Big objects, Salesforce Connect and off-platform backup
When to keep massive data on the platform in big objects, when to leave it in a warehouse or data lake and read it through Salesforce Connect external objects, and how the Data Export service, Backup & Recover and third-party tools cover backup, restore and off-platform archiving.
Understand methods to connect to, access, backup/restore, or archive data outside of the Salesforce Platform (big objects, data warehouse, external objects, data lakes, third-party solutions, and Salesforce Connect).
~7 min read · 11 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Recommend a custom big object for billions of records that must stay on the platform, and state what big objects don't support (sharing, triggers, flows, mobile, REST API).
- Write or check a big object SOQL query against its index.
- Recommend Salesforce Connect and the right adapter (cross-org, OData, custom Apex) when data must stay in an external system, a warehouse or a data lake.
- Explain the Data Export service: editions, intervals, the 48-hour download window and what it excludes.
- Contrast Data Export with Backup & Recover and with off-platform archiving through ETL or third-party tools.
Key terms: big object (stores massive data on a horizontally scalable, non-transactional database inside Salesforce); external object (maps to a table in an external system, read on demand); external data source (connection and adapter definition for Salesforce Connect); Data Export service (scheduled CSV backup of org data); Backup & Recover (add-on daily backup with compare and restore).
Key facts
- Detail
- Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, Developer for up to 1 million records
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- Object and field permissions only, no sharing
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- SOQL, Bulk, Chatter, SOAP; REST not supported
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- From first index field, no gaps, IN once, range on last field
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- Extra cost in Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited
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- Read only by default
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- Need an OData producer
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- Every 7 days weekly, 29 days monthly
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- 48 hours; removed when a new export is queued
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- Daily backups, compare, restore
Sources for this section (7)
- Big Objectsdeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- SOQL with Big Objectsdeveloper.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Salesforce Connecthelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Adaptershelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Export Backup Datahelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Data Export FAQhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Backup & Recoverhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Which APIs can process big objects, and which can't?
- When is a custom big object better than Salesforce Connect?
- Which adapter reads data stored in another Salesforce org?
- Why can an admin lose export files that are still inside the 48 hours?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
Keep reading with the Platform Administrator II pack
- Core concepts
- Exam traps
- Worked scenario
The pack includes:
- All 29 lessons of the Platform Administrator II guide, with reading progress
- Interactive decision walks and step-by-step sequence steppers
- Inline practice questions and one-click topic practice (11 questions for this lesson)
- An official source cited for every claim
- An AI tutor that answers from the guide
- Unlimited timed practice exams