Allow List

Overview

The Email Allow List feature in Aurora SendCloud enables strategic bypassing of suppression list filters for critical email delivery scenarios. This advanced functionality allows authorized sending to specific recipient addresses or domains that would otherwise be blocked due to bounce, block, complaint, or unsubscribe statuses.

Key Concepts

Suppression Lists Explained

Aurora SendCloud maintains four primary suppression lists to protect sender reputation and ensure compliance:

• Bounce List: Contains addresses with persistent delivery failures (hard bounces)
• Block List: Includes addresses manually blocked or flagged by system filters
• Complaint List: Tracks recipients who have marked emails as spam
• Unsubscribe List: Contains recipients who have opted out of communications

Allow List Functionality

The Allow List creates exceptions to standard suppression rules, permitting email delivery to specified addresses despite their presence in suppression lists. This feature supports both individual email addresses and entire domains.

Configuration Process

Log into your Aurora SendCloud account
. Navigate to Settings​ ​→ Allow List
. Click Add

Step 1: Select API_USER
Choose the specific API_USER that will utilize this allow rule. The rule applies only to emails sent through the selected API_USER.

Step 2: Configure Allowed Recipients
Enter the email addresses or domains you wish to allowlist. Use proper formatting for optimal processing.

Input Format

Multiple entries separated by semicolons

The platform automatically parses the input and creates separate allow records for each item.

Step 3: Define Application Scope
Select which suppression lists the allow rule should bypass. Choose one or more of the following:

• Bounce: Override hard bounce blocks
• Block: Bypass manual or system blocks
• Complaint: Override spam complaint filters
• Unsubscribe: Bypass unsubscribe status

Recommended Use Cases

Appropriate Applications ✅

Critical System Communications

Password reset emails
Account activation messages
Security alerts and notifications
Order confirmations and transaction updates

Compliance Requirements

Legal notices and terms updates
Billing and payment notifications
Regulatory compliance communications

Technical Recovery Scenarios

Temporary email system outages
Domain/IP reputation recovery
False positive block corrections

Risky Applications ⚠️

Marketing Communications

Promotional campaigns
Newsletter distributions
Product announcements
Any non-essential marketing content

Opt-Out Overrides

Marketing to previously unsubscribed users
Re-engagement campaigns to complainers
Any communication against recipient preferences

Best Practices

Strategic Implementation

Precision Targeting

Use specific email addresses rather than domains when possible
Reserve domain-level allowances for essential partner communications
Regularly review and prune unnecessary allowances

Principle of Least Privilege

Apply rules only to necessary API users
Select only required suppression bypasses
Avoid enabling Complaint and Unsubscribe overrides for marketing purposes

Regular Auditing

Monthly reviews of allow list effectiveness
Quarterly cleanup of obsolete rules
Immediate removal of misused allowances