TLS-RPT Setup With Sendmarc’s Email Security Platform
TLS-RPT setup overview:
- TLS-RPT helps teams identify and troubleshoot transport security issues affecting secure email delivery.
- The hostname, record type, and value must all be entered correctly for the setup to work as expected.
- For stronger email security, use TLS-RPT alongside MTA-STS, DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
Sendmarc manages TLS-RPT through DNS delegation. You publish the required CNAME record in your DNS, and Sendmarc hosts the underlying TLS-RPT value.
What TLS-RPT Does
TLS-RPT gives domain owners visibility into SMTP TLS issues that can affect secure email delivery. It helps email administrators, DNS teams, and security leaders identify transport failures and investigate delivery problems.
That visibility matters because transport security issues aren’t always obvious. A certificate problem, policy mismatch, or DNS error can disrupt secure delivery without making the root cause clear. TLS-RPT helps close that gap by giving teams reports on TLS-related delivery failures.
In practice, TLS-RPT helps teams:
- Detect issues affecting secure email delivery
- Improve visibility into transport failures
- Support troubleshooting when email security controls aren’t working correctly
- Reduce the risk of unresolved TLS problems across domains
TLS-RPT is commonly used alongside MTA-STS. MTA-STS helps define how receiving servers should handle secure SMTP delivery, while TLS-RPT provides the reporting that helps your team understand TLS-related issues.
TLS-RPT Setup With Sendmarc
Step 1: Get the Values From Sendmarc
Start by getting the Sendmarc-provided values for your domain.
Sendmarc provides the unique value your team needs to create the TLS-RPT record.
Step 2: Create the TLS-RPT CNAME Record in Your DNS
Publish the TLS-RPT record in your DNS using the Sendmarc-provided value.
Use the following pattern:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
_smtp._tls | CNAME | example.com._smtp._tls.sdmarc.net. |
The hostname must be published exactly as _smtp._tls. The record type must be CNAME. The value must match the delegated value provided by Sendmarc.
This is the key part of the TLS-RPT setup. Your DNS publishes the CNAME, and Sendmarc hosts the underlying TLS-RPT value.
Step 3: Specify the Policy
The TLS-RPT policy should include the v=TLSRPTv1 tag, followed by the rua reporting URI tag.
For example:
v=TLSRPTv1; rua=mailto:reports@example.com
Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation
After publishing the CNAME record, allow time for DNS propagation.
Propagation times vary by server and TTL settings, but your team should wait 24-48 hours before treating the update as complete.
Step 5: Verify the Record Was Added Correctly
Once the record has propagated, use Sendmarc’s TLS Record Checker to verify that your TLS-RPT record is live and correctly configured.
Strengthen Your Email Security Beyond TLS-RPT
TLS-RPT should be part of a broader email security strategy.
Teams setting up TLS-RPT often need support with related controls, especially when they want stronger transport security, better sender authentication, and more control over DNS-based records.
MTA-STS Management
Sendmarc helps publish and maintain MTA-STS policies to support stronger transport security and reduce manual record management.
DMARC Management
Sendmarc helps improve visibility into domain spoofing, support policy rollout, and move toward stronger DMARC enforcement over time.
SPF and DKIM Support
Sendmarc supports SPF and DKIM management to help strengthen sender authentication and reduce the risk of misconfiguration.
Centralized DNS Delegation
For supported records, centralized DNS delegation reduces manual changes and helps lower the risk of typos and publishing mistakes.
TLS-RPT Setup FAQs
How Does Sendmarc Set Up TLS-RPT?
Sendmarc supports TLS-RPT setup through DNS delegation. Your team publishes the required _smtp._tls record as a CNAME in your DNS, and Sendmarc hosts the underlying TLS-RPT value.
What DNS Record Do I Need for TLS-RPT?
The DNS record you need for TLS-RPT is a CNAME record published at _smtp._tls.
Example:
| Host | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
_smtp._tls | CNAME | example.com._smtp._tls.sdmarc.net. |
Where Do I Publish the TLS-RPT Record?
Where you publish the TLS-RPT record is in your own DNS at _smtp._tls. With Sendmarc, your team creates the CNAME record in your DNS, and Sendmarc hosts the underlying TLS-RPT value.
How Long Does TLS-RPT Take to Work?
How long TLS-RPT takes to work depends on your server and TTL settings. In most cases, your team should allow 24 to 48 hours for DNS propagation before testing the record.
How Do I Check if My TLS-RPT Record Is Working?
How you check if your TLS-RPT record is working is by using Sendmarc’s TLS Record Checker after DNS propagation. This helps confirm that the record is live.
Does TLS-RPT Improve Email Authentication?
TLS-RPT doesn’t directly improve email authentication. TLS-RPT gives visibility into transport delivery issues. Controls such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are used to strengthen sender authentication.
Do I Need MTA-STS as Well?
Whether you need MTA-STS as well depends on your transport security goals. TLS-RPT provides reporting and visibility into TLS-related issues, while MTA-STS helps support a stronger transport security policy. They are commonly implemented together.
What Else Should I Set Up Alongside TLS-RPT?
What else you should set up alongside TLS-RPT usually includes MTA-STS. Many teams also review DMARC, SPF, and DKIM at the same time to strengthen overall email security and reduce configuration gaps.