We’ve recently introduced DKIM signatures to improve the overall email deliverability. Email is a fundamental part of digital communication. However, the ease with which it can be exploited requires additional security measures. One such measure is DKIM, or DomainKeys Identified Mail. DKIM helps verify the sender of an email and guards against email spoofing, significantly improving the deliverability of emails.
What is DKIM?
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication method designed to detect forged sender addresses in emails. This sender-address forgery is a common technique used in phishing and email spam. DKIM allows the receiving email server to check if the email that claims to have come from a specific domain was indeed authorized by the owner of that domain.
The DKIM authentication is achieved by using a digital signature linked to the domain of the sender. This signature is located in the DKIM header of the email and is generated using a private key only known to the sender. The corresponding public key is shared in the DNS record of the sender’s domain, allowing any receiving server to validate the email’s signature.
How to enable DKIM?
If you’re using WPX’s mail service, you already have the DKIM feature enabled by default. It’s basically a CNAME record in your domain’s DNS zone which looks as follows:
Deleting the record would also mean removing the DKIM signature. If you’ve deleted the CNAME by accident, please contact us back and we’ll make sure to add it back for you.
Adding it yourself is also a possible option, please follow the guide below:
(1) Record type: CNAME (Canonical Name)
(2) Host: dkim._domainkey
(3) Value / Target: dkim.wpx.net.
(4) Press on the ‘Save record’ button.
Here’s a screenshot of the end result:
How Does DKIM Improve Email Deliverability?
Email deliverability refers to the success rate at which emails land in recipients’ inboxes without being filtered out as spam. DKIM improves email deliverability in several ways:
- Authentication: By proving that an email has been sent from a specific domain and hasn’t been modified during the transfer, DKIM reduces the chances of an email being marked as spam.
- Sender Reputation: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) maintain sender reputations based on email-sending activity, and a high rate of authenticated emails via DKIM can boost this reputation. An enhanced sender reputation improves email deliverability.
- Trust: Emails authenticated through DKIM are often trusted more by email clients, reducing the likelihood of being marked as spam, and thus improving deliverability.
In conclusion, integrating DKIM into your domain’s email system can be highly beneficial. Always remember, good email practices are not just about sending emails but ensuring that they are delivered effectively and securely.
If you have any other questions on the topic, don’t hesitate to contact the WPX Support Team via live chat (use the bottom right-hand widget) and they will respond and help within 30 seconds or less.