What is SPF?
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol that helps prevent email spoofing. It works by allowing domain owners to publish a list of authorised senders for their domain in the Domain Name System (DNS). Receiving mail servers can then query this list (SPF record) to verify if the email supposedly originating from a specific domain is actually sent by an authorised source.
Use Cases of SPF_
- Prevent email spoofing: SPF helps prevent attackers from forging a sender’s email address to impersonate a legitimate sender (e.g., a company or individual).
- Improve email deliverability: By implementing SPF, organisations can increase the chances of legitimate emails reaching recipient inboxes and avoid spam filters.
- Enhance email security: SPF is a key element in a layered approach to email security, helping to identify and filter out potentially spoofed emails.
Key components_
- SPF record: A TXT record published in the domain’s DNS that specifies authorised senders for the domain. This record can include IP addresses or mail server hostnames.
- MX records: DNS records that define the mail servers receiving emails for a domain. Receiving mail servers often query the SPF record associated with the domain name found in the MX record.
- SPF authorisation results: The outcome of an SPF check by a receiving mail server. SPF results can be neutral (no SPF record), pass (authorised sender), or fail (unauthorised sender).
Microsoft 365 fully supports SPF. By implementing SPF with Microsoft 365, you can:
- Publish SPF records: Microsoft 365 can assist with creating and publishing SPF records for your domain within Microsoft 365 tools.
- Leverage SPF for incoming emails: Microsoft 365 can utilise SPF results from received emails to improve spam filtering and potentially quarantine emails failing SPF checks.
- Strengthen overall email security: SPF, combined with Microsoft 365’s security features like DKIM and DMARC, creates a robust defence against email spoofing and phishing attacks.
By leveraging SPF with Microsoft 365, organisations can significantly enhance their email security posture and ensure legitimate emails reach intended recipients.
