Setting Up a Third-Party Spam Filter

This article walks you through getting an external spam filtering service connected to your domain. It covers what to expect at a high level - your provider's own setup documentation will guide you through the exact technical steps.

How These Services Work

Every option below works the same basic way: incoming email is routed through the provider's servers first, where it's scanned and cleaned, and then forwarded to your mailbox. Spam, phishing attempts, and malware get caught and held in a quarantine you can review, while legitimate mail passes through with no extra steps for you. None of these services require new software or changes to how you check your email day to day — the filtering happens before mail ever reaches your inbox.

What to Expect During Setup

Regardless of which provider you choose, setup generally follows the same pattern:

• Sign up for a free trial or plan with the provider.
• List your email addresses with the provider, so mail to valid accounts is recognized.
• Update a setting called an “MX record” for your domain. This is a small change that tells the internet where to deliver your email - your provider's setup page gives you the exact values to enter, and walks you through where to enter them.
• Wait for propagation - the filtering will take effect anywhere from a few hours up to 48 hours after the changes are made.

Note: the MX record change is the only step that affects how your email is delivered, and most providers walk you through it with copy-and-paste values specific to your account. There's no risk of losing existing email during this process.

Recommended Providers

We've reviewed the following providers and recommend starting with one of these. Each offers a free trial, so you can evaluate fit before committing.

Choosing a Different Provider

You're not limited to the list above — if you'd prefer a different spam filtering provider, that's completely fine. The same general setup pattern described earlier will apply to most services.

Whether you choose one of the recommended providers or a different one, our team is happy to assist with setup and configuration.

Let Our Team Know

Once you have selected a gateway provider and completed your initial account setup, please email our support team at vcgsupport@vcgcorporate.com with:

1. The name of the gateway provider you have chosen.
2. The specific, custom MX records provided in your account dashboard or setup wizard.

Our team will use this information to optimize your mail server configuration and assist with the transition to ensure a smooth transition with little to no downtime. Please reach out to us before making any MX record (DNS) changes.