Accessing Salesforce from China presents unique challenges due to network restrictions and latency issues. Alibaba Cloud provides solutions to enable reliable, high-performance access to Salesforce services for organizations operating in China.

Challenges of Accessing Salesforce from China

Network Restrictions

• Great Firewall: Internet filtering and restrictions
• Latency Issues: High latency to international services
• Connection Instability: Unstable connections to Salesforce
• Performance Degradation: Slow performance for users

Compliance Requirements

• Data Residency: Data residency requirements
• Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory compliance needs
• Security Requirements: Security and audit requirements

Alibaba Cloud Solutions

1. Express Connect with International Access

Dedicated network connection providing:

• Low Latency: Reduced latency to international services
• High Reliability: Stable, dedicated connection
• BGP Routing: Optimized routing to Salesforce
• SLA Guarantees: Service level agreements

2. VPN Gateway Solution

IPsec VPN connections:

• Secure Tunnel: Encrypted connection to Salesforce
• Cost-Effective: Pay-as-you-go pricing
• Quick Setup: Rapid deployment
• High Availability: Redundant connections

3. Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN)

Global network management:

• Cross-Border Connectivity: Connect China to international regions
• Traffic Optimization: Optimize traffic routing
• Centralized Management: Unified network management

Architecture Design

Recommended Architecture

China Users → Alibaba Cloud VPC → Express Connect →
International Gateway → Salesforce

Components

• VPC in China: Alibaba Cloud VPC in China region
• Express Connect: Dedicated connection
• International Gateway: Gateway to international services
• VPN Backup: VPN as backup connection

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Create VPC in China

# Create VPC in China region
aliyun vpc CreateVpc \
  --RegionId cn-hangzhou \
  --CidrBlock "172.16.0.0/16" \
  --VpcName "salesforce-access-vpc"

Step 2: Configure Express Connect

# Create Express Connect connection
aliyun vpc CreatePhysicalConnection \
  --RegionId cn-hangzhou \
  --AccessPointId ap-xxxxx \
  --Type VirtualBorderRouter \
  --Bandwidth 1000

Step 3: Set Up VPN Gateway (Backup)

# Create VPN gateway
aliyun vpc CreateVpnGateway \
  --RegionId cn-hangzhou \
  --VpcId vpc-xxxxx \
  --Bandwidth 5 \
  --InstanceChargeType PostPaid

Step 4: Configure Routing

# Add route to Salesforce IP ranges
aliyun vpc CreateRouteEntry \
  --RouteTableId vtb-xxxxx \
  --DestinationCidrBlock "salesforce-ip-range" \
  --NextHopType "VpnGateway" \
  --NextHopId vpn-xxxxx

Salesforce IP Ranges

Required IP Ranges

Salesforce uses specific IP ranges that need to be accessible:

• Login IPs: IPs for Salesforce login
• API IPs: IPs for API access
• Instance IPs: IPs for Salesforce instances

Whitelist Configuration

# Allow Salesforce IP ranges in security group
aliyun ecs AuthorizeSecurityGroup \
  --SecurityGroupId sg-xxxxx \
  --IpProtocol tcp \
  --PortRange "443/443" \
  --SourceCidrIp "salesforce-ip-range/24"

Performance Optimization

CDN Integration

• Alibaba Cloud CDN: Cache static Salesforce content
• Edge Locations: Deploy edge locations in China
• Content Optimization: Optimize content delivery

Network Optimization

• Route Optimization: Optimize routing paths
• Bandwidth Management: Right-size bandwidth
• Latency Reduction: Minimize network latency

Security Considerations

Encryption

• TLS/SSL: Encrypt all traffic to Salesforce
• VPN Encryption: IPsec encryption for VPN
• Data Protection: Protect data in transit

Access Control

• Authentication: Strong authentication mechanisms
• Authorization: Role-based access control
• Audit Logging: Comprehensive audit logging

Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Connection Monitoring

# Monitor VPN connection status
aliyun vpc DescribeVpnConnections

# Check Express Connect status
aliyun vpc DescribePhysicalConnections

Performance Monitoring

• Latency Monitoring: Monitor latency to Salesforce
• Throughput Monitoring: Track bandwidth utilization
• Error Monitoring: Monitor connection errors

Troubleshooting

1. Check Connection Status: Verify connection status
2. Test Connectivity: Ping and traceroute tests
3. Review Logs: Check connection logs
4. Verify Routing: Verify route configuration
5. Check Security Groups: Review security group rules

Best Practices

Network Design

1. Redundancy: Implement redundant connections
2. Failover: Configure automatic failover
3. Monitoring: Comprehensive monitoring
4. Documentation: Maintain network documentation

Security

1. Encryption: Encrypt all traffic
2. Access Control: Implement strict access controls
3. Audit Logging: Enable comprehensive logging
4. Regular Reviews: Regular security reviews

Performance

1. Right-Size Bandwidth: Choose appropriate bandwidth
2. Optimize Routing: Optimize network routing
3. Monitor Performance: Regular performance monitoring
4. Optimize Configuration: Optimize network configuration

Alternative Solutions

Salesforce China Edition

• Local Instance: Salesforce instance in China
• Data Residency: Data stored in China
• Compliance: Meet China compliance requirements

Hybrid Approach

• Local Services: Use local services where possible
• International Services: Access international services via optimized connection
• Data Synchronization: Synchronize data between instances

Cost Considerations

Express Connect Costs

• Port Fee: Monthly port rental
• Data Transfer: Charges for data transfer
• Regional Pricing: Varies by region

VPN Costs

• Instance Fee: VPN gateway instance fee
• Data Transfer: Outbound data transfer charges
• Bandwidth: Charges based on bandwidth tier

Conclusion

Alibaba Cloud provides effective solutions for accessing Salesforce from China, addressing network restrictions, latency issues, and compliance requirements. By leveraging Express Connect, VPN Gateway, and Cloud Enterprise Network, organizations can establish reliable, high-performance connections to Salesforce while maintaining security and compliance.

Proper architecture design, security implementation, and performance optimization ensure successful Salesforce access from China while meeting organizational requirements and regulatory compliance.