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Apex Crypto Class in Salesforce

On June 9, 2025, Posted by Sandeep U , In Salesforce, With Comments Off

Overview of the Apex Crypto Class
Primary Usage
Encrypt and Decrypt Methods
Handling Exceptions in Crypto Operations
Key Generation and Digest Computation
Signing and Verification
Miscellaneous Methods
Examples of Usage

In today’s digital landscape, securing sensitive data is paramount, especially as data breaches become more frequent and sophisticated. Apex Crypto Class in Salesforce answers this growing demand for robust data protection. It equips developers with powerful cryptographic tools that ensure encryption, decryption, and the overall security of sensitive information. With this suite of tools, you can now build applications that not only deliver functionality but also provide the highest levels of data security.

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Overview of the Apex Crypto Class

The Apex Crypto Class is a core component of Salesforce’s Apex programming environment. Located within the System namespace, it provides a comprehensive suite of cryptographic methods to ensure the protection and integrity of your data. This class is crucial for implementing advanced security measures, especially when dealing with sensitive content or integrating with external services.

Key Details:

Namespace: System
Location: Within the Salesforce Apex environment
Significance: Part of the System namespace, making it a critical tool for Salesforce developers aiming to build secure applications.

Primary Usage

The Crypto Class in Apex is indispensable for developers working on the Salesforce Lightning Platform. It provides several functions to ensure that sensitive data, whether stored or transmitted, remains secure. These include:

Encrypt and Decrypt Methods

These core functions are the bedrock of the Crypto class, enabling you to encrypt and decrypt data seamlessly. Whether you’re working with customer data or signing digital documents, these methods ensure that the information stays protected. Their importance lies in maintaining both data security and integrity, critical components for any modern application.

Handling Exceptions in Crypto Operations

When working with encryption and decryption, you may encounter several exceptions. Proper error handling ensures the robustness of your application. Common exceptions include:

InvalidParameterValueException: Triggered by incorrect parameters, such as invalid algorithm names or incorrect key sizes.
NullPointerException: Occurs when a required method argument is null.
SecurityException: Raised due to errors during cryptographic processes, such as improper padding or other security-related issues.

Key Generation and Digest Computation

generateAesKey

Purpose: Generates a secure AES key for encryption and decryption.
Usage: You can specify the key size (128, 192, or 256 bits) for AES encryption, widely regarded as a secure symmetric encryption standard.
Example Scenario: Encrypting sensitive personal information for secure transmission or storage.

generateDigest

Purpose: Computes a cryptographic hash for data integrity.
Usage: This method uses hashing algorithms like SHA-256 or MD5 to produce a unique hash representing the input data.
Example Scenario: Verifying the integrity and authenticity of received data, ensuring it hasn’t been tampered with.

Signing and Verification

The Apex Crypto Class also provides methods for signing data and verifying those signatures.

sign & signWithCertificate

Purpose: These methods compute digital signatures using private keys or digital certificates.
Example Scenario: Used for asserting the authenticity and integrity of data, such as for digital contracts or software updates.

verify & verifyHMac

Purpose: These methods verify digital or HMAC signatures, ensuring data hasn’t been altered and comes from a trusted source.
Example Scenario: Confirming the legitimacy of received data.

signXML

Purpose: Signs an XML document with a digital signature.
Usage: This method is commonly used in web services where XML data needs to be securely transmitted.

Miscellaneous Methods

In addition to encryption and digital signatures, Apex Crypto also provides utilities for generating random numbers.

getRandomInteger & getRandomLong

Purpose: Generates random numbers that can be used in cryptographic algorithms to ensure randomness and prevent predictability.
Usage: Perfect for creating nonces (used once) or salts in cryptographic operations.

Examples of Usage

Encryption and Decryption Example

Blob exampleIv = Blob.valueOf('Example of IV123');
Blob key = Crypto.generateAesKey(128);
Blob data = Blob.valueOf('Data to be encrypted');
Blob encrypted = Crypto.encrypt('AES128', key, exampleIv, data);
Blob decrypted = Crypto.decrypt('AES128', key, exampleIv, encrypted);
String decryptedString = decrypted.toString();
System.assertEquals('Data to be encrypted', decryptedString);

In this example, we demonstrate AES encryption and decryption using a key, initialization vector (IV), and data.

Generating a Digest

apexCopy codeBlob targetBlob = Blob.valueOf('ExampleMD5String');
Blob hash = Crypto.generateDigest('MD5', targetBlob);

Blob targetBlob = Blob.valueOf('ExampleMD5String');
Blob hash = Crypto.generateDigest('MD5', targetBlob);

Here, we use MD5 hashing to generate a digest for a given string, ensuring data integrity.

Digital Signature and Verification

Blob privateKey = EncodingUtil.base64Decode('privateKeyString');
Blob publicKey = EncodingUtil.base64Decode('publicKeyString');
Blob input = Blob.valueOf('12345qwerty');
Blob signature = Crypto.sign('RSA', input, privateKey);
Boolean verified = Crypto.verify('RSA', input, signature, publicKey);

In this example, we generate a digital signature and verify its authenticity using RSA encryption.

Conclusion

The Apex Crypto Class is a pivotal tool in Salesforce for enhancing data security. By offering a suite of cryptographic functions, from AES key generation to digital signature verification, it empowers developers to build applications that are both functional and secure. In an era where data breaches and cyber threats are rampant, the importance of implementing such advanced security measures cannot be overstated. By incorporating these tools, Salesforce developers can confidently navigate the complexities of modern data security, ensuring that their applications meet the highest standards of privacy and integrity.

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