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Should Static Code Analysis Be Used as a Salesforce Monitoring Tool For Security?

Josh Rank
May 11, 2022

Data security needs to be a top concern for every Salesforce user. Cyberattacks have become even more of a pressing issue over the last few years, leading the White House to issue a statement to all business relating to their data security practices.

A Salesforce security and monitoring tool can go a long way toward supporting data security measures.

Simply maintaining best practices when utilizing company systems isn’t enough to protect your platform. Cybercriminals have grown increasingly savvy when it comes to gaining access to your most protected, sensitive, and critical system data.

Static code analysis is an important Salesforce security and monitoring tool that focuses on maintaining strong code throughout your system. But how does static code analysis support your data security strategy?

Here are 6 ways static code analysis acts as a tool for monitoring Salesforce security:

Coding Errors Create Data Security Vulnerabilities
Even the Best Developers Make Mistakes
Static Code Analysis Can Locate Sensitive Data for Encryption
Technical Debt Opens Back Doors
Automated Code Reviews Provide Continuous Benefits
Multiple Security Checks Provide Comprehensive Coverage

1. Coding Errors Create Data Security Vulnerabilities

We aim to introduce the best code possible to our updates and applications because we want to create a stable product. The experience for the end user is important because it’s what positions us as a leader in our industry. However, there are unseen dangers lurking within bad code that also need to be considered.

A buggy or error-filled update can create backdoors in a Salesforce environment that create opportunities for cybercriminals or costly errors.

Proper functionality is essential for a secure Salesforce platform. Static code analysis acts as a Salesforce security and monitoring tool by flagging these errors as they are introduced to the system, cutting them off before they can become an issue.

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2. Even the Best Developers Make Mistakes

Mistakes are going to happen. It might be tempting to think you don’t need a code scanner because you trust your developers to write high quality code. However, nobody is perfect. Coding errors are inevitable and without the help of static code analysis, these errors can lead to failed deployments, longer production time, or buggy applications.

Preparing for errors ensures you are covered when the inevitable occurs.

Utilizing a Salesforce security and monitoring tool like static code analysis supports your team members and allows them to focus on writing new code without needing to go back and re-work error-filled sections.

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3. Static Code Analysis Can Locate Sensitive Data for Encryption

Personally identifiable information and other types of sensitive data need to be protected. Regulatory compliance dictates this for some industries, but properly handling sensitive data is simply a best practice for every business, regardless of regulations.

Static code analysis works to find sensitive information that should be encrypted to ensure your system is fully protected.

Properly protecting sensitive information is a necessity. Automated scans support data security. Reports can be scheduled to continually monitor your Salesforce environment so nothing is left behind.

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4. Technical Debt Opens Back Doors

Unless you’ve scanned for it (and continue to do so), technical debt likely exists within your Salesforce environment. This is the result of errors and bugs that have gone undetected that have the potential to create data security risks and improper functionality within your updates and applications.

Static code analysis finds technical debt existing in the background of your system, allowing your team to shore up any potential data security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Manually scanning and testing your system for this type of technical debt is simply impossible. Many platforms with have hundreds of thousands of lines of code. A Salesforce security and monitoring tool can be used to find and flag these vulnerabilities.

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5. Automated Code Reviews Provide Continuous Benefits

Scheduling automated and repeated code reviews ensures you always have an up-to-date view on what is happening behind the scenes in your Salesforce environment. Static code analysis provides dashboards and reports that provide continuous visibility into code health.

Automation enables a high-level analysis of code health that can be repeated so nothing slips through the cracks.

Proper data security is an ongoing effort. Static code analysis provides the ability to continually scan your code and offer recurring benefits as your platform grows.

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6. Multiple Security Checks Provide Comprehensive Coverage

Cyberattacks, employee errors, natural disasters, system outages—there are simply too many potential threats to your data to guarantee complete security. And because of these multiple threats, you need to institute multiple layers of security to give yourself the best chance at avoiding data loss or corruption.

Static code analysis provides your first layer of security by avoiding errors that can have a snowball effect on later areas of your Salesforce environment.

Combining static code analysis with other tools like data backup & recovery, CI/CD, and other DevSecOps tools supports a full data security strategy. Implementing static code analysis as a Salesforce security and monitoring tool offers support on multiple levels, from the moment code is written all the way through production.

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FAQs

What is a Salesforce security and monitoring tool?

There are a variety of DevOps tools that can be considered a Salesforce security and monitoring tool. Any automated tool that can be set to perform repeated scans for vulnerabilities and support data security can be called a security and monitoring tool. This includes static code analysis, data backup & recovery, and CI/CD.

How many Salesforce security and monitoring tools do I need to use?

As many as possible. Data security is most effective when there are multiple levels of protection. There are numerous ways your Salesforce environment can be compromised so it’s important to protect it every way you can.

How does static code analysis impact data security?

Static code analysis reduces bugs and errors which can create entry points for bad actors. It also finds and flags technical debt which can create more vulnerabilities without you even knowing they exist. Your team can then work to rectify any flagged vulnerabilities to further secure your system.

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Tags: code scanning tool, salesforce DevSecOps, static code analysis for salesforce, static code analysis tool

Should Static Code Analysis Be Used as a Salesforce Monitoring Tool For Security?

Here are 6 ways static code analysis acts as a tool for monitoring Salesforce security:

1. Coding Errors Create Data Security Vulnerabilities

2. Even the Best Developers Make Mistakes

3. Static Code Analysis Can Locate Sensitive Data for Encryption

4. Technical Debt Opens Back Doors

5. Automated Code Reviews Provide Continuous Benefits

6. Multiple Security Checks Provide Comprehensive Coverage

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