Understanding SPF Flattening and How EasySPF Makes It Easy
If you’ve ever had to manage SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records for your domain, you know how quickly they can get complicated. Between juggling multiple sending sources, keeping up with DNS updates, and staying under the dreaded 10 DNS lookup limit, managing SPF records can be a challenge. That’s where EasySPF comes in to simplify the process with dynamic SPF flattening.
What is SPF Flattening?
SPF flattening is a process that simplifies your SPF record by reducing the number of DNS lookups required. Normally, an SPF record includes multiple include statements to authorize various email-sending sources. Each include statement generates a DNS lookup, and if you exceed 10 DNS lookups, your SPF record becomes invalid.
Flattening solves this by converting include statements into direct IP addresses. Since IP addresses (ip4 and ip6) don’t contribute to the DNS lookup count, flattening helps you stay within the limit while keeping your SPF record effective.
How EasySPF Works
EasyDMARC’s EasySPF tool takes the hassle out of managing SPF records by allowing you to control them directly through our platform. Here’s how it works:
- Dynamic SPF Record: To activate EasySPF, you just need to add a dynamic SPF record (a simple TXT record) to your domain’s DNS(once you click activate at the top right corner, the system will provide the dynamic TXT record that you need to add to your DNS). This record automatically syncs with the changes you make on the EasySPF dashboard.
- Automatic Flattening: When you add a sending source using an include statement, our system automatically retrieves the IP addresses associated with that source and flattens them into your SPF record. This means you no longer need to manually look up and add IPs yourself, and it helps keep your SPF record lean and efficient.
- No More DNS Login: Once you set up EasySPF, there’s no need to log into your DNS provider every time you need to make changes. All modifications happen through the EasyDMARC platform, which then syncs automatically to your DNS.
For EasySPF configuration please refer to this configuration article!
Benefits of Using EasySPF for SPF Flattening
- Stay under the DNS lookup limit: Avoid SPF failures by flattening your record and reducing unnecessary DNS lookups.
- No manual DNS changes needed: Manage your SPF record entirely from EasyDMARC, with no need to log into your DNS provider.
- Simplify SPF management: Automatically flatten new sending sources and IPs, saving time and reducing errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you need access to my DNS settings for EasySPF to work?
No, we don’t need direct access to your DNS settings. By adding our dynamic SPF record, the EasySPF system can sync any updates you make on our platform directly to your DNS. This ensures that your DNS remains secure and you manage it only.
2. Can I manage my subdomains through EasySPF?
To manage your subdomains through EasySPF, you have to add your subdomains to your EasyDMARC account separately. However, we do not recommend doing this. EasyDMARC already includes subdomain detection and automatically parses all DMARC reports for subdomains under the root domain. As a result, there is no need to add subdomains separately.
3. What happens if I exceed the 10-DNS lookup limit without flattening?
If your SPF record has more than 10 DNS lookups, it will fail, which could result in your emails being marked as spam or not delivered at all. EasySPF helps prevent this by automatically flattening your SPF record, keeping it well within the limit.
4. Can I add subdomain-capable sources in the EasySPF or sources that require subdomain configuration?
We recommend configuring subdomain-capable sources or sources requiring subdomain configuration directly within your DNS settings. There’s no need to add these sources to EasySPF, as handling them via DNS ensures proper functionality and compliance with subdomain requirements.Conclusion
SPF management doesn’t have to be a headache. With EasySPF, you can streamline the process, avoid hitting DNS lookup limits, and keep your email infrastructure running smoothly. By using our dynamic SPF record and automatic flattening, you get all the benefits of a fully optimized SPF setup without the hassle.