DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) are two authentication mechanisms used to prevent email fraud and ensure the deliverability of email messages. Both of these methods work together to reduce the risk of spoofed emails and to authenticate senders.
SPF is a mechanism that verifies that an email message is coming from a trusted domain. It does this by checking the domain name of the sender against a list of authorized IP addresses published in the DNS record of that domain. If the email message is from an authorized IP address, the email is considered authenticated and is more likely to be delivered.
DKIM, on the other hand, is a digital signature that ensures the integrity and authenticity of email messages. It works by adding a digital signature to the email header that verifies that the email was indeed sent from the domain it claims to belong to. If the signature is correct, the email is authenticated and more likely to be delivered.
When both DKIM and SPF are used together, they provide a more comprehensive authentication process, which increases the likelihood of email delivery. SPF checks the domain of the sender against a list of authorized IP addresses, while DKIM checks the digital signature of the email. This double authentication process ensures that any unauthorized emails that pass through SPF checks are caught by DKIM.
In essence, using both DKIM and SPF together serves as a two-factor authentication process for email messages, making it difficult for spammers and attackers to spoof email addresses and making it more likely that legitimate emails will be delivered.
