How to Use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 Email With Braysons Hosting

Before you start

• Sign up for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 and start adding your domain in their admin console. They will show you records to add.
• Create the same mailboxes there (info@, jane@…) before switching MX, so mail has somewhere to go.
• Existing mail on Braysons: after the switch, old messages stay in your Braysons mailboxes. Use Google's or Microsoft's migration tool (IMAP migration, server mail.yourbusiness.co.ke, port 993) to copy them across.

Step 1: Verify your domain (TXT record)

Google or Microsoft gives you a TXT verification value.

1. cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor → Manage next to your domain → + Add Record.
2. Type: TXT — Name: @ (your domain) — Record: paste the value, e.g. google-site-verification=… or MS=ms12345678.
3. Save Record, then click Verify in their console (allow 5–60 minutes).

Step 2: Replace the MX records

In Zone Editor, delete the existing MX record(s) pointing to your domain, then add the provider's:

Google Workspace (current single-record setup):

Type	Name	Priority	Destination
MX	@	1	smtp.google.com

(Older Google accounts may list five MX records starting with aspmx.l.google.com — use exactly what your admin console shows.)

Microsoft 365:

Type	Name	Priority	Destination
MX	@	0	yourbusiness-co-ke.mail.protection.outlook.com (your exact value from the admin centre)

Step 3: Set Email Routing to Remote — important

cPanel must know your email is now handled elsewhere, otherwise emails sent from your website or from other Braysons accounts to your domain will still be delivered locally and never reach Google/Microsoft.

1. cPanel → Email → Email Routing.
2. Choose your domain → select Remote Mail Exchanger → Change.

Step 4: Update SPF

Edit your SPF TXT record (only one per domain) to include the provider:

• Google Workspace: v=spf1 +a +mx include:_spf.google.com ~all
• Microsoft 365: v=spf1 +a +mx include:spf.protection.outlook.com ~all

Keep +a if your website sends email (contact forms, WooCommerce) from your Braysons server. See SPF, DKIM and DMARC.

Step 5: Turn on DKIM at the provider

• Google: Admin console → Apps → Google Workspace → Gmail → Authenticate email → Generate new record → add the TXT record (google._domainkey) in Zone Editor → Start authentication.
• Microsoft 365: Defender portal → Email authentication settings → DKIM → add the two CNAME records (selector1._domainkey, selector2._domainkey) → enable.

Step 6: Microsoft 365 extras (optional)

Microsoft also suggests an autodiscover CNAME (autodiscover.outlook.com) and SRV records for Teams. Add them in Zone Editor exactly as shown in the Microsoft admin centre.

Step 7: Test

• Send from an outside Gmail/Yahoo to your address — it should arrive in Google/Microsoft.
• Submit your website contact form — it should arrive too (thanks to Email Routing → Remote).
• Check mxtoolbox.com → MX Lookup shows only the provider's records.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Website form emails never arrive	Email Routing still Local	Set Remote Mail Exchanger
Some mail still lands in old Braysons mailbox	Old MX not deleted / DNS caching	Delete old MX; wait up to 24 hours
Domain verification fails	TXT added under wrong name or with quotes	Name @, no extra quotes; wait and retry
Emails to Gmail flagged as spam	SPF missing provider include, or DKIM off	Update SPF; enable DKIM
Two SPF records	Added a new one instead of editing	Merge into one

Frequently asked questions

Do I still pay for Braysons hosting? Yes, for your website. Your mailboxes are billed by Google or Microsoft.

Can I switch back to Braysons email later? Yes — restore the MX record to your domain, set Email Routing to Local, and recreate mailboxes in cPanel.