- Define skill areas for solution architect role
- Explain instances & deployment models recommendations by Microsoft
- Understand cloud solution, CDM & CDS
- Get more info on Licensing, AppSource & Support for Dynamics 365
- Use Lifecycle services as solution architect
- Know the considerations for blueprinting Dynamics 365 solution
- Understand the concepts and tools used for data management
- Explain the Integration options & Business events on solutions
- Know the available options on solution localization, compliance & reporting
- Have architectural conversations on extensibility, security, & performance
- Know what is ALM application lifecycle management
- Identify opportunities for automated testing and using RSAT
Module 1: The Architect Role
The solution architect is one of the most critical roles for delivering success to Microsoft customers, and it requires many skills. This course primarily focuses on technical skills.
Other topics in this module provide overviews of other skill areas that might be helpful for understanding the solution architect role. These skill areas include:
- Delivery skills
The ability to deliver a business solution to your customer.
- Industry skills
The accumulated knowledge obtained about a certain industry.
- Soft skills
Skills that help you communicate with others, from co-workers to customers.
Module 2: Environment, Instances & Deployment Models
Topics and concepts in this module include:
- Instance strategy
Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations solutions can be deployed with multiple instances, which some organizations consider for scalability or security and privacy reasons.
- Environment planning
Environment planning helps provide a clear understanding of what environment(s) are required for which task(s) for a planned duration.
- Infrastructure design
Key considerations for Dynamics 365 infrastructure design are discussed in this topic.
- Deployment models
Cloud-hosted and on-premises deployments have different requirements, which are discussed in this section.
Module 3: Cloud Solution, CDM & CDS
Topics and concepts in this module include:
- CDM and CDS core concepts
Explanations of these data-sharing technologies.
- CDM vs. CDS
A brief discussion of how these technologies interact and complement each other.
- Power Platform
This topic explores some of the components of Power Platform, the Microsoft business application platform.
- Dual Write
A brief explanation of a new bi-directional integration functionality that Microsoft unveiled in 2019.
Module 4: Licensing, AppSource & Support
Topics in this module include:
- Licensing requirements
Having the appropriate licensing in place is an important aspect of deploying Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations solutions.
- Microsoft-certified ISV solutions
AppSource, a rich source of information about ISV (independent software vendor) solutions that have been certified by Microsoft, can be used to identify solutions that can complement projects that you’re involved with.
- Support options
Knowing which support options are available as well as other support considerations can be important to a project’s success.
Module 5: Lifecycle services
Topics in this module include:
- Core LCS features and concepts
Brief definitions for many LCS features and concepts that enable closer collaboration, speed implementations, and reduce time to value.
- The role and function of Azure DevOps and how to connect to LCS
LCS can take advantage of the tools in Azure DevOps to track implementation and associate work items with requirements and business processes, including bugs, tasks, backlog items, tests, and documents.
Module 6: Blueprinting Dynamics 365 solutions
Topics include:
- Develop a solution blueprint
Reviews Process, Application, Data, Integration, Intelligence, Security, Continuous Update, Platform, and Timeline architecture considerations.
- Engage FastTrack in solution blueprint review
Reviews the benefits of engaging a Microsoft FastTrack architect and/or team to review solution blueprints to help ensure a positive customer outcome.
Module 7: Data Management
The topic of data management is broad, and it has many ramifications when deploying Dynamics 365. Four key considerations are discussed:
- Data migration strategy
Based on what data is needed for
- Cutover plan
Considerations include what data needs to be brought in during cutover and whether any data needs to be manually entered
- Tools and framework
Different tools and frameworks are available for different scenarios
- Data retention plan
Considerations include what data needs to be stored for business operation and compliance purposes
Module 8: Integration & Business events
Topics in this module include:
- Integration
This topic is primarily focused on integration strategy, system integrations, and integration platforms and tools.
- Business events
Business events is a new integration method that has been added to Dynamics 365 and has been largely adopted.
- Endpoints
Endpoints let you manage the destinations for the sending of business events.
Module 9: Localization, Compliance & Reporting
Topics in this module include:
- Localization
The process of localization is used to adapt a product or content to a specific location or market.
- Compliance
Compliance is the state or fact of according with or meeting rules or standards and is often required by governmental agencies.
- Reporting
Reporting capabilities can be important for localization and for compliance verification.
Module 10: Extensibility
Topics include:
- Intrusive customization A brief review of the issue of intrusive customization and why it’s become difficult to manage.
- Benefits of extensibility
Why extensibility is a better type of customization.
- Extensibility options
A listing of available common extensibility options.
- Extensibility requests
How to make an extensibility request to Microsoft when necessary.
Module 11: Security
Topics in this module include:
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) security consists of a wide range of measures to protect systems from illicit access and ensure accessibility and integrity of system data. This module discusses the following security-related topics:
- Advise on security and compliance requirements
The process of localization is used to adapt a product or content to a specific location or market.
- Security design
Compliance is the state or fact of according with or meeting rules or standards and is often required by governmental agencies.
- Tools and features
Reporting capabilities can be important for localization and for compliance verification
Module 12: Performance
Topics include:
- Performance benchmarks
Recommendations and guidance for properly defining benchmarks
- Performance design
Key considerations for performance design
- Patterns
Recommendations for key patterns to observe during design
- Testing and tools
Performance testing prerequisites and a list if existing performance tools
Module 13: Application Lifecycle Management
Topics in this module include:
- Version control
Used to help resolve concerns over consistency in solution management.
- Development
Concepts, terminology, and core considerations.
- Build
Requirements, recommendations, and considerations.
- Deployment
Key considerations for deployment into runtime environments.
Module 14: Automated Testing & RSAT
Topics include:
- Understand the test options
Four types of testing are performed throughout a Dynamics 365 implementation. This topic reviews these testing types and discusses the importance of the quality and coverage of use cases.
- Summarize testing strategy and plan
This topic discusses the reasons why a detailed testing strategy is necessary for several reasons and provides guidance about what a comprehensive testing plan should include.
- Available tools for testing
This topic identifies the Regression Suite Automation Tool (RSAT) as well as other available tools that can be used for testing, including the Performance SDK and the Data Expansion Tool.
Module 15: Additional Areas for Architects
This module provides information about additional considerations that were not covered in the preceding modules. Topics include:
- Overview of the upgrade process
Lays out the typical high-level steps for project teams to complete an upgrade.
- Special considerations
Provides guidance for handling attachments, large databases, and other miscellaneous upgrade scenarios.
- Printing scenarios in Dynamics 365
Describes printing options as well as print management configuration options.
The audience for this course should have previous experience with functional or technical focus in Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Applications. Primarily for those who are aspired to be and new to solution architect role.
You must complete the solution architect learning path for solution architects
