An SPF record can save your domain from spam and phishing by allowing you to keep a record of your authorized sources. IONOS highly recommends their customers set up SPF for their respective domains. Here’s how you do it: 

Creating SPF record for IONOS

Configuring an SPF Record:

• You can configure an existing SPF (TXT) record in the DNS settings of your domain right in your IONOS account.
• Log in to your IONOS account.
• Click on the Domains & SSL tile.
• For the desired domain, under Actions, click on the gear icon and select DNS.
• You will go to an overview of the DNS records available for your domain. SPF records can be recognized by their type SPF (TXT).
• Click on the pencil icon under Actions for the SPF record you want to edit.
• Add the required entries in the Value field. Make sure that the existing entries are not deleted.
• Publish this record in your DNS records section for your respective domain. 

• Click Save.

Creating an SPF record:

• If no SPF record exists for your domain yet and you want to use the IONOS mail servers, follow these steps to create one:
• Log in to your IONOS account.
• Click on the Domains & SSL tile.
• For the desired domain, under Actions, click the gear icon and select DNS.
• Click ADD RECORD and select SPF (TXT) under Type.
• In the Host Name field, enter the desired host, for example, www or @. The @ character is used as a wildcard in this case and causes the setting to apply to the domain and all subdomains. If you do not know what to enter, you can also leave the field empty. The SPF record then applies to the entire domain, including the subdomains.
• In the Value field, enter the statement for authorizing the IONOS mail servers. You can choose between the Softfail and Hardfail settings.
• If you want to use the Softfail setting, add the following:

v=spf1 include:_spf.perfora.net include:_spf.kundenserver.de ~all

• If you want to use the Hardfail setting instead, enter the following:

v=spf1 include:_spf.perfora.net include:_spf.kundenserver.de -all

Note: We recommend using the Softfail setting.

• Optional: Select the desired TTL.
• By default, your settings are active immediately.
• Click Save.
• Wait for 72 hours to allow your DNS to process the changes 

Finally, you can look up your record using our SPF record lookup tool, and enable DMARC for your domains to minimize spoofing attacks by taking a free DMARC trial.