Performing SPF Record Check Google Provides For Workspace Users
Email spoofing has become a severe cyber threat today, proven by the fact that over 3 billion spoofing emails are sent each day! Unfortunately, unless precautions are taken, nothing prevents adversaries from using an organization’s domain in spoofed emails. In addition, email spoofing attempts by threat actors lead to reputation damages and can get an organization’s domain blacklisted, which is why it is necessary to deploy email authentication protocols, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to keep malicious actors at bay.
How Does SPF Work?
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a DNS TXT record that helps authenticate email by listing every IP address authorized to send emails on behalf of a domain. If emails are sent from an unauthorized server, they are sent to the spam box by the receiving server.
An SPF record example is given below
v=spf1 ip3:14.913.22.432 ip6:3b01:f128:e3:2v10:cc24:sdw4:8b23:811e include:3rdpartydomain.com ~all
One crucial thing to remember for admins is that they need to create SPF records without errors to prevent spoofing attempts. To do this, they can use testing tools for verifying parameters such as their SPF record syntax, if SPF record – all modifier is enabled, etc.
Free SPF Record Check: Google Tools For G-Suite Admins
G-Suite provides users the ability to troubleshoot records using their tool. First, users need to visit the website and run an SPF record check. Google then runs SPF validation tests to highlight errors.
Results displayed by Google’s tool include
- If a valid SPF record exists
- If DKIM is set up or not
- If DMARC is set up or not
- Domain has a minimum of two NS servers
- If the naked domain is an A record and not CNAME
- If MX and TXT lookups fit in one UDP package
The tool also checks If every name server replies with the same
- TXT DKIM records
- TXT DMARC records
- NS records
- CNAME records
- TXT records
- MX records
In an era of rising cybercrime, SPF is an increasingly necessary tool to prevent spoofing and loss of IP reputation. Users should deploy SPF properly and can test the deployment with the help of an SPF record tester. Google provides an SPF record check for Google Apps, but its functionalities are limited to Google Workspace (G-Suite) users. Others can use tools such as Kitterman SPF or Mimecast SPF check for testing their SPF records.
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