Salesforce orgs generate enormous amounts of data as they scale. While standard and custom objects work well initially, performance and storage limitations quickly emerge at enterprise scale. Salesforce Big Objects were introduced to solve this exact challenge.
This expert-level guide explains how Salesforce Admins design, manage, and export Big Object data while avoiding common pitfalls.
What Are Salesforce Big Objects?
Big Objects are Salesforce data storage objects optimized for handling millions or billions of records. They are designed for long-term, immutable, append-only data storage and do not support traditional CRUD operations.
Big Objects rely on custom indexes and are intended for historical, compliance, and system-generated data.
Technical Architecture of Big Objects
Big Objects differ significantly from standard objects:
• Index-First Design: Every Big Object requires a custom index defined at creation time.
• Append-Only Model: Records can be inserted and queried, but not updated or deleted.
• Query Dependency: All SOQL queries must use indexed fields.
Schema Flow:
Data Source → API Insert → Big Object Storage → Indexed Query → Export Tool / External System
Big Objects vs Custom Objects
Custom Objects are ideal for active, transactional data. Big Objects are designed exclusively for archived or historical data.
Admins should never use Big Objects for data that requires frequent updates, automation, or reporting.
Limitations Salesforce Admins Must Understand
• No standard reporting support
• Limited automation compatibility
• Index definitions cannot be changed
• Native Salesforce export tools do not support Big Objects efficiently
Why Exporting Big Object Data Is Challenging
Salesforce native export services are not optimized for Big Objects. Large exports often fail due to API limits, index constraints, and timeout issues.
Admins must rely on API-driven, index-aware export processes.
Expert Export Strategy for Big Objects
Best-practice export architecture:
Big Object → Indexed SOQL Query → API Chunking → Secure Storage → BI / Analytics
Expert admins automate exports, preserve index context, and ensure compliance-ready storage.
Security & Compliance Considerations
Big Object data often includes sensitive historical records. Exports should be encrypted, access-controlled, and stored according to compliance requirements such as GDPR, SOC 2, or HIPAA.
Why Big Objects Are Not a Complete Data Strategy
Big Objects solve storage and performance problems but do not address analytics, recovery, or advanced reporting needs. External exports and data warehouses remain essential.
Conclusion
Salesforce Big Objects are powerful tools for managing massive data volumes—but only when paired with the right export and governance strategy. Admins who plan indexing, automate exports, and secure data externally unlock the full value of Big Objects.