Which protocol should an Integration Architect utilize to create a secure channel between Salesforce and other systems?

Utilizing TLS (Transport Layer Security) is essential for creating a secure channel between Salesforce and other systems. TLS is a cryptographic protocol designed to provide secure communication over a computer network. It ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data as it is transmitted between systems, which is critical when dealing with sensitive information in integrations.

When Salesforce communicates with external systems—whether it's through REST, SOAP, or other API calls—using TLS helps protect against eavesdropping and tampering by encrypting the data in transit. It is a fundamental security measure that is widely implemented in web communications to safeguard against interception and unauthorized access.

In contrast, while other protocols mentioned may serve specific purposes, they are not primarily designed for establishing a secure communication channel. SMTP, for instance, is used for sending email, and while it can use TLS for secure transmissions, it is not a general-purpose protocol for secure system integration. SSH is primarily used for secure remote administration and securing file transfers rather than establishing API connections. SFTP, while providing secure file transfer capabilities, operates at a different layer and is not suited for general API integrations between systems. Therefore, TLS stands out as the optimal choice for an Integration Architect to ensure secure data exchange between Salesforce and external systems