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 - 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 - new integration method that has been added to Dynamics
365 and has been largely adopted
- 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 - 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
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 - 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
