Preface
If you’ve been looking for a way to unlock the potential of Microsoft Power Platform and take your career as a solution architect to the next level, then look no further—this practical guide covers it all.
Microsoft Power Platform Solution Architect’s Handbook will equip you with everything you need to build flexible and cost-effective end-to-end solutions. Its comprehensive coverage ranges from best practices surrounding fit-gap analysis, leading design processes, and navigating existing systems to application lifecycle management with Microsoft Azure DevOps, security compliance monitoring, and third-party API integration.
The book takes a hands-on approach by guiding you through a fictional case study throughout, allowing you to apply what you learn as you learn it. At the end of the handbook, you’ll discover a set of mock exam questions for you to embed your progress and prepare for the PL-600 Microsoft certification.
Whether you want to learn how to work with Power Platform or want to take your skills from the intermediate to advanced level, this book will help you achieve that and ensure that you’re able to add value to your organization as an expert solution architect.
Who this book is for?
This book is for solution architects, enterprise architects, technical consultants, and business and system analysts who implement, optimize, and architect Power Platform and Dataverse solutions. It will also help anyone who needs a detailed playbook for architecting and delivering successful digital transformation projects that leverage Power Platform apps and the Microsoft business apps ecosystem. A solid understanding of Power Platform configuration and administration, Power Automate processes, Power Apps portals, canvas apps, Dataverse plugins, and workflow capabilities is expected.
What does this book cover?
Chapter 1, Introducing Power Platform Solution Architecture, describes the solution architect’s role, the general approach to applying best practices to solve problems, and a Power Platform architecture overview.
Chapter 2, The Digital Transformation Case Study, introduces the fictional case study used throughout the book.
Chapter 3, Discovery and Initial Solution Planning, discusses high-level business requirements and how to identify suitable solutions across the Microsoft stack.
Chapter 4, Identifying the Desired Business Process, Risk Factors, and Success Criteria, discusses options for running discovery workshops, performing high-level process and data modeling, and identifying automation opportunities. The chapter concludes with a discussion on balancing risk factors through mitigation strategies.
Chapter 5, Understanding the Existing Architectural Landscape, describes the enterprise architecture assessment process and how to identify external data sources and document the existing architectural structure and business processes.
Chapter 6, Requirements Analysis and Engineering for Solution Architecture, discusses effective requirements analysis and engineering, including the preparation, delivery, and post-requirement-capture activities.
Chapter 7, Power Platform Fit-Gap Analysis, describes the fit-gap analysis process, AppSource, third-party solution evaluation, proofs of concept, and the overall project scope definition.
Chapter 8, Leading the Power Platform Design Process, covers the design process from defining the architecture topology to detailed visual designs, prototyping, and data migration strategies.
Chapter 9, Effective Power Platform Data Modeling, discusses how to translate business requirements to visual data models, deciding factors for the integration or import of data, defining extensible Dataverse models, reference data strategies, table relationships, and overall data modeling best practices.
Chapter 10, Power Platform Integration Strategies, discusses various options for integrating Power Platform with on-premises and cloud-based systems and Microsoft 365 services. It then concludes with authentication and business continuity strategies.
Chapter 11, Defining Power Platform Security Concepts, discusses the core security model, implementing data loss prevention policies, Dataverse security, and defining access routes for external users.
Chapter 12, Validating the Solution Design and Implementation, discusses the design and implementation review process, compliance with security concepts, Power Platform API limits, and options for resolving automation and integration conflicts.
Chapter 13, Power Platform Implementation Strategies, discusses the configuration of environments and tenants, optimizing the output of Power Platform teams, and effective test strategies.
Chapter 14, Leveraging Azure DevOps for Power Platform, describes the use of Azure DevOps for application lifecycle management.
Chapter 15, Go-Live Strategies and Support, discusses go-live strategies, preparation, and the rollout of Power Platform solutions into production.
Chapter 16, Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert Practice Exams, discusses the benefits of being a Microsoft Certified Power Platform Solution Architect, how to prepare for the PL-600 examination, PL-600 prep questions, recommended reading, and final thoughts.
To get the most out of this book
This book assumes general knowledge of the configuration and administration of Power Platform applications. The PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant and PL-400: Microsoft Power Platform Developer exams cover the ideal base knowledge required for this book.
Any errata related to this book can be found at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Microsoft-Power-Platform-Solution-Architect-s-Handbook.
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