What is an SPF Record?

What is an SPF Record?

Sender Policy Framework (SPF), also known as Sender ID Framework, is an extension to the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SPF allows software to identify and reject forged (spoofed) addresses in the SMTP MAIL FROM (Return-Path), a typical nuisance in e-mail spam. SPF is defined in Experimental RFC 4408. For a detailed explanation of how SPF works please visit the following site, http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/technologies/senderid/technology.mspx

How Do I setup an SPF Record?

Microsoft provides a wizard which will ask you questions and based on the answers will generate an SPF record for you. The wizard can be found here,
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/

There is also on alternative wizard, which might find easier to use.
http://old.openspf.org/wizard.html?mydomain=example.com 

An example of SPF record modification:

• An example SPF record that is sending mail only from our servers would look like this:
  
  
• Exchange 2010: v=spf1 include:hostaccount.com ~all
• Exchange 2013: v=spf1 include:spf.messagelabs.com include:mxlogic.net ~all

• We also have some customers that use Constant Contact to send out Bulk E-mails. Below is an example for this scenario:
  
  
• Exchange 2010: v=spf1 include:hostaccount.com include:spf.constantcontact.com ~all
  
• Exchange 2013: v=spf1 include:spf.messagelabs.com include:mxlogic.net include:spf.constantcontact.com ~all
• If you were sending mail from "my_smtp_server" as well as EMM Mail Servers, your SPF record might look like this:
• Exchange 2010: v=spf1 A:my_smtp_server_name include:hostaccount.com ~all
  
• Exchange 2013: v=spf1 A:my_smtp_server_name include:spf.messagelabs.com include:mxlogic.net ~all
  
• If any MX records in your domain point to the non-EMM Mail Server(s) that you use to send mail, your SPF record might be:
• Exchange 2010: v=spf1 MX:your_domain_name include:hostaccount.com ~all
• Exchange 2013: v=spf1 MX:your_domain_name include:spf.messagelabs.com include:mxlogic.net ~all

Once you have crafted your SPF record, or used one of our examples, you must add it to your DNS servers. If EMM hosts your DNS, this can be done in the control panel.