A Step-by-Step Guide to Sending Emails Using a Dedicated IP with AWS SES and WorkMail

 

Setting Up AWS SES and WorkMail

1. Create an AWS SES account: The first step in setting up AWS SES is to create an AWS account. If you already have an AWS account, you can skip this step.

2. Verify your email address: Before you can send emails with AWS SES, you need to verify the email addresses you will be using. This is to ensure that you have permission to send emails from those addresses. You can do this by going to the SES console and clicking on "Email Addresses" under "Identity Management." Follow the instructions to verify your email address. 3. Request a dedicated IP address: In order to send large volumes of emails reliably, it is recommended to use a dedicated IP address for your AWS SES account. To request a dedicated IP address, go to the SES console and click on "Dedicated IPs" under "Account Details." Follow the instructions to request a dedicated IP. 4. Configure reverse DNS: Reverse DNS (rDNS) is important for email deliverability, as many email providers use it to verify the identity of the sender. To set up rDNS for your dedicated IP, go to the SES console and click on "Dedicated IPs" under "Account Details." Select your dedicated IP and click on "Edit Reverse DNS Settings" to add a valid rDNS record. 5. Create an IAM user with SES permissions: It is recommended to create a separate IAM user with restricted permissions for your SES account. This helps to ensure the security of your account. To create an IAM user with SES permissions, go to the IAM console and click on "Users" under "Identity and Access Management." Click on "Add user" and follow the instructions to create a user with SES permissions. 6. Integrate AWS SES with WorkMail: Now that your AWS SES account is set up, the final step is to integrate it with WorkMail. This will allow you to send emails from your WorkMail account using AWS SES as the email server. To do this, go to the WorkMail console and click on "Domains" under "Mail Settings." Click on the "Edit" button next to your domain and select "Use another server for outgoing mail" under "Email Server." Enter your AWS SES SMTP credentials and click on "Save changes."

Congratulations, you have successfully set up AWS SES and integrated it with WorkMail. You can now start sending emails using your verified email addresses and dedicated IP for improved email deliverability.

Configuring AWS SES for Dedicated IP

The configuration process for AWS SES to use a dedicated IP involves the following steps: Step 1: Request a Dedicated IP Address The first step is to request a dedicated IP address from AWS. This can be done by submitting a service limit increase request in the AWS Support Center. Step 2: Verify Your Domain Before you can use the dedicated IP address, you need to verify the domain you want to send emails from. This can be done by adding a TXT record to your DNS settings or by setting up an MX record for your domain. Step 3: Create a Dedicated IP Pool Once you have a dedicated IP address and a verified domain, you need to create a dedicated IP pool. This will act as a container for your dedicated IP address and will allow you to use it for sending emails with SES. Step 4: Update SES Configuration In the AWS SES console, go to the "Email Sending" tab and select "Dedicated IP pools" from the sidebar. Then, select the dedicated IP pool you created in the previous step and click on "Configure dedicated IP pool". Here, you can choose which of your verified domains will use this dedicated IP address. Step 5: Verify Dedicated IP Reputation After configuring the dedicated IP pool, it's important to monitor its reputation. This can be done in the "Dedicated IP pools" section of the SES console, where you can view the dedicated IP's reputation and delivery metrics. Troubleshooting Common Issues:

• If emails are not being delivered after configuring a dedicated IP, make sure the IP has a good reputation. If necessary, you can work on improving the IP's reputation by following best practices for email sending and gradually increasing the volume of emails sent from the IP.
• If you encounter any error messages during the configuration process, check the SES documentation for solutions and make sure you have completed all the necessary steps correctly.
• If emails are being delivered to spam or junk folders, make sure you have correctly verified your domain and set up the necessary DNS records. You can also consider seeking assistance from AWS support for further troubleshooting.