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Full Integration User entry
How-to guide

Create a dedicated Integration User for a new integration

The setup flow is the same for every new integration: license, user, permission set, Connected App, OAuth tokens.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated May 21, 2026

The setup flow is the same for every new integration: license, user, permission set, Connected App, OAuth tokens.

  1. Confirm available Integration Licenses

    Setup, Company Information. Check the license allocation; each org gets a small free allocation, more can be purchased.

  2. Create the User record

    Setup, Users, New User. Assign the Integration License profile, set a strong password or disable interactive login, and pick a generic email like integration-hubspot@yourcompany.com.

  3. Build a least-privilege Permission Set

    Create a Permission Set with exactly the objects, fields, and Apex classes the integration needs. Assign it to the integration user.

  4. Create a Connected App

    Setup, App Manager, New Connected App. Enable OAuth, choose JWT Bearer Flow, upload the certificate the external system will sign with. Authorize the Connected App for the integration user.

  5. Test the OAuth flow

    From the external system, request an access token using the JWT flow. Verify the token comes back and the API call succeeds.

  6. Document the integration

    Record the integration user, Connected App name, JWT certificate location, and intended object access in a runbook. Future admins will thank you.

Mandatory fields
Integration Licenserequired

The user license type that grants API-only access.

Permission Setrequired

Least-privilege object and field permissions.

Connected Apprequired

The OAuth trust object the external system authenticates against.

JWT Certificaterequired

Required for the JWT Bearer Flow.

Strong password / disabled interactive loginrequired

Integration users should not log in interactively.

Gotchas
  • Integration License has a restricted object list. Confirm every object the integration needs is supported before assigning the license.
  • Each org gets a small free Integration License allocation. Hitting the cap requires purchasing additional licenses through the Salesforce account team.
  • JWT Bearer Flow requires the external system to maintain a certificate. Lost certificates require revoking and re-issuing, which interrupts the integration.
  • Integration users without strong governance can drift into excess permissions over time. Audit Permission Set assignments quarterly.

See the full Integration User entry

Integration User includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.