single IP blocklist entry.
• Sender reputation is paramount: Prioritize building and maintaining a strong sender reputation for your domain. This includes adhering to email best practices, managing lists, and ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
• Long-term strategy: For Gsuite users, accepting the reality of shared IP challenges means focusing on a long-term strategy of excellent sending hygiene rather than chasing individual shared IP delistings.

Key findings

• Delisting processes exist: Many blocklists provide a mechanism for IP removal, usually via a web form where you enter the blacklisted IP and contact information. An example can be seen in how to quickly remove an IP from SORBS.
• Direct contact recommended: Documentation often advises directly contacting the website or service that blocked your IP address (if it's an individual block) for removal instructions.
• Interpreting bounce codes: Standard error messages, like 554 Email rejected due to security policies, are critical. They often link to detailed explanations of the recipient's filtering policies, providing a direct path to diagnose the issue. This is exemplified in Mimecast's documentation on email rejection policies.
• Shared IP complexities: While not explicitly stated for Gsuite, the general understanding of IP blocklists implies that when an IP is shared, the primary responsibility for its reputation and delisting falls to the large provider (e.g., Google), not the individual user.

Key considerations

• Provider-specific sender feedback: Some security providers offer specific portals or forms for senders to request reviews or delisting for issues related to their filtering systems. This is more effective than generic blocklist delisting for shared IPs.
• Understanding listing criteria: Documentation for blocklists often details the criteria for listing. Understanding these helps in identifying the root cause, even if it's external to your direct sending practices.
• Timeframes for resolution: Delisting processes can take time, ranging from days to weeks, depending on the blocklist and the nature of the listing. This is covered in guides to IP blacklist checking and removal.