Metadata in GitHub, record data in approved storage

Salesforce metadata is source-like material: objects, fields, flows, permission definitions, Apex, and other configuration. It belongs naturally in a version-controlled repository when access is properly restricted.

Salesforce record data is different. It may contain personal, financial, health, contractual, or operational information. Placing broad CSV exports into GitHub merely because a workflow can do it is not a sound default.

A cleaner separation

  • GitHub stores metadata, workflow code, runbooks, and change reports.
  • An approved storage destination holds record-data exports when they are required.
  • Retention, encryption, access, and recovery expectations are documented for the data destination.
  • Only summaries or manifests needed for auditability are committed to the repository.

This separation keeps the source-control system useful without turning it into an accidental data warehouse.