Salesforce Integration with AWS

Salesforce + AWS Integration

Salesforce stores customer data (contacts, opportunities, deals). AWS stores everything else (transactions, analytics, custom applications). Integrating them creates a complete enterprise picture.

Why Integrate Salesforce with AWS?

Data Consolidation

• Salesforce: customer interactions and relationships
• AWS: transactions, analytics, custom business logic
• Single source of truth across enterprise

Real-Time Insights

• When customer makes purchase (AWS) → update Salesforce opportunity
• When deal closes in Salesforce → trigger AWS fulfillment system
• Immediate visibility across business

Custom Applications

• Build apps that read Salesforce data (REST API)
• Apps hosted on AWS (EC2, Lambda, AppSync)
• Extend Salesforce without modifying core system

Common Integration Patterns

Batch Sync (Overnight)

• Salesforce exports daily to S3 (via AppFlow)
• Lambda processes, stores in RDS
• Reports generated overnight
• Cost-effective, acceptable latency

Real-Time Sync (Minutes)

• Salesforce Platform Events trigger AWS Lambda
• Lambda updates DynamoDB or RDS immediately
• Webhook from AWS back to Salesforce for updates
• Higher latency, higher cost

Data Warehouse

• Salesforce data → S3 → AWS Glue (transform) → Redshift
• Business intelligence tools (Tableau, Power BI) query Redshift
• Historical analysis, trend reporting

Custom Apps

• Build web/mobile app on AWS (React + Lambda)
• App calls Salesforce REST API for data
• Extends Salesforce functionality with custom features

Salesforce-to-AWS Integration Tools

AWS AppFlow (No-code)

• Connects Salesforce to S3, RDS, Redshift
• Scheduled or event-triggered flows
• No coding required; point-and-click

MuleSoft (Salesforce-owned)

• Enterprise integration platform
• Pre-built Salesforce + AWS connectors
• Complex orchestration and transformations

Custom Integration (Code)

• Use Salesforce REST API + AWS SDKs
• Maximum flexibility
• Requires development effort

Architecture Example: Order to Fulfillment

1. Sales rep closes deal in Salesforce
2. Salesforce Platform Event triggers AWS Lambda
3. Lambda creates order in RDS database
4. Lambda triggers ECS task for fulfillment
5. When order shipped, ECS updates Salesforce via API

Security Considerations

Authentication

• Salesforce OAuth tokens for API access
• Store securely in AWS Secrets Manager
• Rotate tokens regularly

Data Protection

• Encrypt data in transit (HTTPS, TLS)
• Encrypt at rest (S3 encryption, RDS encryption)
• Classify sensitive data (PII, financial)

Access Control

• Limit Salesforce API permissions (least privilege)
• Use IAM roles in AWS (not access keys)
• Audit all data access

Cost Breakdown

Salesforce

• Starting: ~$50/user/month
• 100 users: ~$5,000/month

AWS Integration

• Lambda: ~$0.20 per million invocations
• S3: ~$0.025/GB stored
• RDS: ~$0.17/hour for small database
• Typical: $100-500/month

Best Practices

Design

• Keep Salesforce as source of truth for CRM data
• AWS as source of truth for transactions, analytics
• Avoid bidirectional syncing (can cause loops)

Error Handling

• Monitor failed syncs
• Implement retry logic with exponential backoff
• Alert on sync failures

Performance

• Use batch API in Salesforce (bulk operations)
• Filter data; don’t sync everything
• Cache frequently accessed data

Related Services

• AWS Application Modernization
• AWS Integration & Consulting