9 Biggest Salesforce Data Security Risks (And How To Avoid Them)

Salesforce is the most widely-used CRM platform in the world, with over 150,000 companies managing billions of data points. Its powerful tools enable organizations to centralize data, automate processes, and scale their operations with minimal disruption.

Given the sensitivity of the data living in Salesforce, the CRM does uphold a high standard of security. However, a number of factors can still put your data at risk, including improper configurations, human errors, and external factors.

With increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats and heightened regulatory scrutiny, protecting Salesforce environments is a significant strategic priority for any business. Leaders must take action to safeguard sensitive data, maintain compliance, and uphold customer trust.

This article highlights the nine biggest Salesforce data security risks to be mindful of and strategies to mitigate them, ensuring your Salesforce environment remains secure and resilient.

1. Unauthorized Data Access

The Risk: Without properly configured user permissions and authentication protocols, sensitive data can be exposed to unauthorized users. In fact, globally, phishing accounts for 80% of all reported cybersecurity breaches, highlighting the importance of securing access credentials.

The Impact: Data breaches often result in steep penalties under regulations like GDPR, which can fine organizations up to 4% of their annual global turnover, or HIPAA, which imposes fines of up to $1.5 million per violation category. Beyond financial repercussions, these breaches can trigger mandatory disclosures, damaging an organization’s reputation and eroding customer trust.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Apply role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure data is only accessible by authorized personnel.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to secure user accounts even if credentials are stolen.

2. Insider Threats

The Risk: Employees, contractors, or trusted partners can accidentally (or maliciously) misuse their access to Salesforce data. According to Proofpoint, a leading cybersecurity and compliance company, insider threats cost businesses an average of $15 million annually, making it a high-stakes issue to address.

The Impact: Mishandling data risks losing critical business intelligence, damaging customer trust, and facing legal consequences. Strategic decisions rely on accurate data, while mishandling sensitive information strains relationships and impacts revenue. Non-compliance with data protection laws can result in hefty fines and reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Deploy user activity monitoring tools to detect anomalies.
• Establish clear data misuse policies with strict consequences.
• Conduct regular employee training on security best practices.

3. Integration Oversights

The Risk: Salesforce often integrates with third-party tools and APIs. Improperly configured integrations can create vulnerabilities, exposing your data to unauthorized access.

The Impact: Misconfigured or unsecured APIs can expose sensitive information and create entry points for attackers. APIs connect Salesforce to third-party systems, but improper configurations - like unencrypted endpoints or weak authentication - leave data vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access. Exploiting such weaknesses, attackers can manipulate, steal, or destroy critical data, leading to operational disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Use secure authentication protocols like OAuth 2.0.
• Encrypt API traffic to protect data in transit.
• Regularly audit and monitor APIs for vulnerabilities.

4. Misconfigured Security Settings

The Risk: Misaligned sharing rules or incorrectly applied validation settings can expose sensitive data to unintended users.

The Impact: Misconfigured sharing rules, overly permissive access, and weak data validation can expose Salesforce data to unauthorized users, creating vulnerabilities for cybercriminals. These errors, though unintentional, risk legal consequences under GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA, including fines and breach notifications. Proactive audits and stronger security configurations protect sensitive data, ensure compliance, and prevent costly penalties.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Use automated tools to audit permissions and configurations.
• Conduct regular manual checks to identify vulnerabilities.
• Align settings with current security standards to minimize risk. 

5. Data Export and Offline Risks

The Risk: Exporting Salesforce data into spreadsheets introduces vulnerabilities such as data breaches, loss, or tampering. For example, in the 2019 Hanna Andersson data breach, sensitive customer data was exposed due to weak data handling practices​.

The Impact: Exporting Salesforce data to spreadsheets or other unsecured offline environments creates significant risks. Once data leaves the controlled environment of Salesforce, it becomes vulnerable to tampering, loss, or exposure. Employees may inadvertently store sensitive information on local devices, share outdated files, or overlook critical updates, leading to data control and integrity issues. These practices also increase the likelihood of accidental breaches or malicious interference.

Mitigation Strategies: The Valorx Solution
Valorx Fusion eliminates the need to export Salesforce data offline by enabling secure, real-time management within Excel:

• Seamless integration: Fusion connects Excel directly to Salesforce, allowing teams to work with CRM data while maintaining strict security protocols.
• Enhanced data integrity: All updates made in Excel are synchronized back to Salesforce, ensuring no version mismatches or data silos.
• Compliance built-in: Fusion adheres to Salesforce’s security standards, ensuring sensitive data is protected and meets regulatory requirements.

With Fusion, businesses eliminate offline workflows, reduce security risks, and boost operational efficiency.

Watch Fusion in action. See how Fusion's dual focus on productivity and compliance makes it a vital part of a comprehensive Salesforce security strategy.

6. Poor Data Hygiene

The Risk: Duplicate records, outdated information, and incomplete data can create inefficiencies and even compliance risks.

The Impact: Inaccurate or inconsistent data - like duplicates, outdated records, or missing fields - can lead to flawed decisions, misaligned strategies, and missed opportunities, undermining forecasting and operational efficiency. Additionally, regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA demand accurate records, and discrepancies during audits can result in hefty fines and signal poor governance.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Integrate data validation tools like DataGroomr or Cloudingo to flag issues in real time.
• Schedule routine data cleanups and audits.
• Train teams to follow best practices for data entry and maintenance.

7. Phishing and Credential Theft

The Risk: Cybercriminals frequently target Salesforce users with phishing attacks to steal their login credentials. Do you know, according to GreatHorn, 57% of organizations face phishing scams daily and nearly 1.2% of all emails sent are malicious, accounting for 3.4 billion phishing emails daily?

The Impact: Unauthorized access to critical data and potential damage to your brand’s reputation.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Train employees to recognize phishing attempts.
• Use Salesforce Shield for IP restrictions and activity monitoring.

8. Inadequate Backup and Recovery Mechanisms

The Risk: Without reliable, automated backup systems, your business is at risk of losing critical data permanently.

The Impact: Costly recovery efforts and prolonged operational downtime alongside potential legal consequences if customer data is lost.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Leverage Salesforce-native backup tools like Backup and Restore to automate daily backups of both data and metadata.
• Deploy third-party solutions for enhanced flexibility, such as incremental backups and granular restore options.
• Regularly test recovery processes to ensure backups can be restored seamlessly in real-life scenarios.

9. Compliance Oversights

The Risk: Failure to align your Salesforce practices with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, or industry-specific guidelines can lead to severe repercussions.

The Impact: Hefty fines and penalties, damage to customer relationships and trust.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Conduct routine compliance audits to ensure your Salesforce data governance practices meet global standards.
• Adopt tools such as Salesforce Field Audit Trail, which enables extended tracking of data changes for up to 10 years.
• Use data classification and encryption to enhance data security and demonstrate regulatory diligence.

Enhanced Cybersecurity: A Growing Sign of Leadership

In 2022, the CEO of a major retailer faced legal scrutiny after a breach exposed millions of customer records. This incident not only impacted the organization’s bottom line but also set a precedent for holding executives personally accountable for lapses in cybersecurity.

What does this mean for you? If a breach occurs, regulatory bodies won’t just question your systems - they’ll scrutinize your decisions as a leader within the organization. Ensuring your Salesforce environment is secure is not just good practice; it’s critical for your professional standing and your organization’s future.

Take Action: Secure Your Salesforce Environment

Salesforce is a powerful platform, but without proper security measures, its advantages can quickly become liabilities. As a leader, your responsibility is to ensure that customer trust, operational integrity, and compliance standards are never compromised.

What you can do:

• Audit your security: Ensure that your Salesforce environment aligns with regulatory requirements and investor expectations.
• Prioritize leadership on cybersecurity: Collaborate with IT to drive proactive measures that secure your data and protect your business.
• Invest in the right tools: Explore solutions like Fusion to optimize productivity while maintaining strict data security.

Don’t leave your data at risk. Take action today to safeguard your business, protect your customers, and ensure long-term success.