Salesforce is one of the most popular customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. From storing critical customer information to running sales and marketing campaigns, it helps businesses keep everything in one place. But since Salesforce stores such a massive amount of sensitive data, it has become an attractive target for hackers.
As technology keeps advancing, so do cybercriminals and their attacking tactics. They are now using smarter tools, artificial intelligence, and convincing phishing tricks to break into your systems and steal sensitive data. Therefore, it is important for Salesforce administrators to protect data through constant vigilance and the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures.
In this blog, we will discuss the top cybersecurity threats that every Salesforce admin needs to be aware of in 2025 and share practical steps to minimize these risks.
WHY THERE IS A NEED FOR SALESFORCE SECURITY
Before we get into the specific threats, you need to understand why keeping Salesforce secure is so important.
- Customer trust: In this digital age, the customer is king. They share their personal details, purchase history, and various other sensitive information with your business. If that data is exposed, their trust in you can disappear overnight.
- Compliance with Regulations: There are various laws, like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, that require strict data protection. So, if you ignore them, it could result in heavy fines. Apart from that, you can fall into legal trouble.
- Continuation of Business: A data breach can cause severe consequences for your business. It can halt the sales process, stop the business workflow, and also cause financial losses.
- Risk of Losing Reputation: When you face a cyberattack, it indicates weak security. Not only that, your customers also notice that. Once your reputation takes a hit, it is really hard to rebuild.
The above reasons make it clear why Salesforce security should always be a top priority for every business.
TOP CYBERSECURITY THREATS IN 2025 FOR SALESFORCE ADMINS
As we know now, Salesforce cybersecurity holds prime importance. Let’s move forward and look at the top cybersecurity threats in 2025 and beyond.
- Phishing and Credential Theft
Phishing is still one of the most common attack methods in 2025. In this attack, cybercriminals create fake or lookalike login pages or send convincing emails to trick Salesforce users into entering their usernames and passwords.
Once cyber intruders have the credentials’ information, they can log in as legitimate users and steal sensitive data without being noticed.
How to defend against it:
- Educate your employees to identify suspicious emails.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts.
- Use single sign-on (SSO) with trusted identity providers.
- Monitor multiple login attempts to catch unusual activities.
- Insider Threats
Not every threat comes from the outside. Sometimes, employees or contractors who already have access to Salesforce misuse it. This could mean downloading customer data for personal gain, leaking information to competitors, or even accidentally exposing sensitive files.
The trickiest part is that insider threats are harder to detect because they often appear to be regular user activity.
How to defend against it:
- Implement role-based access, so employees only have the data they need for their job.
- Track user activity with Salesforce Shield or similar tools.
- Run background checks and provide regular security training.
- Set up alerts for large data downloads or unusual actions.
- Misconfigured Permissions
Salesforce gives admins a lot of flexibility, but sometimes that flexibility can backfire. When admins set up permissions in the wrong way (i.e., grant broad permissions), users may have access to sensitive data they should not see. This can lead to accidental leaks or even intentional misuse.
How to defend against it:
- Regularly review and audit your user permissions.
- Apart from that, follow the principle of least privilege.
- You can use Salesforce’s Permission Set Groups to easily manage access.
- Rely on automated tools to spot and correct misconfigurations in settings.
- API Exploits
Salesforce integrates with many other applications through APIs. Though it makes the work easier, it also creates new attack surfaces. Cyber criminals can attack weak or unsecured APIs to steal data or inject malicious code. As more and more businesses are using AI-driven integrations, APIs are becoming even bigger targets.
How to defend against it:
- Businesses can use strong authentication for all API connections.
- You can allow API calls only from trusted applications.
- Monitor API traffic to catch unusual activity.
- Keep all third-party integrations up to date and patched.
- Data Leaks Through Third-Party Apps
Salesforce has an app marketplace named AppExchange that provides thousands of apps to add new functionalities. While many of these apps are secure, not all are built with strong security. Therefore, a weak or malicious app can serve as a backdoor for cyber intruders to access sensitive customer data.
How to defend against it:
- Carefully check all apps before installing them.
- Choose apps from trusted vendors with proven security certifications.
- You can monitor app behavior and data access.
- Remove apps you no longer use or that are outdated.
- AI-Powered Cyberattacks
In 2025, hackers are using artificial intelligence to launch smarter attacks. In Salesforce, it could mean stealing mass credentials at once through AI-driven bots. These bots can search for weak security configurations and pretend to act like a normal user to avoid getting caught.
How to defend against it:
- Use anomaly detection tools (scikit-learn and Plunk) that spot suspicious behavior.
- Implement AI-driven security solutions to fight AI-driven attacks.
- Stay updated with Salesforce’s latest security patches.
- Reduce the number of login attempts to stop bots from guessing passwords.
- Ransomware Attacks on Backups
Ransomware is evolving, and attackers no longer just target live systems. Many now go after backups stored within Salesforce or connected systems. If backups are compromised, restoring data after an attack becomes impossible without paying a ransom.
How to defend against it:
- Maintain offline and encrypted backups.
- Use Salesforce’s native backup and restore solutions.
- Regularly test recovery processes.
- Segment backup systems from live environments.
- Shadow IT and Unauthorized Integrations
Shadow IT refers to employees using unauthorized tools or integrations with Salesforce without admin approval. These connections may lack proper security, putting sensitive data at risk.
How To Defend Against It:
- Establish strict policies for third-party integrations.
- Use network monitoring tools to detect unauthorized connections.
- Educate employees about the dangers of unapproved tools.
- Encourage staff to request secure solutions through IT.
WHAT TO DO IF A BREACH HAPPENS
Even with robust cybersecurity measures and protocols, there are chances of a breach. As we all know, no system is 100% secure. So, what to do in those scenarios? Every company should have a quick incident response plan. If a breach does occur, they can:
- Contain the threat quickly by suspending accounts or integrations that were affected.
- Inform stakeholders and regulators as required by law to remain compliant.
- Find the root cause by using logs and monitoring tools (SIEM, Wireshark, Nessus).
- Restore clean backups if any data was lost or damaged.
- Review and enhance security measures to prevent future incidents.
Having a clear response plan helps reduce panic and makes for a faster recovery. You can even consult with a leading cybersecurity services provider to strengthen your defenses and avoid cyberattacks.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There’s no doubt that Salesforce is a powerful platform for CRM. But with that power comes a big responsibility of protecting it. As a Salesforce admin, you need to be aware of the emerging cybersecurity threats and take steps to strengthen your organization.
You need to make sure that the best cybersecurity practices are implemented and followed by everyone. By utilizing cybersecurity services, you can safeguard yourself against threats such as phishing, insider misuse, API attacks, and ransomware. And eventually protect both your company and your customers.
AUTHOR BIO:
Aliona is a technology and cybersecurity writer who specializes in simplifying complex security topics. She helps businesses and Salesforce professionals understand emerging threats, adopt best practices, and build stronger defenses in today’s evolving digital landscape.
