It is crucial to test Salesforce profiles and permission sets to make sure users have the appropriate access to data, functionality, and UI components, . Serious problems like data leaks, access rejections, or malfunctioning business operations might result from misconfigured permissions. To protect your organization and accelerate user operations, it is essential that you evaluate user’s profiles and permission sets as a Salesforce QA, administrator, or developer. In this article we will be discussing “How do you test profiles and permission sets in Salesforce?”
What Are Profiles and Permission Sets in Salesforce?
Salesforce limits what users can see and do by using permission sets and profiles. A permission set increases a user’s access without altering their profile, whereas a profile specifies their minimum degree of access.
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- Object permissions, field-level security, tab visibility, record types, login hours, and app access are all included in profiles.
- Permission Sets grant additional access on top of what the profile allows, offering flexibility and minimizing the need to create multiple profiles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Testing Profiles and Permission Sets
1. Review the business requirements
Start by figuring out which users or roles require access to particular data and features. Align these requirements with the permission sets and profiles that are set up in your organization. Refer to documentation, security matrix structures or user stories.
2. Identify the Test Users
Create or utilize test users with designated permission sets and profiles. Make sure to test:
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- Users who just have profiles
- Users that have one or more permission sets in addition to profiles
- Users with varying levels of role hierarchy
This approach helps cover various permission combinations and edge cases.
3. Log in As the Test User
Use the “Login As” feature (if you have the right permissions) or log in directly with the test user’s credentials. Validate:
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- Tabs and apps available to the user
- Access to standard and custom objects
- Visibility of fields on record layouts
- Ability to create, read, edit, and delete records
4. Test CRUD and FLS
CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) and Field-Level Security (FLS) define what actions a user can take on records and fields. For each object:
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- Try to create a new record
- Open existing records and check visible fields
- Attempt to edit or delete records
- Try accessing restricted fields via reports or API (if relevant)
Make sure the user can only perform the actions allowed by their permissions.
5. Validate Record-Level Access
Test whether users can see only the records they should have access to. Use sharing rules, manual sharing, or role hierarchy scenarios to validate this. Try to:
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- View records owned by others
- Edit or delete shared records
- Check if restricted records are hidden
Use real data or sample records with varied ownership for this purpose.
6. Test Permission Set Assignments
Assign and remove permission sets for test users. After each change:
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- Re-login and check for new object or field access
- Validate any new tabs or apps that become visible
- Confirm that permission changes do not break workflows
This test ensures that permission sets extend access correctly without overriding profiles.
7. Verify Access via API and Integration
Verify that API users have the appropriate access through profiles and permission sets using tools like Workbench, Postman, or integration tests. Make sure that restricted users are unable to use external tools to access sensitive data.
8. Automate Access Testing (Optional)
Consider automating the repeated profile and permission set tests with automation technologies like Provar, Selenium, or Apex test classes if your organization is large. During regular deployments or organizational changes, automated testing help in preserving security.
Best Practices for Testing Profiles and Permission Sets
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- Follow least privilege principle:Only give the permissions that are necessary.
- Test negative scenarios:Verify that restricted data cannot be accessed by unauthorized users
- Use permission set groups:To make testing easier, combine multiple permission sets.
- Document expected vs actual access:Tests should be documented for audits and troubleshooting.
- Test in sandboxes first:Prior to going into production, always confirm permissions in a lower environment.
Conclusion
Salesforce’s permission sets and profiles are tested to make sure users can only see or do what they are permitted to. You may safeguard your data and improve user productivity using a systematic method that includes generating test users, validating CRUD/FLS, analyzing record-level access, and confirming API permissions. To keep your Salesforce environment safe and effective, implement this into your QA and deployment cycle on a regular basis.
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