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GLOSSARY

What is DKIM?

DEFINITION

DKIM adds a digital signature to every email you send. Your mail system signs each message with a private key, and publishes the matching public key in your DNS.

The receiving server uses that public key to check that the message really came from your domain and was not altered on the way. Unlike SPF, which checks the server doing the sending, DKIM checks the message itself, so it often survives forwarding. Each sending service you use usually gives you its own DKIM record to add. Why it matters: Major mailbox providers weigh email authentication heavily, so missing DKIM raises the chance your legitimate emails are filtered as spam.

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