DKIM Not Verified SES

Overview

DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication method designed to detect email spoofing. It allows the receiver to check that an email claimed to have come from a specific domain was indeed authorized by the owner of that domain. In the context of Amazon Simple Email Service (SES), a 'DKIM Not Verified' status indicates issues in the DKIM setup that can affect email deliverability and security.

Security Concerns

1. Email Spoofing: Without proper DKIM verification, malicious parties can spoof emails from your domain, potentially leading to phishing attacks against your customers or internal team.

2. Compromised Deliverability: Emails from your domain may be marked as spam by receiving email servers, impacting business communications and operational efficiency.

3. Reputation Damage: Continuous delivery of emails to spam folders can degrade your domain's reputation, making it harder to reach users' inboxes in the future.

Remediation Steps

Verify DKIM Records

Ensure that your DNS records are correctly set up as per Amazon SES requirements. This includes:

• Checking that the DKIM tokens in the SES console match the CNAME records in your DNS settings.

• Verifying that the DNS records have propagated fully across the Internet, which may take up to 48 hours.

Test Email Authenticity

Use tools like dig or nslookup to manually check the DNS records for DKIM authenticity from your domain. Example command:

dig +short <YOUR_DKIM>.domainkey.<YOUR_DOMAIN> CNAME

SES Console Configuration

• Navigate to the Amazon SES console.

• Select the domain under 'Domains' in the 'Identity Management' section.

• Click on 'View Details' next to the domain to see DKIM settings and status.

• If the status is not verified, you can click on 'Generate DKIM Settings' and update your DNS records accordingly.

Monitoring and Alerts

Set up monitoring for email deliverability and reputation using Amazon CloudWatch and SES event publishing. Create alerts for:

• Sudden changes in email bounce rates.

• Complaints that could indicate issues with email content or delivery.

Regular Audits

Conduct regular audits of your DKIM and SPF records to ensure they remain valid and have not been altered unexpectedly.

Conclusion

Addressing 'DKIM Not Verified' in Amazon SES is crucial for maintaining the integrity and deliverability of your email communications. By ensuring proper DKIM configuration and monitoring, you can protect your domain from abuse and maintain your organization's email communication standards.