What is the difference between Profile Vs Permission Set?
Profile is mandatory to the users in the Salesforce. Permission set is one thing that is discretionary for all the user’s in the Salesforce.
Detailed article about Permission Sets.
One person can be connected to only one profile but one user in Salesforce can be associated with many permission sets. Profile is something that helps in setting the base level or baseline for a particular department in the software. Permission set is not a baseline it is an extension in salesforce.
Profile is a foundation thing in terms of access or if anything is missing or anything is needed as an extra feature or access at the time the permission set emanates.
Read more about Roles and profiles.
As a senior consultant, I often encounter questions about the differences between Profiles and Permission Sets in Salesforce. Both are essential tools for managing user access and permissions, but they serve different purposes and offer unique capabilities.
Profiles
A Profile in Salesforce is a comprehensive set of permissions and settings that define what a user can do within the platform. It includes permissions for objects, fields, and various other settings like tab visibility and login hours. Each user must be assigned exactly one Profile, which acts as their baseline permission set. For example, a ‘Sales User’ profile might allow access to Lead and Opportunity objects but restrict access to administrative settings.
Read more: Latest Salesforce interview questions and answers.
Permission Sets
On the other hand, Permission Sets are additional layers of permissions that can be assigned to users to extend their access without changing their Profile. Permission Sets are highly flexible and can be used to grant specific permissions on an as-needed basis. For instance, if a sales rep needs temporary access to a custom report, you can assign a Permission Set that grants report access without altering their core Profile.
Real-Time Explanation
In practice, I use Profiles to establish the foundational permissions for different user roles within an organization. For example, all sales reps might share a common Profile that grants basic sales-related permissions. When a specific sales rep requires additional access to a marketing dashboard for a particular campaign, I assign a Permission Set with the necessary permissions. This approach ensures that the core permissions remain consistent while providing the flexibility to cater to individual needs.
