Chanel Salesforce Data Theft Scandal, Most Valuable Architect Skills, and Big Admin Objects

It’s Monday, you know what that means! Welcome back to our picklist, your Monday morning catch-up of everything you missed from us at Salesforce Ben last week.

It’s been a hectic week for Salesforce users in the US and UK, with reports emerging of hackers tricking admins into installing malicious software – luxury brand Chanel the latest victim. We also shone a spotlight on architects, diving into what makes them stand out in the tough 2025 job market – and the answer may surprise you. Plus, we shared key takeaways from our recent architect survey, which drew an impressive 600+ responses.

We also put a light on the Salesforce Admins, exploring the best practices for tackling Big Objects, and a full comprehensive guide on how to bypass logic for Flows, Apex, and Validation Rules.

Lastly, be sure to check out our video at the end, which focuses on the new Visual Picker Component for Salesforce Screen flows!

Until next week, happy reading!

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Chanel Named as Latest Victim of Salesforce Data Threat

When it comes to administering your Salesforce instance, security is inarguably the most important factor. However, Fashion giant Chanel has confirmed a data breach affecting U.S. customers, after hackers infiltrated its Salesforce-hosted database at a third-party provider. 

Detected on July 25, the breach exposed names, email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers of individuals who had contacted Chanel’s U.S. client care center. No internal systems or sensitive financial data were compromised.

Salesforce emphasized its platform was not breached; instead, attackers exploited customers via sophisticated social engineering tactics. Recent incidents have seen hackers trick employees into downloading a malicious Salesforce Data Loader app through voice-phishing (vishing).

Similar attacks have hit Victoria’s Secret, Cartier, Dior, and Louis Vuitton in recent months.

Read the original post here.

The Most Valuable Skills for Salesforce Architects in 2025 – and Coding Isn’t #1

Would you believe us if we told you that coding is no longer the most important skill for a Salesforce Architect? According to our recent Salesforce Architect survey, traditional coding actually falls down the pecking order for employers.

The Salesforce job market has been rather tumultuous for a typical Salesforce Architect – supply and demand issues, as well as discrepancies over pay, mean that the role is not as cushty as it looked a few years ago, and employers desire a much different set of skills that are more suitable for the modern Salesforce world.

While I don’t want to give too much away, it’s clear that communication has become a high priority for many and is being viewed as more of a skill in the modern workplace. So if you are an architect or aspiring to be one, it might be worth brushing up on your soft skills and focusing your energy on being a good talker.

Read the original post here.

Salesforce Big Objects for Admins: Best Practices and Design Patterns

If your org is overwhelmed with massive amounts of data, then it could very well be feeling burnt out – just like me or you would. But while we could do with a holiday (or just copious amounts of coffee), your org may just need Big Objects to do the trick.

Big Objects is a data storage type that is built on the Salesforce platform to withhold massive amounts of data. And we’re not talking about thousands – they can hold billions of rows inside your org while keeping storage fees manageable.

They are most often used by teams for archiving, logging, and historical analysis, and sit on a dedicated, high-capacity storage layer that is separate from the data you work with every day.

However, they require thoughtful planning to ensure it doesn’t get too expensive and works efficiently for your org, which Viktoriya breaks down masterfully in her guided article.

Read the original post here.

Top 12 Insights from SF Ben’s Mega Salesforce Architect Survey

Over 600 people took part in our Salesforce Ben Architect Survey, and now we’re ready to show you the facts and figures.  

The role is quickly evolving this year, and the landscape for the role is growing more complex. From AI to certifications, team structures to job satisfaction, the survey delivers a comprehensive snapshot of today’s Salesforce Architect landscape.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey, as these insights could help reshape the role going forward and help aspiring architects to get a better understanding of the Salesforce landscape.

Read the original post here.

Admin’s Guide to Bypass Logic for Flows, Apex, and Validation Rules

In the Salesforce world, we’ve got no shortage of automation tools – Validation Rules, Flows, Apex – all tuned to keep processes tight and data clean. But sometimes you need to bend the rules. That’s where Bypass Logic comes in.

As a flexible “off switch” for your automations, you can use Custom Permissions or Custom Settings to selectively disable Flows, Validation Rules, or Apex Triggers for certain users or situations. For example, you might give a data loader a temporary pass so bulk imports don’t trigger a cascade of emails, updates, or integrations. Or, you might allow an integration user to skip certain validations to keep system-to-system data flowing.

Of course, Bypass Logic isn’t flawless. Retrofitting an older org can be a big lift, and you need to make sure users understand what’s disabled to avoid confusion. Managed packages can also limit your options, though some provide their own trigger-control features. So allow Tom to expertly guide you through how to use them effectively.

Read the original post here.

What’s the Visual Picker Component for Salesforce Screen Flows?

Salesforce’s Summer ’25 release brings a flashy new addition for Flow builders: the Visual Picker. It’s not a brand-new way to capture user input – radio buttons, checkboxes, and picklists already have that covered – but it’s a huge upgrade in how those choices can look and feel.

Instead of plain text options, Visual Picker lets you present large, icon-based buttons that stand out on the screen. Think quick, visual recognition rather than reading through a list, especially handy when forms need to be more engaging or when breaking down language barriers.

While it’s mostly an aesthetic improvement, that visual hierarchy can make critical options stand out. The component is also versatile in multilingual contexts, where icons are universally understood.

Watch the video here.