What advantage does the Connected App framework provide regarding security?

The Connected App framework in Salesforce offers a robust mechanism for managing security, particularly through OAuth scopes. This feature allows Salesforce administrators to define specific permissions associated with a connected app, controlling what data and functionality the app can access.

OAuth scopes are like access levels that determine the extent of access granted to third-party applications. For example, an app may be given permission to read or write data, but not to delete anything. This granularity in access depends on the scopes defined for the app during its configuration. By using OAuth scopes, organizations can tighten security by only granting the necessary permissions to each connected application, thus minimizing the risk of data exposure or misuse.

This capability enhances an organization’s overall security posture by ensuring that connected apps operate within the boundaries established by the OAuth scopes. As a result, even if an app is compromised, its access to Salesforce data is limited to what those scopes permit, thereby protecting sensitive information and maintaining compliance with data governance policies.