1. A method for providing access to a content object stored in a content management data source from a social networking system implemented using a database system, the method comprising: causing display of, in a user interface on a display of a device of a user of the social networking system, a publisher configurable to share feed items to a feed of the social networking system, the publisher comprising a selection configured to provide access to data associated with the content object stored in the content management data source, the content management data source being external to the social networking system; receiving, at a server system of the database system, a request, via the selection, from the user of the social networking system to access data associated with the content object stored in the content management data source; identifying the content management data source based on the request; providing the request to a repository-specific connector, the repository-specific connector being communicatively coupled with the content management data source; traversing a security layer between the social networking system and the content management data source, the traversing of the security layer including communicating the request to access data through a secure transport communication channel between a secure transport server and a secure transport client, the secure transport client being identified using an addressing scheme indicating organization-site-product-process (OSPR) for the content management data source, and determining that authentication credentials for a connector server to the repository-specific connector are valid through the secure transport communication channel, the authentication credentials being associated with the social networking system; generating or modifying a virtual object associated with the social networking system, the virtual object instantiating a connection between the content object and the social networking system through the repository-specific connector; and causing display of the requested data associated with the content object on the display of the device of the user, the requested data being displayed in association with the feed or the publisher.