What function does the NPSP Health Check serve before performing system upgrades?

The NPSP Health Check is an important tool that primarily focuses on ensuring that your system's custom code is robust and ready for upgrades. One of its key functions is to verify adequate test code coverage. This is crucial in the context of Salesforce upgrades, as sufficient code coverage indicates that the customizations made to the Salesforce instance will work seamlessly with new features or changes introduced in the upgrade.

By ensuring that there is adequate test coverage, the Health Check helps prevent potential issues that could arise from undetected bugs or untested scenarios, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the organization’s operations. A well-tested code base is critical for a smooth transition to newer versions without unexpected failures.

While other functions like backing up data, checking for deprecated fields, and examining user permissions are indeed vital aspects of system maintenance and hygiene, the specific role of verifying test code coverage directly ties into ensuring system stability during upgrades, making it an essential focus of the NPSP Health Check prior to any significant updates.