Steps to Perform Salesforce Integration Health Checks

At Kolvan, we know the importance of keeping your Salesforce instance secure and well-optimized, especially when managing integrations that link to various systems. With years of experience implementing Salesforce for organizations globally, we’ve learned that secure integrations are key to ensuring smooth operations and protecting critical business data. Here’s our guide to performing effective Salesforce integration health checks, drawing from our extensive experience.

The Importance of Integration Management

One of the biggest strengths of Salesforce is its ability to integrate seamlessly with other platforms, enhancing workflows and boosting efficiency. However, these integrations, if left unchecked, can become unwieldy and pose security risks. Ensuring that these connections are both secure and operationally sound should be a priority for every Salesforce admin.

Let’s dive into 5 key steps to maintain healthy Salesforce integrations.

1. Audit All Active Integrations

Begin by conducting a comprehensive audit of all active integrations. The goal here is to document and label every connection to Salesforce. Identify each integration, its purpose, and the systems it connects to. Without this documentation, it’s impossible to understand the scale or impact of your Salesforce environment’s integrations.

2. Review and Restrict Permissions and Data Access

With all integrations documented, the next step is to examine the data access levels granted to each one. Too often, integrations are granted broader permissions than necessary, which can create security vulnerabilities. Review these permissions, and restrict access where needed to ensure that integrations only access the data they require.

3. Validate the Integration Configuration

A detailed review of each integration’s configuration is essential. This means looking not just at which data objects are being accessed, but how the integration is set up. Are there integrations that have access to more data than they need? For example, an integration meant to work with opportunities should not be accessing customer or contractor information. Make sure all integrations are correctly configured for their purpose.

4. Regularly Revoke Unused OAuth Tokens

OAuth tokens are the access keys that allow integrations to connect to your Salesforce instance. Over time, some integrations may become obsolete or unused, but their tokens remain active. Regularly review and revoke any unused or unnecessary OAuth tokens to prevent security risks. This step is crucial for maintaining control over the systems that have access to your data.

5. Conduct Routine Health Checks

Performing regular health checks of your integrations ensures ongoing security and operational efficiency. This should be a continuous process—revisit your integrations frequently to ensure that they remain valid, necessary, and secure. The more often you review, the safer your environment will be.

Bonus Step: Automate Your Integration Audits

At Kolvan, we recommend leveraging the latest AI tools to automate routine health checks. New AI-driven solutions can automate the auditing, reviewing, and remediating of Salesforce environments, taking much of the manual work off your plate. These tools analyze integration logs, metadata, and activity records, offering real-time insights and suggestions for optimization. Automating these checks gives you peace of mind and frees up time to focus on strategic initiatives.

The Role of AI in Salesforce Integration Health Checks

Artificial intelligence tools offer a promising future for Salesforce admins. Solutions like Valo and others are capable of handling the routine but essential tasks of auditing integrations, monitoring their activity, and suggesting improvements. By adopting AI, admins can ensure a more secure, efficient Salesforce instance with minimal effort.

Conclusion

Managing Salesforce integrations is vital for a secure and optimized Salesforce environment. By following these steps, Salesforce admins can reduce risks, streamline operations, and improve security. Automating these processes with AI further ensures that integrations remain well-managed, allowing teams to focus on more strategic tasks.

At Kolvan, we are always here to help with Salesforce integration management, offering tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of your business. If you need assistance with Salesforce implementation or integration health checks, reach out to us today!

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