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DNS Management

DNS, short for Domain Name System, is often described as the "phonebook of the internet." Every website and mail server has a technical address made of numbers, but people don't want to remember strings of numbers — they want to type a name, like yourbusiness.com. DNS records are what quietly translate that name into the correct technical destination, every single time someone visits your site or sends you an email.

The good news: SitePack automates almost everything related to DNS for you. This guide explains what's happening behind the scenes, and where to look if you ever need to view your domain's records.

Accessing DNS settings​

In your SitePack Admin, go to Settings → Domains and click on the specific domain you want to view. From there, you can see the DNS records currently configured for that domain.

Note: SitePack exclusively manages the DNS for every domain registered on our platform — we do not support connecting or managing DNS for domains registered with external providers (see the Domain Management Overview for the full policy and why it exists).

Automated security records​

To keep your website and email both secure and reliably delivered, SitePack automatically manages several important background records so you never have to configure them by hand:

  • SSL/TLS Certificates: These encrypt the connection between your website and its visitors (and secure your mail connections too), which is what enables the padlock icon and "https://" in a browser's address bar. SitePack handles both issuing these certificates and automatically renewing them before they expire.
  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): A record that tells other mail servers exactly which servers are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain. Without it, your legitimate emails are more likely to be flagged as spam, or worse, someone else could impersonate your domain.
  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds an invisible digital signature to every email you send, proving to the receiving mail server that the message genuinely came from your domain and wasn't altered or forged along the way.

Together, SPF and DKIM are the main defenses against "spoofing" — someone sending fraudulent email that appears to come from your domain — and both directly affect whether your real emails land in an inbox or a spam folder.

Common DNS records explained​

If you do look at your domain's DNS records, here is what the most common entries actually mean:

  • A Record: Points your domain to the specific server address where your website lives — effectively your website's "home" on the internet.
  • MX Record: Directs incoming email for your domain to the correct mail servers, ensuring messages sent to you actually arrive.
  • CNAME: Creates an alias, letting one address point to another — for example, connecting www.yourdomain.com to the same destination as yourdomain.com.
Expert Tip

If you are ever unsure about a specific DNS record, it is best to leave the default SitePack settings in place. These defaults are configured specifically to keep your site and mail working correctly, and changing them without understanding the effect can cause your website or email to stop working.

Frequently asked questions​

What does DNS actually do, in simple terms?​

DNS translates the easy-to-remember name of your website (like yourbusiness.com) into the technical address computers use to find it, similar to how a phonebook translates a name into a phone number.

Do I need to configure DNS records myself?​

No. SitePack automatically configures and maintains every DNS record needed for your website and email to function correctly and securely, including SSL certificates, SPF, and DKIM.

What happens if my SPF or DKIM records are missing or wrong?​

Your outgoing emails become more likely to be marked as spam by the recipient's mail provider, and it becomes easier for someone else to send fraudulent email that appears to come from your domain. SitePack manages both of these records automatically to prevent this.

Can I edit my own DNS records if I want to?​

You can view your domain's DNS records under Settings → Domains in your Admin Portal. However, we recommend leaving the default settings in place unless you fully understand the change you want to make, since incorrect records can break your website or email.

What is the difference between an A Record and a CNAME?​

An A Record points your domain directly to the server where your website is hosted. A CNAME creates an alias that points one address to another — for example, making sure both www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com lead visitors to the same place.

Can I use an external DNS provider instead of SitePack's?​

No. SitePack manages DNS exclusively for domains registered on our platform, which allows us to guarantee your website, SSL, and email security stay correctly configured at all times. See the Domain Management Overview for more on this policy.