# Consent objects and how they relate

*Marketing Cloud Next Consultant Study Guide · Consent · Last updated November 6, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-next-consultant/consent/consent-objects-and-how-they-relate*

The four objects that store Marketing Cloud Next consent, how the separate CRM consent data model and its purpose and brand records differ, and where to review consent status and its change history.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Next Consultant
- Exam section: Consent
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-next-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Identify the purpose and relationships of the platform consent objects used to capture and manage consent preferences.

## What the exam expects

- Name the four objects that store Marketing Cloud Next consent and match each to its purpose.
- Say what a consent record represents, and why consent attaches to a contact point.
- Separate the CRM consent data model from Marketing Cloud Next consent.
- Use Data Use Purpose and Brand when consent varies by reason or by brand.
- Pick the right place to review current consent status and its change history.
- Predict what deleting a communication subscription does to consent data.

**Key terms.** *Communication Subscription*: a specific communication people can subscribe to. *Engagement Channel Type*: a way to reach a customer. *Communication Subscription Channel Type*: the join that offers a channel on a subscription. *Communication Subscription Consent*: the customer-level consent information. *Individual*: the record behind all-or-nothing privacy settings.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Objects that store Next consent | Communication Subscription, Engagement Channel Type, Communication Subscription Channel Type, Communication Subscription Consent | [Consent concepts](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_tools_ref.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Scope of the consent DMO | One engagement channel on one communication subscription | [Consent DMO](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-dmo-mapping/guide/c360dm-si-communicationsubscriptionconsentdmo-dmo.html) |
| What the consent object holds | Who consented, when and how; not the actual consent itself | [Communication Subscription Objects](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.communication_subscription_objects.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Current status in bulk | Communication Subscription Consent DMO in Data Explorer | [Review consent data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Change history | Consent Audit Trail data lake object | [Review consent data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| View on record pages | Marketing Cloud Manager or Marketing Cloud Admin | [Review consent data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| View in Data 360 | Marketing Cloud Admin permission set | [Review consent data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Data Use Purpose relates to | Contact Point Type Consent and Contact Point Consent | [Consent data model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.consent_data_model_mc_about.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Brand relates natively to | Contact Point Type Consent and Contact Point Consent | [Consent data model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.consent_data_model_mc_about.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Deleting a subscription | Deletes all related consent data | [Consent considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- When will a marketer see consent status on a lead record?
- Why might the Consent API miss a customer's record?
- Where does Salesforce recommend managing consent objects by default?

## Sources

- [Understanding Consent Concepts in Marketing Cloud Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_tools_ref.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Communication Subscription Objects](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.communication_subscription_objects.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Communication Subscription Consent DMO](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-dmo-mapping/guide/c360dm-si-communicationsubscriptionconsentdmo-dmo.html)
- [Understand the Salesforce Consent Data Model](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.consent_data_model_mc_about.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Consent Management Objects](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.consent_mgmt_fields.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Review Marketing Consent Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Considerations for Managing Marketing Consent Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mktg_consent_considerations.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 10 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Next Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams