IP Address Reputation in E-Mail Systems

IP address reputation is a measure of the trustworthiness and reliability of a particular IP address in the context of an e-mail system. A good reputation indicates that the IP address is generally used to send legitimate, non-spam email, while a poor reputation may indicate that the IP address is used to send spam or other malicious email. Email systems often use IP address reputation as a factor in determining whether to deliver an incoming message, move to spam/junk folder and may block or filter messages from IP addresses with poor reputations in order to protect their users from spam and other unwanted email.

Reputation based on the Network your email system is on

The network that an IP address is on can affect its reputation in an e-mail system because the reputation of a network can have an impact on the reputation of the individual IP addresses that are part of that network. For example, if a network is known to be used by spammers or to host malicious content, the reputation of the IP addresses on that network may be negatively affected.

On the other hand, if a network has a good reputation and is used by reputable organizations, the reputation of the IP addresses on that network may be positively affected. Therefore, the network that an IP address is on can play a role in determining its reputation in an e-mail system.

Selecting the right network provider

Selecting the right network provider is the first step to build up a reliable email system.

Here are a few tips for selecting a network provider with a good reputation for e-mail systems:

• Research the reputation of the network provider. Check online reviews, ratings, and other information to learn about the provider’s track record and the experiences of other users.
• Ask for recommendations from other organizations that run email systems. They may be able to provide insights into the reputation of different network providers and help you make a more informed decision.
• Check the provider’s policies and practices. Look for information about how they handle spam, malicious content, and other potential threats related to their network.
• Consider the provider’s technical capabilities and infrastructure. A provider with a strong and reliable network, robust security measures, and good support services can help ensure the integrity and performance of your email system.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that you select a network provider with a good reputation for running reliable email systems.

IP Reputation based on PTR record

The PTR (pointer) record of an IP address is a record in the Domain Name System (DNS) that maps the IP address to a domain name. This can be used to identify the owner or operator of the IP address. In some cases, the PTR record of an IP address may influence its reputation in an e-mail system. For example, if the PTR record indicates that the IP address belongs to a known spammer or a domain that is frequently used to send spam, the reputation of the IP address may be negatively affected. On the other hand, if the PTR record indicates that the IP address belongs to a reputable and trustworthy domain, the reputation of the IP address may be positively affected. Therefore, the PTR record of an IP address can play a role in determining its reputation in an e-mail system.

Changing the PTR record of an IP address can affect its reputation in an e-mail system because the PTR record is often used to identify the owner or operator of the IP address. If the PTR record is changed to point to a different domain, this can indicate a change in the ownership or operation of the IP address. Depending on the reputation of the new domain, this change may have a positive or negative effect on the reputation of the IP address.

Also often changing PTR record indicates, that the email system behind the IP may be used for malicious activity by hiding it’s behaviour behind new DNS Records.

IP Reputation based on domains being hosted on the email systems

Hosted domains on an email system can impact the IP reputation of the system because the reputation of the domains can have an impact on the reputation of the IP addresses that are associated with the email system. For example, if a hosted domain is known to be used for spamming or other malicious activity, the reputation of the IP addresses used by the email system may be negatively affected. This can make it more difficult for the email system to deliver messages to other systems.

On the other hand, if the hosted domains have good reputations and are used for legitimate purposes, the reputation of the IP addresses used by the email system may be positively affected. This can help improve the deliverability of the email system. Therefore, the reputation of the hosted domains on an email system can impact the reputation of the IP addresses used by the system.

IP Reputation based on the traffic

Email traffic on an email system can impact the IP reputation of the system because the volume, content, and behavior of the email traffic can affect the reputation of the IP addresses used by the system. For example, if the email system is used to send a high volume of spam or other unwanted email, the reputation of the IP addresses used by the system may be negatively affected. This can make it more difficult for the email system to deliver messages to other systems, and can increase the risk of spam and other unwanted email being delivered to users.

On the other hand, if the email traffic on the system is legitimate and follows best practices for sending email, the reputation of the IP addresses used by the system may be positively affected. This can help improve the deliverability of the email system and protect its users from spam and other unwanted email. Therefore, the email traffic on an email system can impact the reputation of the IP addresses used by the system.

IP Reputation based on history in third party systems

You may have selected the right provider, but the history of the IP you have taken over, maybe have been used for malicious traffic. There are several ways to improve the reputation:

• Dependent on the system you have bad reputation on, it is a good idea to contact the according party and ask them to reset the reputation or even the whole history. Check their postmaster website and explain, that you have taken over this domain for legitimate email traffic.
• Sometimes you can simply delist a blacklisted IP address and return to normal reputation
• If you have taken over a domain, which was never used for email delivery, you may slowly increase legitimate the traffic to senders. This will build up your reputation as a valid sender.

Building a high reputation IP addresses for legitimate email traffic is an essential part of an email service operator. This can’t be done in one day.

Loosing reputation can be done in seconds, that’s why maintaining your email service and supporting customers is essential to stay in email legit business.

Summary

Having a good reputation is essential for deliverability in email systems, but you can do a lot to gain this reputation.

Here we have some additional tips, which may help you:

• Use best practices for sending email
• Use authentication protocols (e.g. SPF and DKIM), and implement a feedback loop.
• Monitor your sending reputation and address any issues that may affect it, such as high bounce rates or spam complaints.
• Avoid sending spam or other unwanted email, and comply with email marketing regulations and best practices.
• Monitor your IP and domain reputation, and take steps to address any issues that may cause your IP or domain to be blacklisted.