Setting up email authentication for Help Scout

Help Scout signs your replies as helpscout.net “on behalf of” your domain until you add two DKIM CNAMEs — the one step that makes those tickets authenticate as you.

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The one-paragraph version

Help Scout stopped needing an SPF include in 2024 — it now passes SPF automatically through a VERP return-path on helpscout.net — so the only records you add are two DKIM CNAMEs: strong1._domainkey → strong1._domainkey.helpscout.net and strong2._domainkey → strong2._domainkey.helpscout.net. Because mail is sent “on behalf of” your domain from helpscout.net, DKIM is the only route to DMARC alignment. Source: docs.helpscout.com · verified 2026-07-15

The full checklist

Step 1. Complete domain authentication inside the service (see above) and paste the DNS records it generates.
Step 2. Make sure your SPF record includes this service — and count your lookups: the limit is 10 and every service adds some.
Step 3. Publish DMARC with p=none and a rua address, watch reports for a week, confirm this sender shows 100% pass.
Step 4. Only then tighten the policy — quarantine, then reject.

Frequently asked

Will this change break my current sending?

No. Adding SPF includes and DKIM records only adds authentication — it never blocks existing mail. The only risky step is tightening your DMARC policy, and that comes later, after reports confirm everything passes.

How do I know it worked?

Send yourself a test email and inspect the headers for spf=pass, dkim=pass and dmarc=pass — or just watch your DMARCKeeper dashboard: the sender's pass rate should hit 100% within a day or two.

Do I still need DMARC if SPF and DKIM are set up?

Yes. SPF and DKIM authenticate mail; DMARC is what tells receivers to BLOCK mail that fails, and it's the piece Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook now check for explicitly.

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