10 DKIM Record Generators to Verify Email Authenticity: An In-Depth Guide

Hi there!

Email phishing and spoofing attacks are serious problems today. Just look at these statistics I came across during my research:

54% of cyber attacks involve phishing or spoofing (Source: Statista)
3.1 billion spoofed emails sent daily (Source: Proofpoint)

Yikes! As you can imagine, tools that can authenticate and validate emails are becoming extremely important.

One of the most effective technologies is DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). But I know manually creating DKIM records can be confusing!

So in this guide, I‘ll be sharing my top recommendations for DKIM record generators. I‘ve tested and compared 10 leading options so you can find the perfect fit.

I‘ll also be sprinkling in some of my insight as an email infrastructure geek! There are some best practices around keys, selectors, DNS setup, etc. that I want to share to help you properly implement DKIM.

Ready? Let‘s dive in!

An Expert Overview of DKIM and Why It Matters

First, what exactly is DKIM and why should you care about it?

DKIM uses cryptographic signatures to authenticate that an email came from the authorized domain, and that the contents are unchanged.

Here‘s a quick technical rundown of how it works:

The sending server adds a DKIM signature header to the email. This contains encrypted information like the domain, timestamp, body hash, etc.
The receiving server uses the sender‘s public key to decrypt the signature. It verifies the domain and email contents match.
The result will be a ‘pass‘ or ‘fail‘. Some systems also give granular alignment data on what passed or failed.

Now the key benefits:

Spoofing protection – Since the domain is validated, attackers can‘t impersonate someone else‘s domain.
Tamper evidence – Any changes made to the email after sending would invalidate the signature.
Reputation builder – Receivers can trust DKIM verified emails, improving sender reputation.
Deliverability booster – Email providers often prefer DKIM signed emails with good alignment over unsigned mail.

Based on my experience, proper DKIM setup is one of the most impactful things you can do to protect against phishing and improve deliverability rates.

Next, let‘s look at 10 great tools to generate valid DKIM records.

Top 10 DKIM Record Generators

Creating DKIM records manually in DNS is complex. Here are my top picks for DKIM generators that make it easy:

Generator	Key Features
EasyDKIM	Simple interface, quick generation
DMARCLY	Clean, straightforward, copies keys to clipboard
SparkPost	Focused on key generation, allows 1024 – 2048 bit keys
PowerDMARC	Fast DKIM record and key generation
SocketLabs	Flexible key size options, escape characters, split keys
ZeroBounce	Good key size choices, gives policy records
DKIMCore	Simple open-source tool
Skysnag	Allows multiple key lengths, generates full records
Netcore	Flexible key length options
DVANA	Simple Office 365 specific DKIM generator

Now let‘s take a deeper look at each tool and what makes them great.

EasyDKIM

Easiest option if you want a fuss-free DKIM record generator
Limitations are lack of key length choices and advanced options
But works great if you just need simple, quick DKIM generation

Pros

Very straightforward interface
Fast generation of keys and record

Cons

Only 3 key length choices
No advanced configuration options

DMARCLY

DMARCLY has one of the cleanest interfaces out there
The one-click copy buttons ensure you never have to manually select and copy long keys
Downside is it lacks flexibility in key length and other options

Pros

Simple, intuitive interface
One-click copy for keys
Quick generation

Cons

Limited key length choices
No advanced options

SparkPost

SparkPost is laser-focused on generating DKIM key pairs
It doesn‘t provide the full DKIM record
But allows flexible 1024 – 2048 bit key sizes

Pros

Specialized tool just for DKIM keys
Supports longer key lengths up to 2048 bits
Simple interface

Cons

Generates keys only, not full DKIM record
No advanced configuration

PowerDMARC

PowerDMARC is all about fast, fuss-free DKIM record generation
There are no options for advanced settings or key length selection
But works great if you just need a quick, basic DKIM record

Pros

Speedy generation of DKIM record
Also provides private key
Simple interface

Cons

No customization of key length
Very limited configuration options

SocketLabs

SocketLabs shines with flexible options for advanced users
You can choose key lengths from 512 – 2048 bits
Additional options like escaping characters and split keys

Pros

Granular selection of key length
Useful advanced options
Downloadable keys

Cons

Does not generate full DKIM record
Slightly complex interface

ZeroBounce

ZeroBounce strikes a nice balance between ease-of-use and customization
Allows 512 – 2048 bit key length selection
Provides not just keys but also selector and policy records

Pros

Good range of key size options
Generates selector and policy records
Fairly simple interface

Cons

Does not output full DKIM record
Limited advanced configuration

DKIMCore

DKIMCore is an open-source tool with a no-frills interface
You don‘t get much customization or even see the public key by default
But it‘s free and gets the job done for basic DKIM key generation

Pros

Simple open-source tool
Easy and fast generation

Cons

Very minimal features
Public key not displayed

Skysnag

Skysnag strikes a great balance with an intuitive interface and good features
Allows multiple key length choices
Outputs full DKIM record along with public/private keys

Pros

Generates entire DKIM record
Supports multiple key lengths
Simpler interface than some advanced tools

Cons

Slightly more complex than barebones generators

Netcore

Netcore provides another solid mid-range option
Like SocketLabs and ZeroBounce, it allows flexible key length selection
The interface is clean but lacks advanced options

Pros

Allows multiple key length choices
Simple, straightforward interface

Cons

Generates keys only, not full DKIM record
Limited advanced configuration

DVANA

DVANA fills a specific niche – Office 365 DKIM generation
So if you use Office 365, this one-click tool is made for you
From a features perspective it‘s barebones, but does exactly what it promises

Pros

Specialized Office 365 DKIM generator
Very fast and easy

Cons

Office 365 only
No customization or advanced options

So in summary, you have a wide range of great options for every use case – from total beginners to DKIM power users!

Next, let‘s go over some best practices I‘ve learned for properly implementing DKIM at your organization.

Expert Tips for Proper DKIM Setup

Here are some key tips I recommend based on extensive experience with DKIM deployments:

Use Sufficiently Long Cryptographic Keys

Don‘t use 1024-bit keys if you can avoid it – they‘re now considered cryptographically weak. 2048-bit is a good minimum. For maximum security, go with 4096-bit.

Create Multiple Selectors for Different Email Types

Use unique selectors for marketing mail, transactional mail, etc. This allows you to have different signing practices. You can also expire selectors independently.

Handle Private Keys with Care

Store private keys securely, ideally in a hardware security module (HSM).
Limit access through permissions and roles.
When employees leave, make sure to remove their access.

Promptly Update Public Keys in DNS

Any time you generate new DKIM public keys, upload them to DNS right away. This avoids authentication failures.

Plan for Rotation and Expiration of Keys

Don‘t use single key pairs forever.
Rotate to new keys every 1-2 years.
Expire old public keys so they can‘t be used if compromised.

Monitor DKIM Authentication Results

Use a tool like Postmark or Valimail to check DKIM alignment and authentication. Identify and fix issues quickly.

Validate DKIM Policies and DNS Setup

Double check that your DNS TXT records are configured properly. Use a DKIM validator to test authentication.

Ensure DKIM Header Alignment

The headers included in the DKIM signature must match those visible in the email headers. Misalignments will lead to authentication failures.

That covers the key best practices I wanted to share from my experience. Of course proper DKIM setup takes time to perfect, but I hope these tips give you a solid foundation.

Now let‘s wrap things up with some concluding thoughts.

Conclusion: Start Securing Your Emails with DKIM

Well, we covered a lot of ground here! The main takeaways:

DKIM is a highly effective email authentication system that combats spoofing, tampering, and deliverability issues.
Manually configuring DKIM records is complex, so using a generator tool can save huge headaches.
I recommended 10 excellent DKIM generators spanning from simple to fully featured. Take your pick!
Follow the deployment best practices I outlined around keys, selectors, monitoring, DNS, etc. This will prevent many rookie mistakes.

I hope this guide gave you a helpful overview of DKIM tools and configuration tips! Proper email authentication has so many benefits – it‘s one of the best things you can do to protect your domain‘s reputation.

If you have any other questions feel free to reach out! I‘m always happy to chat more about email deliverability and authentication.

Stay safe out there,

[Your Name]