DKIM: What It Is and How to Set It Up for Email
Learn what DKIM is and how to set it up for email authentication. Understand DKIM signatures, DNS records, and how DKIM improves email deliverability.
DKIM
Also known as: DomainKeys Identified Mail
DKIM is a way to sign your emails so receiving servers can confirm they came from your domain and were not changed on the way.
DKIM stands for DomainKeys Identified Mail. It adds a digital signature to each email your system sends. The receiving server checks that signature against a public key stored in your DNS records. If it lines up, the server knows the message really came from your domain and that no one changed it in transit.
DKIM helps mailbox providers trust your email traffic. It cuts down on spoofing, where someone tries to send mail that looks like it comes from your domain. Strong DKIM setup makes it more likely your messages land in the inbox instead of spam. Most large providers expect it as a basic part of your authentication setup.
In practice, you usually turn on DKIM inside your email platform. The tool gives you one or more DNS records to add to your domain, then signs outgoing messages with a private key. After you add the records, test a few emails with a DKIM checker to confirm everything is passing. Review your keys from time to time and rotate them if your provider suggests it.
Related Terms
DMARC(Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance)
DMARC is an email security policy that tells receiving mail servers what to do when messages from your domain fail SPF or DKIM checks. It helps stop spoofing and gives you reports about who is sending email using your domain.
Learn more →Authenticated Received Chain (ARC)(ARC)
Authenticated Received Chain (ARC) is an email standard that keeps your authentication results when a message is forwarded or passes through mailing lists. It lets receiving servers see that earlier checks passed even if SPF or DKIM now look broken.
Learn more →Domain Reputation
How trusted your sending domain is by email providers like Gmail and Outlook. A strong domain reputation keeps your emails in the inbox instead of spam.
Learn more →Approval
The formal sign off from the people who must review your email before it goes out. It is the step where stakeholders confirm the content is correct, safe, and on brand.
Learn more →