Definition
The Salesforce security layer that controls access to individual records (as opposed to object-level or field-level security), enforced through org-wide defaults, role hierarchy, sharing rules, manual sharing, and Apex managed sharing.
Real-World Example
When a Salesforce administrator at Coastal Health needs to streamline operations, they turn to Record-Level Security to maintain data quality and enforce organizational policies across the platform. By properly setting up Record-Level Security, they prevent common data entry errors and ensure that users follow established business processes, which saves the support team hours of cleanup work each week.
Why Record-Level Security Matters
Record-Level Security is the Salesforce security layer that controls access to individual records (as opposed to object-level or field-level security), enforced through org-wide defaults, role hierarchy, sharing rules, manual sharing, and Apex managed sharing. It's the 'who can see which records' layer of the broader Salesforce security model.
Record-level security is where most of the complexity in Salesforce sharing lives. OWDs set the baseline, role hierarchy propagates access up, sharing rules grant access to groups, and manual/Apex sharing handle exceptions. Mature orgs design record-level security thoughtfully with least privilege in mind, granting only the access users actually need to do their work.
How Organizations Use Record-Level Security
- •BrightEdge Solutions — Designs record-level security with least privilege, granting access deliberately through sharing rules.
- •NovaScale — Documents their sharing model so admins understand how record-level security works.
- •Cobalt Ventures — Audits sharing rules periodically to ensure record-level security matches current needs.