What is a security token in Salesforce?

A security token in Salesforce is a generated key that provides access to Salesforce from locations that fall outside the organization-wide IP range. This token is designed to enhance security by ensuring that only authorized users can access Salesforce resources from unrecognized IP addresses. When a user attempts to connect to Salesforce from a new or untrusted location, they need to include this security token along with their username and password to authenticate successfully.

The security token is particularly useful for integrations and API access, where systems might need to connect to Salesforce from external networks that are not recognized by Salesforce's IP whitelist. By requiring the security token in addition to the standard credentials, Salesforce helps mitigate the risk of unauthorized access while allowing necessary integrations to function smoothly.

This concept emphasizes the importance of secure access protocols in maintaining organizational security and protecting sensitive data, especially when resources or applications interact with Salesforce from various environments.