Can a Salesforce admin configure Big Objects without writing code?

Big Objects is a declarative admin feature, meaning it can be configured through Salesforce's point-and-click interface without writing any code.

What is the primary benefit of Big Objects for Salesforce administrators?

Big Objects is an administration feature that empowers admins to manage the Salesforce environment through declarative, point-and-click configuration.

In which area of Salesforce would you typically find Big Objects?

Big Objects is an administrative feature found in Salesforce Setup — the central hub where admins configure and manage the org.

Big Objects

Administration🔴 Advanced

Definition

Big Objects is a Setup feature for managing Salesforce Big Objects, which are designed to store and manage massive volumes of data (billions of records) on the Salesforce platform. Unlike standard objects, Big Objects are optimized for large-scale data storage and retrieval using a defined index, making them suitable for historical archiving and audit data.

Real-World Example

The admin at DataSync Corp uses Big Objects to archive five years of field audit trail data that would otherwise count against standard storage limits. She defines a Big Object called "Audit_History__b" with indexed fields for Record ID, Field Name, and Change Date. The archived data can still be queried using Async SOQL for compliance audits.

Why Big Objects Matters

Big Objects is a foundational element of Salesforce administration. Admins rely on it to control how users interact with the platform, ensuring that the right people have the right access while maintaining data integrity across the organization. Misconfiguring this area can lead to security gaps, data leakage, or frustrated users who cannot do their jobs.

As your Salesforce org grows and evolves, Big Objects becomes increasingly important for governance. It helps administrators enforce business policies without writing code, making it an essential tool for the 80% of Salesforce customization that happens declaratively through clicks, not code.

How Organizations Use Big Objects

•Cyberdyne Co — Configured Big Objects to enforce their data governance policies across 500+ users. By setting up proper controls, they reduced unauthorized data exports by over 90% and passed their annual security audit without any findings for the first time.
•Soylent Group — Used Big Objects to streamline their onboarding process for new hires. Instead of manually configuring access for each person, they built standardized configurations that could be assigned in minutes, reducing IT onboarding time from two days to under an hour.
•Acme Corporation — Applied Big Objects as part of a broader org cleanup initiative. By auditing and optimizing their setup, they improved page load times, reduced user confusion caused by unnecessary fields, and made their Salesforce instance more maintainable for the admin team.