SALESFORCE API SECURITY
Salesforce can be both an incredibly valuable asset and a vulnerable data bank to protect. With correct access control measures, the data stored within it can be secured, yet with the wrong measures, company-wide security is at risk. Considering the constantly evolving cyber threats, attention to the security and authentication of your Salesforce APIs is essential for providing both data security and customer confidence. Salesforce APIs play an integral role in securely accessing and processing data stored within the Salesforce platform. As this data often serves as a backbone for users to interact and complete tasks on the platform, and for companies to interact with the data from external sources, proper security of this data is crucial for larger-scale enterprise users. When it comes to specifics of API security, one of the most important aspects of monitoring and control comes from the authentication of the requests. In the realm of authentication, enterprise users may choose to identify callers and other services through different sources of identity. The most common method when it comes to Salesforce is through OAuth 2.0, however, other authentication protocols, such as SAML, are available. OAuth is most commonly used with mobile applications, allowing users to employ the SalesForce APIs and access user data stored in a secure database–without the need for the user to sign in. With OAuth authentication, a token is retrieved by the user that acts as a temporary access pass to the protected user data. As part of OAuth, authorization of access is determined and enforced to ensure users utilize the data only for intended purposes. 2-step authentication is another layer of security that is becoming increasingly popular in enterprise Salesforce systems. A 2-step authentication requires the user to provide two or more forms of data when logging onto the system. This data typically includes an ID/password combination, as well as other sensitive data such as a one-time passcode or biometric identification. This data is inputted into the system and verified before allowing access to the user data. In enterprise Salesforce systems, API security is also closely regulated by role-based access controls. These access controls are critical for allowing the right people to access the right data. Access control policies ensure access to user data is regulated based on user roles and the resources accessed must have a policy in place that matches the user role. Role-based access controls can be set up on the Salesforce platform at the user, data, or object level, allowing users to only perform certain actions and view certain data while limiting their access to the data they need. Finally, logging and monitoring of all API activities is also important in ensuring system security. By keeping a log of the activity within your Salesforce platform, you can quickly identify any unauthorized access, malicious attempts, data breaches, or any other irregularities that can put the integrity of your data at risk. By taking the proper steps to properly authenticate users and calls to your Salesforce APIs, using 2-step authentication to add an additional layer of security, setting up role-based access controls, and properly logging and monitoring API activities, you can ensure your Salesforce data is protected and secure. Releasing management, data backup and recovery, and security solutions for Salesforce users all provide the tools necessary to easily manage and monitor the security and activity of your Salesforce APIs with ease. Contact us today to discuss your Salesforce security needs and learn more about how we can help you protect your valuable data.
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