In the context of email security, what is the purpose of a Sender Policy Framework?

The purpose of a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is to validate sender authenticity. SPF is an email authentication protocol that helps identify whether the sender of an email is authorized to send messages from that domain. It works by allowing domain owners to publish specific records in the Domain Name System (DNS) that list which mail servers are permitted to send email on behalf of the domain. When an email is received, the recipient's email server checks the SPF record to verify the sending server’s IP address against the authorized senders listed. If the IP address matches, it helps confirm that the email is from a legitimate source, thereby reducing the risk of spam and phishing attacks.

The other options—encrypting emails, tracking email delivery, and archiving for compliance—do not align with SPF’s specific function. Encryption serves to protect email content, while tracking and archiving deal with the management and compliance aspects of email rather than verifying the sender's identity.