Is there a Sandbox for SFMC? Really!
Until recently the myth was Salesforce Marketing Cloud (Email, Mobile & Web aka ExactTarget previously) doesn’t have a sandbox. But the truth is that SFMC does have sandbox instance which comes with a cost.
Is it worth buying a Marketing Cloud sandbox? that should be the real question!
What is SFMC Sandbox?
Its a test environment ( Internally they call it Production Support ) provided by SFMC. Its used for testing Email Production Account configurations and integrations.
You must be wondering, whats the big deal about it. We do this all the time with Salesforce sandboxes.Here are the key differences.
- Sandbox copy is initiated from back end and you don’t have an option to create one within SFMC UI
- Salesforce support copies all configuration from back end and notifies you once its ready
- Production configurations are copied
- Business Units are also copied
- It doesn’t copy your contents or lists or data
- You CANNOT push changes from sandbox to production
- It cannot be linked to production using change sets (huge disadvantage comparing to Salesforce sandbox)
- We recreate everything in every single org
- Unlike Salesforce sandboxes, it doesn’t support all the features available in production.
- Non Email products are not supported
- Audience Builder
- Contact Builder
- Journey Builder
- Mobile Push
- Sales Cloud integration is not supported
- You can integrate, but SFMC support will not troubleshoot the issues
- Data Stream issues wont be handled by support
- 3rd party integrations like Inbox tools are not available
- Custom features in production is not available in sandbox
- Non Email products are not supported
- Emails send via sandbox is deducted from existing email volume
- Slow performance comparing to production
So is it worth to buy a sandbox? Answer is, Yes, It depends on your testing approach. If you are planning to use only Email related tools, please go ahead and buy one, else I wouldn’t suggest it.
There are 3 testing approaches within SFMC and one of them use sandbox.
- Single Production Enterprise Account
- Single Production Enterprise Account + Sandbox “Production Support” Account
- Multiple Production Enterprise Accounts
I will shortly write a blog on testing approaches recommended by Salesforce and you can decide by yourself.
Journey Notes by Salesforce Leo 
Hi, Come on man, no journey builder, no integration, no tool to do migration (although SFDC told me they are working on it). giving the price, it is a total waste of money…
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If you are doing lot of customizations within Email Studio, it’s still worth the money. Although JB and integration is not supported you can still go ahead and use them. Only catch is if you get into any issues , sfmc won’t support you.
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I think what you are referring too is an additional Business Unit… its not a sandbox.
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Well, I understand its confusing, however SFMC had a sandbox which they stopped selling. I have used it personally and it’s definitely not a Business Unit and it comes with all the restrictions I mentioned. More over you might be able to find some documentation around it in Partner Community Chatter group.
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