Salesforce Shield: Pros and Cons of Implementing Enhanced Security

As businesses increasingly rely on Salesforce to manage sensitive customer data, security and compliance have become top priorities. Salesforce Shield is an advanced security suite designed to provide enhanced encryption, event monitoring, and field auditing to protect critical business data. But is it the right solution for your organization? This blog explores the pros and cons of implementing Salesforce Shield to help you make an informed decision.

What is Salesforce Shield?

Salesforce Shield is a suite of security features that includes:

• Platform Encryption – Encrypts data at rest while still allowing searches, validation, and automation.

• Event Monitoring – Provides detailed tracking of user activity and API interactions.

• Field Audit Trail – Expands data history tracking beyond the standard 18-month limit, storing up to 10 years of records.

These features are designed for industries that require higher compliance standards such as healthcare, finance, and government sectors.

Pros of Implementing Salesforce Shield

1. Advanced Data Encryption

Protects sensitive data at rest without affecting system functionality.

Supports compliance with industry regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Customizable encryption policies allow businesses to define what data needs protection.

💡 Example: A financial services company encrypts credit card information while ensuring seamless access for authorized users.

2. Real-Time Event Monitoring for Security Insights

Tracks who accessed what data and when, helping detect unauthorized access.

Monitors API usage, login attempts, and changes to reports & dashboards.

Helps prevent insider threats by flagging suspicious activity.

💡 Example: A healthcare provider uses event monitoring to track login anomalies and detect potential breaches.

3. Extended Field Audit Trail for Compliance

Stores up to 10 years of historical data changes (vs. the standard 18 months).

Helps meet regulatory requirements by providing a clear audit history.

Enables detailed reporting on field changes for legal and compliance teams.

💡 Example: A government agency maintains audit logs for legal compliance, ensuring data integrity over time.

4. Improved Security Without Affecting Performance

Unlike some third-party encryption tools, Salesforce Shield does not disrupt reports, searches, or automation.

Seamlessly integrates with Salesforce’s native features, ensuring minimal impact on system performance.

Works across Salesforce apps, including Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and custom applications.

💡 Example: A retail company encrypts customer addresses while allowing customer service teams to retrieve data for order processing.

Cons of Implementing Salesforce Shield

1. High Cost of Implementation

Salesforce Shield is not included in standard Salesforce editions—it’s an add-on with a premium price tag.

Costs vary based on data volume and organization size, making it expensive for small businesses.

Requires additional budget for setup, configuration, and ongoing maintenance.

💡 Example: A startup might find Salesforce Shield too costly and may opt for alternative encryption solutions.

2. Complexity in Setup and Management

Requires expertise to properly configure encryption, monitoring, and audit logs.

Organizations may need to hire specialists or consultants to implement it effectively.

Some features, like event monitoring, generate large volumes of data that require proper storage and analysis tools.

💡 Example: A mid-sized company without a dedicated security team may struggle with Shield’s setup and ongoing management.

3. Potential Limitations with Third-Party Integrations

Some third-party applications may not fully support encrypted fields, potentially causing compatibility issues.

Data visibility for integrated apps may be restricted due to encryption, requiring additional workarounds.

Not all Salesforce Shield features work seamlessly with external reporting tools, requiring extra customization.

💡 Example: A company using a third-party marketing automation tool may need additional integration work to access encrypted fields.

4. Increased Storage and Performance Considerations

Field Audit Trail stores historical data for up to 10 years, which can lead to significant storage usage.

Event Monitoring generates large log files, requiring efficient log management and storage solutions.

Encrypted fields can impact performance when handling bulk data operations.

💡 Example: A large enterprise may need to invest in additional storage solutions to manage long-term audit records.

Is Salesforce Shield Right for Your Business?

• Salesforce Shield is a good fit for you if:

  • You handle sensitive customer data and need to comply with regulations.

  • You want real-time monitoring of user activity to prevent security threats.

  • You require long-term data tracking for audits and compliance.

  • You have the budget and expertise to manage encryption and event monitoring.

• Salesforce Shield may not be the best choice if:

  • You don’t have regulatory requirements for data security.

  • Your organization can’t afford the additional costs of implementation and maintenance.

  • You don’t have the technical expertise to manage encryption and audit logs.

  • You rely heavily on third-party integrations that may not support encrypted data.

Conclusion

Salesforce Shield is a powerful security solution for organizations that need advanced encryption, event monitoring, and audit tracking. However, it comes at a high cost and requires careful implementation. Businesses should assess their security needs, compliance requirements, and budget before deciding whether Salesforce Shield is the right investment.

Would you like guidance on how to implement Salesforce Shield effectively or explore alternative security solutions? Let’s discuss!