Serious questions.
Honest answers.
Plain answers about inbox access, lead data, deliverability safeguards, AI processing, and what control you keep.
AI SDR FAQ by topic.
Questions are grouped by topic. That helps people, search engines, and answer engines understand the page faster.
FAQ topic
Mailbox access and sender safety
How Cognlay connects to inboxes, handles replies, and protects domain reputation.
Is Cognlay safe to connect to my mailbox?
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Yes. Cognlay connects through SMTP and IMAP. SMTP sends configured outbound emails, and IMAP detects replies, maintains thread context, and stops sequences when a prospect responds. Cognlay does not use the Gmail API or request Google OAuth scopes.
Will Cognlay hurt my domain reputation?
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Cognlay is built to reduce sender risk. It checks mailbox health, daily pace, bounces, unsubscribes, suppressions, and spam-like copy before launch. No tool can promise inbox placement, but Cognlay helps keep risk lower.
Can Cognlay read all my emails?
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Cognlay processes the content and metadata needed for outbound work. That includes sending, reply detection, thread context, and follow-up safety. Human access is limited to support, security, or abuse prevention. You can disconnect access at any time.
FAQ topic
Lead data, AI processing, and control
What data is used, how AI drafts are controlled, and where humans stay in the loop.
What happens to my lead data and email content?
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Your workspace data is used to run your sequences. It helps generate drafts, check guardrails, track replies, show analytics, and improve the campaign logic you control. We do not sell lead data, mailbox data, or reply data. We also do not use email content to train general-purpose AI models.
Does Cognlay send emails automatically, or do I approve them first?
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You can keep control. Review drafts before launch. Check claims, signature, opt-out language, and CTA pressure. When a prospect replies, Cognlay pauses the outbound path instead of pushing the same sequence forward.
How does the AI actually write the emails?
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Cognlay uses the campaign goal, lead context, offer details, sequence stage, and past behavior. Then it drafts the next email from that state. The goal is not generic personalization. The goal is a relevant next step that follows your approved rules.
FAQ topic
Platform fit and setup
Who Cognlay is for, how it differs from sending tools, and how quickly teams can start.
How is Cognlay different from Instantly or Smartlead?
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Those tools are strong for large sending infrastructure. Cognlay is focused on adaptive quality. It uses lead context, engagement signals, replies, sentiment, and learning feedback to rewrite follow-ups instead of sending one fixed path to every lead.
Do I need to bring my own domains and mailboxes?
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Yes. Cognlay connects to your existing mailboxes through SMTP and IMAP. It acts as the intelligence, drafting, reply handling, and safety layer on top of your sending setup.
How fast can I get started?
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Most teams can set up a first test sequence quickly: connect a sending inbox, upload leads, define the objective, review drafts, and launch with conservative volume. For a new domain or sender, start small and ramp gradually.
FAQ topic
Security and compliance status
Current trust posture, certification status, and where to read more.
Is Cognlay SOC 2 certified?
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Not yet. Cognlay is a new platform and says that directly. We use encrypted transport, provider-backed storage protections, access controls, logging for sensitive work, and clear data deletion paths.
Where can I read more about security?
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Read the Cognlay security center for more detail on mailbox access, data handling, sender safeguards, and operational controls.
Open the security center