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. Misconfigured Security Settings
The Risk:
Misaligned sharing rules or incorrectly applied validation settings can expose sensitive data to unintended users.
The Impact:
Data breaches due to preventable errors
Preventable errors, such as misconfigured sharing rules, overly permissive access settings, or failure to apply proper data validation, can expose sensitive Salesforce data to unauthorized users. For instance, a minor oversight in sharing rules might unintentionally grant broad access to sensitive records across the organization. Similarly, improperly set field-level security could allow unauthorized users to view or edit confidential information. These errors, while often unintentional, create significant vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit.
Legal and compliance risks
When preventable errors lead to data breaches, organizations face not only operational and reputational damage but also severe legal consequences. Regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA require businesses to demonstrate due diligence in protecting customer data. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines, class-action lawsuits, and mandatory breach notifications.
Preventable errors signal a lack of robust data governance and oversight, which regulators and stakeholders will view as negligence on your part. Proactively auditing and tightening security configurations not only protects against breaches but also ensures your organization meets compliance standards and avoids costly penalties.
The Fix:
Leverage automated tools to regularly review and adjust security configurations, ensuring they remain aligned with best practices and evolving threats. Complement this with periodic manual audits of permissions and sharing settings to identify and address any inconsistencies or vulnerabilities that automated processes might overlook. This balanced approach enhances the overall security posture and minimizes risks.Â
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.
The Fix:
The first one should be role-based access control or RBAC that ensures that users only have access to the data and systems necessary for their specific job functions. By assigning permissions based on roles (e.g., sales rep, admin, support agent), businesses minimize the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information, such as financial or customer records. This targeted approach reduces the attack surface and aligns with compliance requirements.
Also, by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), you add an extra layer of defense that protects sensitive data - even if passwords are compromised. This reduces the risk of phishing-related breaches and positions your organization as a leader in customer trust and compliance.
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:
Loss of critical business intelligence, compromised customer relationships, and potential legal consequences are all at stake when data is mishandled. Critical business intelligence forms the backbone of strategic decision-making, while mishandling sensitive information damages customer trust, resulting in strained relationships and potential revenue losses. Legal ramifications from non-compliance with data protection laws can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage, amplifying the risks.
The Fix:
Businesses can get ahead of various insider threats with user activity monitoring tools, employee training programs, clearly communicating policies and consequences of data misuse within the organization.
User activity monitoring tools
Insider threats, whether accidental or malicious, pose a significant risk, accounting for millions in annual losses. Mishandled data can lead to breaches that erode customer trust. But with user activity monitoring tools, businesses can detect unusual behaviors and act quickly to prevent data leaks. This proactive approach not only safeguards critical business intelligence but also ensures that customer relationships remain protected from unnecessary risks.
Employee training programs
Employees are the first line of defense against data mishandling. By implementing regular training sessions, you educate teams on best practices for data handling, recognizing threats such as phishing attempts, and adhering to internal policies. This awareness significantly reduces the chances of both accidental and intentional data misuse.
Established data misuse policiesA well-defined data governance policy specifies acceptable use, access rights, and penalties for violations. Clear communication of these rules sets expectations and creates accountability, discouraging misuse and fostering a culture of responsibility.
Understanding The Business Impact of Internal Data Security
Internal data breaches, whether accidental or malicious, extend far beyond operational disruptions - they directly affect your bottom line. A single breach can erode customer trust, as clients expect their sensitive information to be handled with the utmost care. Failing to meet these expectations not only risks losing customer loyalty but also tarnishes your reputation in the marketplace.
On the flip side, businesses that proactively manage internal data security can position themselves as trusted partners. Demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding information reassures customers and partners, providing a distinct advantage when vying for new opportunities or strengthening existing relationships.
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 APIs Endanger Sensitive Information
APIs play a crucial role in connecting Salesforce to third-party applications and systems, enabling efficient data exchange. However, improperly configured APIs or those lacking secure authentication protocols pose a significant risk to sensitive information. For instance, an unencrypted API endpoint may transmit customer data in plain text, leaving it vulnerable to interception by malicious actors. Such vulnerabilities compromise the integrity of your data, risking customer trust and organizational security.
Consequences of Weak API Security Measures
Unsecured APIs also serve as potential entry points for attackers seeking unauthorized access to your Salesforce environment. Weak API security, such as default credentials or outdated tokens, provides an easy path for cybercriminals to bypass traditional access controls. Once inside, attackers can manipulate, steal, or even destroy critical business data, resulting in operational disruptions, financial loss, and reputational damage.
The Fix:
Start by using secure authentication protocols like OAuth 2.0 for all integrations to prevent unauthorized access. Encrypt API communications to safeguard data in transit and shield sensitive information from interception. Regular audits of APIs help identify misconfigurations or outdated access tokens that could expose vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and monitoring allows you to detect and block suspicious API usage, ensuring a proactive defense against potential threats.
5. Data Export and Offline Risks
The Risk:
Exporting Salesforce data to spreadsheets or other unsecured offline environments introduces significant risks.
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.
The Fix:
To eliminate these risks, businesses need a solution that allows teams to work with Salesforce data efficiently without compromising security. This is precisely where Valorx Fusion, the ultimate Salesforce Excel connector, plays a crucial role. Fusion serves as the bridge between data security and operational efficiency. By enabling teams to securely manage Salesforce data directly within Excel, Fusion eliminates the need for unsecured exports, a major source of data vulnerabilities.
Fusion goes beyond security enhancing productivity and compliance.
Watch this in action. See how Fusion 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:
Poor decision-making due to inaccurate data
Inaccurate or inconsistent data - such as duplicate entries, outdated records, or missing fields - can lead to flawed business decisions. For example, incorrect customer information might result in sending proposals to the wrong stakeholders, misaligned sales strategies, or even failed upsell opportunities. When teams rely on faulty data, forecasting, reporting, and strategic planning are compromised, which can have cascading effects on revenue and operational efficiency.
Challenges during compliance audits
GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA require businesses to maintain accurate and up-to-date records. During audits, data discrepancies or incomplete records can signal poor governance, resulting in heavy fines.
The Fix: Implement data validation tools like DataGroomr, Plauti or Cloudingo as they’re entered or updated in Salesforce. These tools flag missing fields, inconsistent formats, and duplicate records, ensuring the integrity of your data in real-time. Also, schedule routine checks to identify and resolve discrepancies across your records. Periodic audits allow you to clean up stale or redundant data, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and improving decision-making accuracy.
Data accuracy is a foundation for confident decision-making and operational efficiency. By maintaining clean, validated data, businesses can foster trust, streamline audits, and unlock better insights for growth and strategy.
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.
The Fix:
Train employees to identify phishing attempts and suspicious emails.You can also use Salesforce Shield to monitor access patterns and enforce IP restrictions. Salesforce Shield is a suite of advanced security tools designed to help organizations monitor and protect sensitive data in real-time. Its features enable businesses to identify unusual access patterns, enforce strict access controls, and mitigate potential security risks.
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.
The Fix:
Implement Salesforce-native backup tools or trusted third-party solutions - Tools such as Backup and Restore, allow organizations to schedule automatic backups of their data and metadata directly within the Salesforce environment. These backups capture critical information, including customer records, configurations, and workflows, ensuring that data is preserved in a secure and compliant manner. Alternatively, trusted third-party solutions often offer enhanced flexibility and features, such as incremental backups, more granular restore options, and support for hybrid cloud environments. These tools can also integrate with other systems, providing a centralized backup management solution.
Secondly, you need to regularly test your recovery processes - Having a backup system is only half the battle; ensuring that backups can be successfully restored is equally important. Regular testing of recovery processes verifies that your backups are intact, up-to-date, and compatible with your Salesforce environment.
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.
The Fix:
Regularly audit your Salesforce data management practices to ensure compliance. The next definite thing is to adopt frameworks and tools that support compliance, like Salesforce’s Field Audit Trail - Field Audit Trail enables organizations to track changes to data over extended periods (up to 10 years), far exceeding Salesforce’s default field history retention of 18 months. It also provides the audit logs necessary to show regulators how data is managed and secured, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.
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.
Investors are increasingly viewing robust data security as a measure of long-term viability and operational excellence. A well-secured Salesforce environment signals that your organization is prepared to manage risks effectively, which builds trust and reassures stakeholders.
A 2023 Gartner report highlighted that 67% of investors consider cybersecurity maturity a critical factor when assessing enterprise risk.
Weak data security undermines investor confidence, making it harder to attract capital and sustain growth. A proactive approach to Salesforce security communicates that your leadership prioritizes resilience and risk management.
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 today:
- 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 Valorx 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.
Tags:
Data Security