Summary
In light of Google and Yahoo's new email sender authentication requirements taking effect in the first quarter of 2024, the Ocean Platform has been updated to support the new SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requirements. Ocean sites that are currently using a custom "from" email address for Ocean Patient Messages and Reminders are advised to update their DNS configuration to ensure email deliverability.
Background
By default, patient emails are sent from Ocean using "no-reply@cognisantmd.com" as the "from" address. However, clinics that own their own custom domain can optionally change the sender address to a custom email such as "no-reply@myclinic.com".
To use this feature, you must use your own domain name and have the ability to modify your DNS records with your domain name registrar.
Ocean Platform Updates & Recommended DNS Configuration Changes
Historically, the only DNS record requirement was an SPF TXT record indicating that the Ocean email servers are permitted to send email on your domain's behalf.
However, with Google and Yahoo's new email sender authentication requirements taking effect in the first quarter of 2024, the Ocean Platform has been updated to support the new SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requirements.
To ensure email deliverability, we highly recommend that organizations that use a custom 'From' email address to send email from Ocean update their DNS configuration to include the following:
- SPF TXT record allowing Ocean to send email on your behalf.
- DKIM CNAME records using Ocean’s domain key.
- DMARC TXT record telling email providers like Google and Yahoo what they should do if an email message cannot be verified to be legitimate.
Detailed guidance on configuring your DNS records for use with Ocean can be found here: Email Patients Using Your Own Email Address.
Note: While we we highly recommend configuring all 3 record types to ensure the best email deliverability, the minimum configuration requirement for Ocean to send email using your custom domain name is a valid SPF or DKIM record.