Definition
Delete Attachments Sent as Links is a Setup feature that controls whether file attachments sent as download links in Salesforce emails are automatically deleted after a specified period. This helps organizations manage storage usage and comply with data retention policies by removing temporary file links.
Real-World Example
The admin at FinServe Bank configures Delete Attachments Sent as Links to remove shared file links after 30 days. When an advisor emails a portfolio statement to a client as a download link, the link remains active for 30 days and then the temporary attachment is deleted, helping the bank comply with data retention policies and free up storage.
Why Delete Attachments Sent as Links Matters
Every email attachment sent as a download link in Salesforce consumes file storage, and over time these temporary files can quietly eat into your org's storage limits. Delete Attachments Sent as Links solves this by automatically purging those temporary attachments after a configurable time window, ensuring that one-time shares don't become permanent storage burdens. This is especially critical for organizations in regulated industries like finance and healthcare where data retention policies mandate that shared documents not persist beyond approved timeframes.
As your org scales from dozens to hundreds or thousands of users sending file links daily, the cumulative storage impact becomes significant. Without this feature enabled, organizations often discover they've consumed gigabytes of storage on attachments that were only meant to be accessed once or twice. Enabling this setting as part of your storage governance strategy prevents surprise storage overages, avoids the cost of purchasing additional file storage, and ensures compliance with your organization's data lifecycle policies.
How Organizations Use Delete Attachments Sent as Links
- FinServe Bank — FinServe Bank's wealth advisors email portfolio statements and tax documents to clients as download links. By configuring deletion after 30 days, the firm ensures that sensitive financial documents are automatically purged once clients have had ample time to download them, satisfying their compliance team's data retention requirements while reclaiming over 50 GB of storage annually.
- MedTrust Health Systems — MedTrust's care coordinators share lab results and referral documents with patients via Salesforce email links. The admin sets a 14-day deletion window so that protected health information doesn't linger unnecessarily, helping the organization maintain HIPAA compliance without requiring manual file cleanup from already-busy coordinators.
- Apex Manufacturing — Apex Manufacturing's sales engineers regularly email product spec sheets and CAD drawings to prospects. With hundreds of large attachments sent weekly, the admin enables 60-day link expiration to keep storage costs under control while still giving prospects enough time to review technical documents during lengthy procurement cycles.