Technical Glossary: Splits and Clones

Introduction

In the world of Salesforce org management, "splits" and "clones" are important concepts that administrators need to understand. These terms refer to different ways of dividing or duplicating Salesforce orgs and data to meet various business needs. This paper will explore the definitions, purposes, use cases, and best practices for splits and clones in Salesforce.

Splits

Definition and Purpose

A Salesforce org split refers to the process of dividing an existing Salesforce org into two or more separate orgs. The primary purpose of an org split is to separate data, users, and functionality between different business units, departments, or newly formed companies.

Use Cases

Common scenarios for org splits include:

Company divestitures or spin-offs
Separating different geographic regions or business units
Isolating sensitive data for compliance reasons
Breaking down a complex org into more manageable pieces

Best Practices

When performing an org split, Salesforce administrators should:

Carefully plan the data and metadata division
Use tools like Metazoa Snapshot for metadata analysis and deployment
Ensure proper user access and permissions in both resulting orgs
Test thoroughly before finalizing the split
Document the process and resulting org structures

Clones

Definition and Purpose

A Salesforce org clone is an exact copy of an existing org, including all metadata, customizations, and optionally, data. Cloning is used to create duplicate environments for various purposes without affecting the original org.

Use Cases

Org clones are commonly used for:

Creating sandbox environments for testing and development
Setting up training environments
Preparing for major org overhauls or "reboots"
Establishing a starting point for new business units or subsidiaries

Best Practices

When cloning a Salesforce org, administrators should:

Determine whether a full or partial clone is needed
Use Salesforce's native sandbox creation tools for most cases
Consider third-party tools like Metazoa Snapshot for more complex cloning needs
Sanitize sensitive data in cloned environments
Establish clear processes for keeping cloned orgs in sync with production

Org Management Considerations

Both splits and clones play crucial roles in Salesforce org management strategies. Administrators must consider several factors when deciding to split or clone an org:

Complexity: Splits are generally more complex and require careful planning, while clones are relatively straightforward.
Data volume: Large data volumes can complicate both splits and clones, requiring efficient tools and processes.
Customizations: Heavy customizations in the source org may require special attention during splits or clones.
Integrations: External system integrations need to be considered and potentially reconfigured in split or cloned orgs.
Licensing: Ensure proper licensing for all resulting orgs after a split or clone.

Tools and Solutions

While Salesforce provides native tools for some aspects of splits and clones, third-party solutions can offer more robust capabilities. Metazoa Snapshot, for example, is a comprehensive org management solution that can assist with both splits and clones. It provides features such as:

Metadata analysis and comparison
Selective metadata deployment
Data migration with relationship preservation
Org documentation and visualization

These capabilities can significantly streamline the process of splitting or cloning complex Salesforce orgs.

Conclusion

Understanding splits and clones is essential for effective Salesforce org management. These processes allow administrators to adapt their Salesforce environments to changing business needs, whether it's separating data and functionality or creating duplicate environments for various purposes. By following best practices and leveraging appropriate tools, Salesforce administrators can successfully navigate the complexities of org splits and clones, ensuring optimal performance and alignment with business objectives.