In today’s digital world, getting your emails delivered successfully is critical to keeping your business running smoothly. But let’s face it—nothing derails your communication efforts faster than an important email getting flagged as spam or vanishing into a junk folder. It’s even worse for organizations using email marketing: newsletters, product updates, or announcements won’t work their magic if they don’t land in your customers’ inboxes.

Spammers make the problem even trickier by constantly upping their game. They often spoof valid email addresses, sending dangerous links that can infect recipients’ devices. If scammers hijack your company’s name to send spam, it’s not just a nuisance—it’s a reputation killer.

So, how do email providers decide what’s legit and what’s junk? Fortunately, modern tools like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records can help ensure your emails are trusted and delivered while protecting your domain from misuse.

How to Ensure Your Emails Reach Their Destination

The key to email deliverability lies in verifying that your messages really come from you. This is done by adding specific Domain Name System (DNS) records to your domain. Think of these records as your email’s proof of identity. If an email claims to come from your domain but doesn’t match the rules in your DNS records, it’s flagged as spam or rejected outright.

Example of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC DNS records

Let’s break down these three magical records and how they work:

SPF Records: Defining Where Your Emails Come From

What It Does:
An SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is like a guest list for your email domain. It specifies which servers are allowed to send emails on your behalf.

For example, if you send emails through Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, those servers will be on the list. If your website sends emails (e.g., via a contact form), its server should be listed too.

How It Works:
When an email server receives a message from your domain, it checks the sender’s IP address against the list in your SPF record. If the IP isn’t on the list, the email gets flagged as suspicious.

Why You Need It:
While not all email servers require SPF, more providers are using it to cut down on spam. Adding an SPF record is a simple step to boost deliverability and protect your domain.

Learn More:

DKIM Records: Adding a Digital Signature to Your Emails

What It Does:
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) adds a cryptographic signature to your emails, proving they haven’t been tampered with.

How It Works:
When you send an email, it’s signed with a private key. The recipient’s server uses the public key stored in your domain’s DNS records to verify the signature. If the email checks out, it’s delivered. If not, it’s marked as spam.

Why You Need It:
DKIM builds trust with email providers, helping your emails reach inboxes instead of junk folders. Most major email providers, like Google and Microsoft, support DKIM and guide you through setup.

Learn More:

DMARC Records: Setting the Rules for Suspicious Emails

What It Does:
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) tells receiving servers what to do if an email fails the SPF or DKIM checks.

How It Works:
With DMARC, you choose how to handle questionable emails:

  • none: Let them through as usual.
  • quarantine: Send them to the recipient’s spam folder.
  • reject: Block them entirely.

You can also request daily reports to monitor your domain’s email performance and adjust your SPF or DKIM settings as needed.

Why You Need It:
DMARC is the final piece of the email authentication puzzle. It helps protect your domain from misuse and gives you control over how suspicious emails are handled.

Learn More:

Why You Should Care

Email is still the lifeblood of business communication. Whether you’re reaching out to clients, vendors, or your team, a missed email can mean missed opportunities.

In 2024, Google raised the stakes: individual emails to personal Gmail accounts must pass SPF or DKIM checks, and bulk emails must pass SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checks. Without these records, your emails simply won’t be delivered to Gmail users.

Need Help? Interlock Solutions Has Your Back!

Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records might sound intimidating, but we make it easy. At Interlock Solutions, we’ve implemented these measures for our own domain and many of our clients.  If you want to improve your email deliverability and protect your domain, drop us a line. We’ll handle the technical details so you can focus on what you do best—running your business!