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Important Google Workspace Update!

Posted on by Emily Miller

Are you getting error messages when sending emails from your Google Workspace account? Google has recently implemented an extra security measure (DKIM) that needs to be added to your domain’s DNS settings.

 

What is DKIM?

DKIM or Domain Keys Identified Mail is an email authentication feature that provides confirmation to the sender’s account that your email is coming from a legitimate source. Google is specifically requiring this now for anyone using their own domain with Google Workspace accounts (and potentially other accounts).

 

How can I tell if I’m using a Google Workspace account?

Unsure if you fall into this category? You likely have a Google Workspace account if you meet the following requirements:

  1. Your email address ends with your website URL (e.g. hello@embermarketing.co)
  2. You can access your email accounts the same way you would access a gmail account (via mail.google.com)

 

What can I do about this?

Luckily there is a fairly quick fix! You and/or your web developer will need the following:

  • Access to your Google Workspace Admin account (as a superadmin – if you created this account yourself, you already have full access)
  • Access to your domain’s DNS Records. Note: if your website is hosted under a different account than your domain, your DNS records will likely need to be changed under your host’s settings

 

Step One: Enable DKIM in Google Workspace

  1. Log into your Google Workspace account
  2. Once you have accessed your Admin Console, navigate to Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail
  3. Click Authenticate Email and ensure that DKIM Authentication is ON
  4. Select the correct domain from the dropdown (if applicable)
  5. Save the information in the grey box

Step Two: Add TXT record to your domain/host
Note: Please only do this if you have experience working with DNS records and know what you are doing. Otherwise contact us and we can do this step for you.

  1. Navigate to your domain’s DNS records either in your domain registrar or hosting account.
  2. Create a new TXT record.
  3. Add “google._domainkey” under Name field
  4. Add the rest of the key (v=DKIM1….) in the Value field. Additional settings can likely stay on their defaults
  5. Save the record

That’s it! Note that any DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propogate (take effect).

 

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