The Ultimate Guide to Salesforce Metadata

The Ultimate Guide to Salesforce
Metadata
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/

Here’s what you need to know about Salesforce Metadata:
Metadata is generally considered to be “data about data” and it needs to be given just
as much attention as the rest of your Salesforce data.
• Types of Metadata
• Finding Metadata
• Metadata Within DevOps
• Metadata + Unstructured Data
• Metadata’s Impact on Compliance
• Metadata Security Concerns
4/14/2022
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/
2

Types of Metadata
• Platform Metadata: Provides information about aspects of the environment such as defining
fields and storing descriptive information.
• Custom Metadata: Describes how a field is handled or relates to another field. This includes
information that allows you to create relationships between objects, business or logic rules, or
how data is handled and validated.
Finding Metadata
• Application Programming Interface (API): APIs allow users to create repeatable functions and
organize code. It can be used to manage platform customizations and gather metadata.
• ANT Migration Tool: This is a command-line tool which can be used to move metadata out of a
Salesforce org and into a local filing system.
• Managed Packages: These pre-packaged collections of application components can be used to
send and retrieve metadata as needed.
• Manual Searches: We love to tout the benefits of automation, but manual searches can also be
useful for finding metadata even if it isn’t a streamlined process.
4/14/2022
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/
3

Metadata Within DevOps
• Customizations: Metadata dictates the customizations that make your Salesforce
environment specific to your needs. These components are driven by metadata.
• Related Fields: The links between objects and fields leading to auto population are connected
through metadata.
• Comprehensive Backups: Including metadata in your backup strategy preserves the
customizations and functionality your team members use every day.
• Automation Assistance: DevOps pipelines that use automation save time and money.
Metadata supports custom application logic to enable workflow automations.
Metadata + Unstructured Data
• Unstructured data is information that doesn’t fit into current organizational models. Metadata can
be used to provide the needed structure.
4/14/2022
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/
4

Metadata’s Impact on Compliance
• Salesforce metadata needs to be protected and monitored just as vigorously as other types of
data to remain compliant with data security regulations.
• A proper code analysis strategy will take a variety of factors into consideration. The very first
consideration needs to illuminate what you hope to gain from your efforts.
Metadata Security Concerns
• Being aware of the various types of metadata will help you protect your system against
cybercriminals.
4/14/2022
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/
5

Develop High Quality, Secure Code!
Get Started : https://www.codescan.io/request-a-demo/
4/14/2022
www.autorabit.com & www.codescan.io/
6