Definition
Private Connect is a Setup feature that enables private, secure network connections between Salesforce and other cloud services (such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) without routing traffic over the public internet. It uses private peering to reduce latency, improve security, and comply with strict network isolation requirements.
Real-World Example
The IT team at FinServe Bank configures Private Connect to establish a private network link between their Salesforce org and their AWS VPC. All API callouts from Salesforce to their banking backend now travel over this private connection instead of the public internet, meeting the bank's regulatory requirement for network-level data isolation.
Why Private Connect Matters
Private Connect in Salesforce establishes a dedicated, private network link between a Salesforce org and external cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform, bypassing the public internet entirely. This is achieved through private peering technologies such as AWS PrivateLink or Azure Private Link. The significance is twofold: first, it dramatically reduces the attack surface by eliminating exposure to public internet threats like man-in-the-middle attacks; second, it often reduces latency since traffic travels over private backbone networks rather than hopping across public routers. For organizations in regulated industries — banking, healthcare, government — Private Connect may be required to meet strict network isolation mandates.
As organizations increase the volume and sensitivity of data flowing between Salesforce and external systems, Private Connect becomes a critical infrastructure component. A financial institution making thousands of API calls per hour to synchronize transaction data between Salesforce and their banking platform cannot afford the security risk or latency variability of public internet routing. Without Private Connect, each API call traverses multiple network hops that could be intercepted, throttled, or disrupted. Additionally, Private Connect supports compliance with regulations like PCI DSS and HIPAA that mandate data-in-transit protections beyond standard TLS encryption. Organizations should plan their Private Connect architecture alongside their integration strategy, ensuring that high-volume or sensitive data flows are prioritized for private connectivity.
How Organizations Use Private Connect
- FinServe Bank — FinServe Bank configured Private Connect to establish a private link between their Salesforce org and their AWS VPC housing the core banking platform. All API callouts for real-time account balance checks and transaction postings now travel over this private connection, meeting PCI DSS requirements for network-level data isolation and reducing API response times by 40%.
- SecureHealth Systems — SecureHealth Systems uses Private Connect to create a private network path between Salesforce Health Cloud and their patient data warehouse on Azure. Protected health information (PHI) transmitted during care coordination workflows never touches the public internet, satisfying HIPAA's technical safeguard requirements and passing their annual security audit without findings.
- GovCloud Agency — GovCloud Agency deployed Private Connect to link their Salesforce Government Cloud org with internal systems hosted on AWS GovCloud. This private network architecture meets FedRAMP High requirements for data-in-transit isolation, enabling the agency to process sensitive citizen data through Salesforce integrations that were previously blocked by their security office.