Salesforce Encryption: Salesforce Shield vs Classic Encryption
Table Of Contents
- What is Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption?
- Types of Shield Platform Encryption Schemes
- How to Set Up Shield Platform Encryption
- What is Salesforce Classic Encryption?
- Types of Encryptions in Salesforce for Data Protection
- Salesforce Shield vs Classic Encryption: Key Differences
- Real-World Scenarios
There’s a famous quote that says, “Data is the new oil,” which holds true in today’s era of digital transformation. Industries are undergoing rapid changes, and the need for secure data systems has become paramount. A data breach, especially in sensitive sectors like finance or healthcare, can severely damage an organization’s trust and reputation. Protecting sensitive customer data, such as payment details, identification records, and health information, is essential in a SaaS ecosystem where servers are hosted off-premises. This raises the stakes for data privacy and security.
To combat such challenges, global laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) govern data privacy and security. Salesforce aligns its security features to comply with these regulations, ensuring customer data remains protected.
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What is Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption?
Salesforce Shield is an advanced security suite designed for organizations that need full-scale encryption, compliance, and event monitoring. It includes Platform Encryption, Event Monitoring, and Field Audit Trail, ensuring end-to-end security.
🔹 Key Features of Salesforce Shield
End-to-End Encryption – Encrypts data at rest, in transit, and in reports, search results, and APIs.
Customizable Encryption Policies – Define encryption rules based on roles and permissions.
Event Monitoring – Tracks who accessed or modified encrypted data.
Field Audit Trail – Retains historical data for up to 10 years, crucial for compliance audits.
Regulatory Compliance – Meets industry standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS.
🔸 Where Salesforce Shield Works Best
Financial Institutions – Protects bank transactions, credit card data, and financial reports.
Healthcare Industry – Secures patient records and ensures HIPAA compliance.
Government Agencies – Encrypts confidential records to prevent unauthorized access.
Enterprises with High-Security Needs – Provides full visibility into user activity and potential threats.
Salesforce Shield goes beyond simple encryption—it’s a complete security and compliance solution.
See also: Salesforce Identity Management Interview Questions
Types of Shield Platform Encryption Schemes
| Feature | Deterministic Encryption | Probabilistic Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Encrypts data with consistent ciphertext for identical inputs. | Encrypts data into random ciphertext for every encryption operation. |
| Filtering | Supports filtering records in reports and list views. | Does not support filtering. |
| SOQL Query Support | Can be used in the WHERE clause of SOQL queries. | Cannot be used in the WHERE clause of SOQL queries. |
| Use Case | Suitable for fields that require string comparison or filtering. | Ideal for highly sensitive data requiring maximum encryption strength. |
| Case Sensitivity | Can be case-sensitive or case-insensitive. | Not applicable. |
| Security Strength | Provides moderate encryption strength. | Provides higher encryption strength due to random ciphertext generation. |
| Example | Querying WHERE FirstName = 'Anna' is possible. | Querying WHERE FirstName = 'Anna' is not possible due to randomness. |
This table clearly outlines the differences between Deterministic and Probabilistic Encryption, helping you choose the best option for your data security needs.
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How to Set Up Shield Platform Encryption
Setting up Shield Encryption in Salesforce is straightforward:
1. Create a Permission Set
Enable Customize Application and Manage Encryption Keys permissions.
2. Assign Permission Sets
Assign to authorized user accounts.
3. Generate Tenant Secret
Navigate to Platform Encryption > Key Management > Generate Tenant Secret.
4. Export and Import Tenant Secrets
Export the tenant secret as a backup to restore encrypted data access if needed.
5. Encrypt Fields
Go to Platform Encryption > Encryption Policy > Encrypt Fields and select the fields to encrypt.
See also: Salesforce CRM Basic Interview Questions
What is Salesforce Classic Encryption?
Salesforce Classic Encryption is a built-in, lightweight encryption feature that allows organizations to protect sensitive data at the field level. However, it has several limitations:
🔹 Key Features of Classic Encryption
✔ Basic Field Encryption – Encrypts custom text fields, but standard fields remain unencrypted.
✔ Limited Scope – Encrypted data remains visible in search, reports, and API responses.
✔ No Event Monitoring – Cannot track who accessed the encrypted data.
✔ Minimal Compliance Support – Not suitable for industries requiring HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI DSS compliance.
🔸 Where Classic Encryption Works Best
🔹 Basic data masking for internal security (e.g., encrypting employee ID numbers).
🔹 Non-critical data protection where full encryption is unnecessary
🔹 Organizations that do not have strict compliance needs.
While Classic Encryption provides some level of protection, it is not robust enough for enterprises dealing with highly sensitive data.
Types of Encryptions in Salesforce for Data Protection
| Feature | Classic Encryption | Shield Platform Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Included with the base Salesforce product. | Requires a separate license (except for developer orgs). |
| Encryption Scope | Limited to certain fields (e.g., custom fields and specific standard fields). | Encrypts both standard and custom fields, files, attachments, and more. |
| Customization | Basic encryption without customer-controlled keys. | Customers can generate and manage their encryption keys. |
| Compliance Level | Provides basic compliance for standard encryption needs. | Meets advanced compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR). |
| Encryption Strength | Basic encryption for specific fields. | Offers advanced encryption using Deterministic and Probabilistic schemes. |
| Setup Complexity | Pre-configured and easy to use. | Requires setup but offers enhanced flexibility and control. |
| Cost | No additional cost. | Involves additional cost for license purchase. |
| Use Case | Suitable for organizations with basic encryption needs. | Ideal for industries handling sensitive or regulated data (e.g., healthcare, finance). |
This table provides a clear comparison between Classic Encryption and Shield Platform Encryption, helping organizations choose the right solution based on their data protection requirements.
Below, we dive deeper into Salesforce Shield and its powerful features.
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Salesforce Shield vs Classic Encryption: Key Differences
| Feature | Classic Encryption | Salesforce Shield |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption Level | Basic field-level | End-to-end encryption |
| Search & Reports | Data appears in search & reports | Data remains encrypted |
| Event Monitoring | ❌ Not available | ✅ Logs access & modifications |
| Field Audit Trail | ❌ Not available | ✅ Retains historical data (10 years) |
| Customization | Limited encryption rules | Fully customizable policies |
| Compliance Support | Limited | Fully compliant (HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS) |
| Data Access Control | No role-based encryption | Customizable access restrictions |
| Industry Fit | Small businesses | Enterprises with strict security needs |
The biggest drawback of Classic Encryption is that encrypted data can still be exposed in reports, search results, and API responses. Salesforce Shield solves this by ensuring encryption at all levels, making it the superior choice for high-security environments.
Real-World Scenarios: When to Use Classic Encryption vs Salesforce Shield
🔹 Scenario 1: Small Business Handling Customer Data
A small retail company wants to encrypt customer phone numbers and email addresses for basic security. Since they don’t have regulatory compliance requirements, Classic Encryption is sufficient.
✅ Best Choice: Classic Encryption
🔹 Scenario 2: Financial Institution Securing Transactions
A bank processes credit card transactions and must comply with PCI DSS standards. They require end-to-end encryption, audit trails, and access monitoring.
✅ Best Choice: Salesforce Shield
🔹 Scenario 3: Healthcare Organization Storing Patient Records
A hospital needs to encrypt patient records, medical histories, and prescriptions while maintaining HIPAA compliance. They also require audit trails to track changes to patient data.
✅ Best Choice: Salesforce Shield
🔹 Scenario 4: E-commerce Business Protecting Employee Data
An e-commerce company wants to encrypt employee salaries and ID numbers for privacy. Since this data isn’t shared externally, Classic Encryption provides enough protection.
✅ Best Choice: Classic Encryption
The right encryption choice depends on business size, compliance needs, and security requirements.
Which Encryption Method is Right for You?
- ✅ If you need basic encryption with minimal configuration, Classic Encryption is a quick and easy option.
- ✅ If your business requires strict security, regulatory compliance, and real-time monitoring, Salesforce Shield is the best solution.
🔹 Choose Classic Encryption if:
You need simple field-level encryption.
You don’t have strict compliance requirements.
Your data doesn’t require monitoring or audit trails.
🔹 Choose Salesforce Shield if:
1. You require full encryption across all Salesforce records and reports.
2. You operate in finance, healthcare, or government with strict compliance laws.
3. You want detailed insights into data access and modifications.
Summing Up
As the demand for data security grows, tools like Salesforce Shield Platform Encryption are essential for safeguarding sensitive information. By protecting data, Shield not only enhances security but also upholds the trust and reputation of organizations in an increasingly digital world.
With its advanced features, ease of use, and compliance with global regulations, Salesforce Shield is a must-have for businesses prioritizing data privacy and security.
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