What is the purpose of a Permission Set in Salesforce?

A Permission Set in Salesforce is designed to extend user access beyond the default profile. This means that while profiles control the base access level for users, Permission Sets provide flexibility by allowing administrators to grant additional permissions to specific users without altering their entire profile.

For instance, if a user needs access to a specific feature or object not covered by their profile, an administrator can assign a Permission Set that grants that specific access. This modular approach simplifies user management and helps avoid the need to create multiple profiles for users with slightly different access needs.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of Permission Sets. They do not enforce company-wide security protocols directly, nor do they define user roles which are typically managed through user profiles. Furthermore, Permission Sets do not replace user profiles; rather, they are supplementary, enhancing the functionality and access of existing profiles.