Ultimate Top 15 Salesforce Sandbox Refresh Checklist

Salesforce Sandbox Refresh Checklist -Regular sandbox refreshes ensure that your sandbox mirrors your production environment, allowing for accurate testing and development. This guide provides a detailed checklist and best practices for refreshing your Salesforce sandbox, covering everything from creation to optimization.

1. Creating a Salesforce Sandbox

A sandbox is a replica of your production environment where you can develop, test, and stage changes without affecting your live data. Salesforce offers several types of sandboxes, each suited for different needs:

• Developer Sandbox: Ideal for individual developers, this sandbox provides a small amount of storage and is used for testing and development.
• Developer Pro Sandbox: Similar to the Developer Sandbox but with more storage capacity, suitable for larger development projects.
• Partial Copy Sandbox: Includes a subset of your production data, making it useful for more realistic testing scenarios.
• Full Sandbox: A complete replica of your production environment, including all data and configurations.

Steps to Create a Salesforce Sandbox

1. Navigate to Setup: In Salesforce, click on the gear icon to access Setup.
2. Search for Sandboxes: In the Quick Find box, type “Sandboxes” and select the Sandboxes option.
3. Click New Sandbox: Click the “New Sandbox” button to begin the creation process.
4. Choose Sandbox Type: Select the type of sandbox that best fits your needs.
5. Enter Details: Provide a name and description for the sandbox.
6. Configure Options: Set additional options such as data copying and user licenses.
7. Create Sandbox: Click “Create” to initiate the sandbox creation.

2. Refreshing Your Sandbox

Refreshing a sandbox updates it with the latest data and configurations from your production environment. This process is essential for ensuring that your sandbox remains synchronized with your production environment.

Steps to Refresh a Salesforce Sandbox

1. Access Sandbox List: Go to the Sandboxes page in Setup.
2. Select Sandbox: Choose the sandbox you wish to refresh.
3. Click Refresh: Click the “Refresh” button to start the process.
4. Choose Refresh Type: Opt for a Full Refresh or Partial Refresh based on your needs.
5. Confirm Refresh: Confirm your selection and follow the prompts to complete the refresh.

3. Using the Sandbox Clone Tool

The Sandbox Clone Tool allows you to duplicate an existing sandbox, making it easy to replicate configurations and data for new environments.

Steps to Use the Sandbox Clone Tool

1. Navigate to Setup: Access Setup and search for “Sandboxes.”
2. Select Sandbox: Choose the sandbox you want to clone.
3. Click Clone: Click the “Clone” button to start the cloning process.
4. Configure New Sandbox: Provide a name and description for the new sandbox.
5. Review and Create: Review the settings and click “Create” to finish cloning.

4. Managing Custom Metadata Types

Custom Metadata Types enable you to define custom metadata that can be used to customize your Salesforce applications. Post-refresh, ensure that these types are correctly configured.

Considerations for Custom Metadata Types

• Review Custom Metadata Records: Verify that all custom metadata records are correctly copied to the sandbox.
• Update References: Ensure that references to custom metadata in your code or configurations are still valid.
• Test Metadata Changes: Test any changes to custom metadata types to ensure they function as expected.

5. Optimizing Sandbox Usage

To optimize sandbox usage and manage costs effectively, consider the following best practices:

Tips for Optimization

• Use Partial Sandboxes for Testing: Choose Partial Copy sandboxes for targeted testing to minimize data load.
• Clean Up Unused Sandboxes: Regularly review and delete sandboxes that are no longer needed.
• Monitor Sandbox Performance: Keep track of sandbox performance and address any issues promptly.

6. Updating Remote Site Settings

Remote Site Settings define external URLs that Salesforce can access. After a sandbox refresh, review and update these settings as necessary.

Steps to Update Remote Site Settings

1. Navigate to Remote Site Settings: Go to Setup and search for “Remote Site Settings.”
2. Review Existing Sites: Check the list of remote sites and update any URLs that may have changed.
3. Add New Sites: Add new remote sites if required for your sandbox environment.

7. Reviewing Scheduled Jobs

Scheduled jobs automate tasks like data imports and exports. Post-refresh, ensure that all scheduled jobs are configured correctly and operational.

Steps to Review Scheduled Jobs

1. Navigate to Scheduled Jobs: Go to Setup and search for “Scheduled Jobs.”
2. Verify Job Status: Check the status of all scheduled jobs and ensure they are set to run as expected.
3. Update Jobs: Update any jobs that require adjustments due to changes in your sandbox environment.

8. Key Considerations

Consider these additional factors when refreshing your sandbox:

Additional Considerations

• Data Masking: Implement data masking to protect sensitive information in your sandbox.
• Package Installations: Review and reinstall any managed packages as needed.
• Integration Settings: Verify that integration settings and external system connections are still valid.

9. Creating a Post-Refresh Checklist

A post-refresh checklist ensures all necessary tasks are completed and the sandbox environment is stable and functional.

Example Post-Refresh Checklist

1. Verify Data Integrity: Ensure that all data has been accurately copied and is consistent.
2. Update User Access: Confirm that user access permissions are correctly set.
3. Test Key Features: Test critical features and functionalities to ensure they are working as expected.
4. Review Configurations: Check and update configurations as needed.

10. Implementing Data Masking

Data masking protects sensitive information by obfuscating data in non-production environments. Implement data masking to maintain privacy and security.

Steps for Data Masking

1. Identify Sensitive Data: Determine which data needs to be masked.
2. Apply Masking Rules: Use data masking rules to obfuscate sensitive information.
3. Test Masked Data: Ensure that masked data is handled correctly and does not impact functionality.

11. Ensuring Email Deliverability

Email deliverability is essential for testing email functionalities in your sandbox. Verify that email settings are correctly configured post-refresh.

Steps to Ensure Deliverability

1. Check Email Settings: Review email deliverability settings and configurations.
2. Test Email Sending: Send test emails to ensure proper delivery.
3. Monitor Email Logs: Check email logs for any delivery issues or errors.

12. Managing Managed Packages

Managed packages often require specific configurations. After a sandbox refresh, review and update managed package settings to ensure they function correctly.

Steps to Update Managed Packages

1. Review Package Settings: Check and update the settings and configurations of installed managed packages.
2. Reinstall Packages: Reinstall managed packages if needed to ensure they are up-to-date.
3. Test Package Functionality: Verify that managed packages are functioning as expected.

13. Scheduling Refreshes

Regularly scheduled refreshes keep your sandbox aligned with your production environment. Establish a routine for refreshing your sandbox to maintain consistency.

Steps for Scheduling Refreshes

1. Determine Refresh Frequency: Decide on the frequency of sandbox refreshes based on your needs.
2. Set Up Notifications: Configure notifications to alert you when refreshes are due.
3. Automate Refreshes: If possible, automate the refresh process to streamline operations.

14. Regular Refreshes

Regular sandbox refreshes are crucial for maintaining an up-to-date environment. Establish a routine to ensure your sandbox reflects the latest data and configurations from production.

Benefits of Regular Refreshes

• Accuracy: Keeps sandbox data and configurations current.
• Testing: Ensures testing is conducted with the latest data.
• Compliance: Helps meet compliance requirements with up-to-date environments.

15. Updating Integration and External Systems

Post-refresh, update integration settings and ensure that external systems are properly connected.

Steps for Updating Integrations

1. Review Integration Settings: Check and update integration settings as needed.
2. Test Integrations: Verify that integrations with external systems are functioning correctly.
3. Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on integration performance and address any issues.

FAQs

1. How often should I refresh my Salesforce sandbox?

• Refresh frequency depends on your development and testing needs. Regular refreshes, such as every 1-3 months, are generally recommended.

2. What types of sandboxes are available in Salesforce?

• Salesforce offers Developer, Developer Pro, Partial Copy, and Full Sandboxes, each suited for different data and configuration needs.

3. What should be included in a post-refresh checklist?

• Your checklist should include verifying data integrity, updating user access, testing key features, and reviewing configurations.

4. How can I optimize my sandbox usage?

• Optimize sandbox usage by using Partial Copy sandboxes for specific tests, cleaning up unused sandboxes, and monitoring performance.

5. What is the purpose of data masking in a sandbox environment?

• Data masking protects sensitive information by obfuscating data in non-production environments to ensure privacy and security.

6. How do I update managed package configurations after a sandbox refresh?

• Review package settings, reinstall packages if needed, and test functionality to ensure managed packages are working as expected.

7. How can I ensure email deliverability in my sandbox environment?

• Check email settings, send test emails, and monitor email logs to ensure proper email deliverability.

By following this comprehensive checklist and best practices, you can ensure that your Salesforce sandbox environment remains up-to-date, functional, and aligned with your production environment.

Conclusion

Maintaining an effective and up-to-date Salesforce sandbox is essential for ensuring smooth development, testing, and staging processes. By following a structured approach to creating and refreshing sandboxes, you can ensure that your development environment accurately mirrors your production environment, allowing for reliable testing and development.