---
title: "Why is sending emails without DKIM a risk you can’t afford? | DMARC Report"
description: "Why is sending emails without DKIM a risk you can’t afford? from DMARC Report explains practical steps for email authentication, domain protection."
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---

Quick Answer

DKIM (RFC 6376) signs email messages cryptographically, and unlike SPF, the signature survives email forwarding - which is why DMARC alignment via DKIM is more reliable than SPF alignment for forwarded mail. DMARC Report Why is sending emails without DKIM a risk you can’t afford?

Related: [Free DMARC Checker](/tools/dmarc-checker/) ·[How to Create an SPF Record](/tools/spf-record-generator/) ·[SPF Record Format](/blog/spf-format-checker-dos-and-donts-for-email-authentication/) 

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![Why is sending emails without DKIM a risk you can’t afford?](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/2022/04/dmarc-alignment-6379.jpg) 

## Try Our Free DKIM Lookup

Auto-discover DKIM selectors for any domain - scan 185 common selectors across all major providers.

[ Discover DKIM Selectors → ](/tools/dkim-lookup/) 

![Dmarc office 365 9921 150x150](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/2025/03/dmarc-office-365-9921-150x150.jpg) 

> The organizations that invest in email authentication early save themselves from expensive incidents later, says Vasile Diaconu, Operations Lead at DuoCircle. We see the pattern constantly: a domain gets spoofed, customers lose trust, and the remediation effort costs 10x what proactive DMARC setup would have cost.

DKIM ([RFC 6376](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6376)) signs email messages cryptographically, and unlike SPF, the signature survives email forwarding - which is why DMARC alignment via DKIM is more reliable than SPF alignment for forwarded mail. DMARC Report

Why is sending emails without DKIM a risk you can’t afford?

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Sending emails without signing them with DKIM is a bad idea because it weakens your [email security](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-email-security-matters-and-how-to-get-it-right/) and increases the chances of your emails being rejected or [marked as spam](https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/facebook-spam-posts-independent-small-news-publishers/). It’s a security and deliverability risk that is not worth taking, especially when you know **Google, Yahoo**, and other [email service providers](https://www.activecampaign.com/glossary/email-service-provider) require bulk senders to deploy SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

All major email service providers consider [email authentication](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-email-security-matters-and-how-to-get-it-right/) protocol as an indication of a **safe and trusted sender’s domain**, labeling most of the emails you send as ‘safe to open.’

![Create dmarc record](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/2025/03/create-dmarc-record-3433.jpg) 

## Why is DKIM important for your domain?

Here is a run-down of reasons that will convince you to consider implementing DKIM if you haven’t already done so.

As of 2025, DMARC is mandatory under multiple compliance frameworks. [CISA BOD 18-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-18-01) requires p=reject for US federal domains. [PCI DSS v4.0](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) mandates DMARC for organizations processing payment card data as of March 2025\. Google and Yahoo require DMARC for bulk senders (5,000+ messages/day) since February 2024, and [Microsoft began rejecting](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-office-365/email-authentication-dmarc-configure) non-compliant email in May 2025\. The UK [NCSC](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/email-security-and-anti-spoofing), Australia’s [ASD](https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/ism/cyber-security-guidelines/guidelines-email), and Canada’s [CCCS](https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/implementation-guidance-email-domain-protection) all mandate DMARC for government domains. Cyber insurers increasingly require DMARC enforcement as an underwriting condition.

## 1\. Prevents email spoofing and phishing attacks

Without [DKIM](https://dmarcreport.com/what-is-dkim/), attackers can forge emails that appear to come from your \*\*domain, tricking recipients into opening [malicious emails](https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/100687-the-last-six-months-shows-a-341-increase-in-malicious-emails). DKIM helps verify that the email was actually sent from your domain and hasn’t been tampered with.

DKIM verifies the integrity of an email by attaching a [cryptographic signature](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/food-trust?topic=automation-cryptographic-signatures) to the header. The recipient’s server decrypts the signature using the [public key](https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/public-key) published in the DNS and compares it with a **newly computed hash**. If they match, the email is considered authentic and unchanged.

## 2\. Improves email deliverability

Whenever mailboxes receive emails from **DKIM-secured domains**, they consider them quite safe. This increases the chances of your messages passing all security filters and landing in the recipients’ primary inboxes. A better [email deliverability](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-email-deliverability-important-for-online-businesses/) is directly proportional to high open and [click-through rates](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/clickthroughrates.asp), which are key metrics for [marketing campaigns](https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/glossary/email-campaign/).

_On the contrary, receiving mailboxes question the authenticity and integrity of emails from non-DKIM-secured domains_. Such emails are highly likely to land in [spam folders](https://cybernews.com/news/microsofts-breach-notification-emails-end-up-in-spam-folder/) or get rejected.

## 3\. Strengthens DMARC policy

If you want to deploy DMARC for **optimum email protection**, you should have at least one - [SPF](https://autospf.com/blog/spf-guide-understanding-sender-policy-framework/) or DKIM. However, setting both SPF and DKIM is considered a best practice. If DKIM is missing and SPF fails, your [DMARC policy](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/what-is-a-dmarc-policy-and-how-does-it-affect-sending-my-emails/) might instruct email providers to reject or quarantine your emails. _This is simply because DMARC works on the principle that an email should pass at least one of the checks (SPF or DKIM) to pass DMARC_.

## 4\. Required for BIMI

[BIMI](https://www.digicert.com/faq/email-trust/what-is-bimi-and-why-is-it-important) helps you display your logo next to your emails. This allows recipients to spot your messages in a [cluttered inbox](https://studyfinds.org/unread-emails-thats-unwise/), increasing engagement possibilities. If you want to deploy BIMI for your domain, \*\*properly configured DKIM and [DMARC records](https://dmarcreport.com/dmarc-record/) are necessary. _Without DKIM, your emails won’t qualify for BIMI, reducing brand visibility in inboxes_.

![Dmarc report](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/2025/03/dmarc-report-6541.jpg) 

## 5\. Builds trust with ISPs and recipients

[ISPs ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet%5Fservice%5Fprovider)consider DKIM a signal of legitimacy and trust, helping maintain a healthy [domain reputation](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/how-can-you-check-your-domain-reputation/). _If DKIM is absent, your domain may have a lower reputation, especially if you send many emails daily_. This makes it harder to send \*\*emails reliably and expect outcomes from marketing campaigns.

Configuring DKIM can be daunting. Moreover, it’s not a one-time job; you must keep evaluating [DMARC reports](https://dmarcreport.com/) as they include insights on failed emails that often indicate misconfigured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. It’s a resource-intensive task , so if you need a helping hand, please **reach out to us**.

## Sources

- [CISA Binding Operational Directive 18-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-18-01)
- [Microsoft Outlook DMARC Enforcement May 2025](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-office-365/email-authentication-dmarc-configure) (2025)
- [PCI DSS v4.0 - DMARC Requirement](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) (2025)

## Topics

[ BIMI ](/tags/bimi/)[ dkim ](/tags/dkim/)[ DMARC ](/tags/dmarc/)[ dmarc record ](/tags/dmarc-record/)[ email security ](/tags/email-security/)[ SPF ](/tags/spf/) 

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) 

[ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) 

General Manager

Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead for DMARC Report's 2,000+ customer base.

[LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) 

## Take control of your DMARC reports

Turn raw XML into actionable dashboards. Start free - no credit card required.

[Start Free Trial](https://app.dmarcreport.com/) [Check Your DMARC Record](/tools/dmarc-checker/) 

## Related Articles

[  Foundational 7m  4 sectors that need email authentication the most and why  Oct 15, 2024 ](/blog/4-sectors-that-need-email-authentication-the-most-and-why/)[  Foundational 9m  Answering Your Webinar Questions: Email Security - From The Desk Of DMARCReport  Dec 2, 2025 ](/blog/answering-webinar-questions-email-security-dmarcreport-desk-insights-guide/)[  Foundational 11m  What are common issues revealed by DMARC aggregate reports and how should I prioritize them?  Feb 4, 2026 ](/blog/common-dmarc-aggregate-report-issues-and-how-to-prioritize-them/)[  Foundational 12m  Improve Your Domain’s Email Security By Checking Dmarc Compliance  Aug 29, 2025 ](/blog/improve-your-domains-email-security-by-checking-dmarc-compliance/)

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