In Salesforce, not every user is a human logging in through a browser. Some users exist purely to connect systems, move data, and run automations. These are known as Salesforce integration users.

Understanding what a Salesforce integration user is, why it is used, and how to configure it correctly is critical for secure and scalable integrations.

This guide explains everything in simple terms.

A Salesforce integration user is a dedicated system user account used by external applications, APIs, or integrations to access Salesforce data and perform actions automatically.

Salesforce integrations often need to:

• Create or update records

• Read data in real time

• Trigger workflows or automations

• Sync data between systems

Using a normal human user account for this is risky. Integration users solve this problem by providing controlled, traceable, and secure system access.

A Salesforce integration user is different from a standard user in several ways:

It is not tied to a real person
It is used only by systems or applications
It usually has limited permissions
It runs automated processes and API calls

This separation improves security and auditability.

External systems such as ERP, marketing platforms, or data warehouses use an integration user to call Salesforce APIs.

Tools like MuleSoft or custom integration layers authenticate using a dedicated integration user.

Inbound and outbound integrations often run under a specific integration user context.

Automated sync jobs use integration users to run reliably without depending on human accounts.

An integration user logs in programmatically using:

• OAuth authentication

• Username and password with security token

• Named credentials

Every action performed by the integration is recorded under that user in Salesforce logs and field history.

This makes troubleshooting and auditing much easier.

Integration users should always follow the principle of least privilege.

Best practices include:

• Assigning a dedicated profile

• Granting only required object access

• Limiting API access scope

• Avoiding admin level permissions

• Restricting login IP ranges if possible

Never give an integration user more access than it truly needs.

Many teams confuse integration users with named credentials.

An integration user is the identity
A named credential is how authentication details are stored and managed

Most modern integrations use both together.

Another common comparison is between integration users and connected apps.

A connected app defines:

• OAuth settings

• Authentication flow

• Token behavior

The integration user is the account that the connected app acts on behalf of.

They work together, not instead of each other.

Integration users require a Salesforce license.

Common license choices include:

• Salesforce API only user

• Salesforce Platform user

• Standard Salesforce user

The correct license depends on what the integration needs to access.

To keep integrations secure:

• Rotate credentials regularly

• Monitor login history

• Track API usage

• Enable audit logging

• Disable interactive login if not needed

Treat integration users like production infrastructure, not casual accounts.

Using a personal admin account for integrations
Sharing one integration user across many systems
Granting full admin permissions
Not monitoring API limits
Ignoring audit logs

These mistakes often lead to security issues and outages.

A payment platform integrates with Salesforce to update Opportunities when payments are completed.

The platform authenticates using a Salesforce integration user that has:

• Access only to Opportunities

• Permission to update payment fields

• API access enabled

All payment updates are tracked under that user, making audits simple.

It is used to allow external systems to securely access Salesforce and perform automated actions.

Yes. This improves security, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

They can, but UI access should usually be restricted unless needed.

Yes. Salesforce APIs always operate in the context of a user.

A Salesforce integration user is a foundational building block of secure and scalable integrations. It separates system access from human access, improves auditability, and reduces operational risk.

If you are building or managing Salesforce integrations, creating and properly configuring integration users should always be a top priority.