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DKIM is a powerful email authentication protocol that helps organizations protect their email communications from tampering and misuse. It is important to note that managing the standard can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring technical expertise and ongoing maintenance.
The Sendmarc platform simplifies the management of email authentication protocols, enabling organizations to enhance their email security without unnecessary stress. By automating and streamlining these processes, Sendmarc allows teams to focus on core business tasks while ensuring strong protection against email-based threats.
Ready to elevate your company’s email security? Book a demo with us today!
DKIM management
Sendmarc offers a powerful and highly available infrastructure created to simplify the management of email authentication protocols.
Easy DKIM import tooling
Quickly migrate to Sendmarc by using existing DMARC data to identify in-use keys. This makes the move fast and effective.
DKIM record checker
Verify the publication of keys in an RFC-compliant way instantly using Sendmarc’s industry-leading and free tools.
DKIM key hosting & rotation
Sendmarc provides secure hosting of keys with support for up to 2048-bit lengths and simplifies key rotation.
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is a critical email authentication protocol that ensures the integrity and authenticity of email messages. It uses cryptographic signatures to verify that an email hasn’t been tampered with during transit. This is particularly important in combating Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks and email tampering. The protocol is essential because it:
The email authentication standard uses cryptographic signatures to protect domains from impersonation. It operates by leveraging a unique private-public key pair:
If the signature matches, the message is considered authentic. If the signature doesn’t match, the recipient server might handle the email based on its configured DMARC policy. The email could then be monitored or flagged as suspicious, meaning it’ll be placed in the Spam folder and quarantined or rejected outright.
Discover how our advanced email security platform automates this process to save time, reduce costs, and simplify protocol management.
Implementing the protocol offers multiple advantages for those looking to secure their email communications. After the correct configuration, the standard helps to:
When setting up the protocol, it’s essential to avoid these common mistakes to ensure effective email authentication and security:
The protocol’s records can be provided in different formats depending on the email provider’s requirements.
Here’s a basic TXT record example:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| selector._domainkey.yourdomain.com | TXT | v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=[YourPublicKeyHere] |
Here’s a CNAME record example:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| selector._domainkey.yourdomain.com | CNAME | selector.domainkey.providerdomain.com. |
Follow these clear steps to set up DKIM for your company’s domain effectively:
Begin by configuring your organization’s email provider. This process generates a private and public key pair. The exact steps depend on the provider – for example, Google and Microsoft have unique methods – but the outcome is always a public key for your business to publish in its DNS settings.
Some providers only issue the public key, but a private key can be created using tools like Sendmarc’s key generator, which provides one quickly and for free, simplifying the process.
Add the generated public key to the DNS record. This allows receiving email servers to access the signature information needed to verify the emails.
Use a verification tool, such as Sendmarc’s DKIM lookup, to ensure the record is correctly configured.
Plus, your company can analyze email headers with Sendmarc’s header analysis tool to confirm that its emails are being properly signed.
Regular monitoring of these headers helps identify misconfigurations or unauthorized changes. Frequently reviewing authentication results ensures everything remains correctly configured, especially after updates to email systems or DNS records.
Combining the protocol with SPF and DMARC provides a comprehensive email authentication strategy. Each standard plays a role in securing email communications:
Why combine the protocols?
Using all three ensures powerful protection against phishing, spoofing, and other email-based threats. This combination also improves the deliverability of communications by increasing trust with email providers.
To check if a DKIM record is correctly set up, use online tools like Sendmarc’s DKIM lookup. This tool performs a DNS lookup to verify that the public key associated with your organization’s domain matches the private key used to sign outgoing emails.
Book a demo with Sendmarc to find out how we can help secure your business’s email communications and protect its domain from evolving cyberthreats.
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