Email authentication

Sender ID / SPF and DomainKeys / DKIM are common standards to help email receivers authenticate incoming email. What is authentication? What are these standards? How do they impact email marketing and email in general? Find the answers here.

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Key documents and resources:

Email authentication for marketers
This introduces you to the whole concept in a simple jargon-free way, before explaining why email marketers need to authenticate their messages (and how you can set about doing this).

DKIM
DomainKey Identified Email. Documentation for this important authentication standard.

DomainKey
DomainKey implementor's tools and library.

Sender ID
Microsoft's Sender ID home page.

Authentication and Online Trust Alliance
Cross-industry organization working to restore trust to email and the Internet. Check their resources page.

Popular articles

The difference between authentication and certification
Gentle explanation of the differences between authenticated and certified email.

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Are you in the game?
Overview with links.

Will Yahoo block messages that aren't signed?
An interview with Yahoo! Mail's anti-abuse product manager on their use and plans for DomainKeys Identified Mail.

Powerful new antiphishing weapon DKIM emerges
Reviews the scope, application and popularity of this authentication standard, with quotes from those in relevant industries.

Email authentication guide
Overview from a vendor, including a list of ISPs currently checking for authentication on incoming messages.

Don't risk your reputation
Outlines the arguments used to put off tackling authentication and then dismisses them.

Another round-up
Looks at the authentication plans of some leading ISPs.

Authentication gains momentum
Urges email marketers to take responsibility for authentication, but realize that it's just one weapon in the delivery armory.

Authentication summit notes
Reviews recent authentication trends and insights, plus has related practical recommendations for marketers.

Sender ID press release
Microsoft release some details on the impact of Sender ID email authentication on spam at their Hotmail / Windows Live Hotmail webmail service.

DMA's help center
The DMA has a resource page and documents dedicated to helping marketers understand the ins and outs of authentication.

More help...
Explains the concept of email authentication in a way non-techies can understand and provides links to further information on the topic.

Authentication update
A review of the late 2006 situation as concerns implementing authentication for outgoing emails.

Implementing authentication
Set of tips for implementing an authentication programme for your outgoing messages.

Whither Email Authentication?
Discusses the "state of email authentication," including the different approaches, scale of adoption, role in deliverability and the future.

Implementing email authentication
Outlines the steps you need to take to implement authentication, and lists useful links and tools.

Email authentication myths
Suggests few companies are implementing email authentication technologies and identifies four unjustifiable excuses why people might be holding off.

What You Need to Know About Authentication
An interview with a vendor's Director of ISP Relations, explaining the whys and whats of authentication.

Experiences with DomainKeys, Sender ID and SPF
One vendor reviews company experiences with some of the new email authentication techniques promoted by the likes of Microsoft and Yahoo.

Timely help on Sender ID
Information on Microsoft's implementation of Sender ID authentication for @hotmail.com addresses, including advice on how to deal with the situation as a legitimate email marketer.

MSN Requires Sender ID Today
According to this article, any email sent to an @hotmail.com address will now divert to the junk mail folder if the sender doesn't have the right Sender ID authentication.

Authentication and Accreditation: State of the Industry
A useful overview of the current state of affairs regarding the various techniques, systems and organizations involved in the world of email authentication.

ESPC position statement
A detailed statement on email authentication. Which can be briefly summarized as authentication means accountability which means improved consumer confidence, so it's a good thing.

E-mail authentication. Then what?
Reviews the state of play regarding authentication efforts, and then raises some related pragmatic issues for businesses involved in sending or receiving email.

An E-Mail Marketer's Guide to Deliverability, Part 3: DomainKeys
Continues a look at the technology behind measures to protect inboxes from unwanted email.

An E-Mail Marketer's Guide to Deliverability, Part 2: Sender ID
Explains the concept of Sender ID for email authentication in words of one syllable.

An E-Mail Marketer's Guide to Deliverability, Part 1: SPF
Takes a look at email authentication techniques designed to cut down on spam (and false positives), explaining the ins and outs of Sender Policy Framework.

The Identity Crisis and E-Mail Authentication
Looks at authentication techniques and how the whole topic is developing.

Spammers embrace email authentication
Reports on comments suggesting that spammers don't seem unduly perturbed by new email authentification requirements.