Salesforce Certified Technical Architect

Keir Bowden@bob_buzzard

About Me

• CTO, BrightGen

• 4 Years working with Force.com

• Force.com MVP

• Certified Technical Architect – Jan 2012

Overview

• Highest level of certification

• Highest level of investment

• Need plenty of experience

• Don’t take it until you are ready!

Pre-Requisites

• Developer Certification

• Extensive experience - breadth

• Narrow experience – depth

• Full project scope

• Personal and technical skills

Resources

• http://certification.salesforce.com

• Partner Academy

• Premier Training

• http://developer.force.com

• Youtube – Technical Architect Playlist

Topics

Topics

• Security and Privacy

– Authentication

– Sharing

– Profiles

– Physical and Logical

Topics

• Integration, integration, integration

– Reaching In/Out

– Not just APIs

– Security

– Bulk

Topics

• Apex/Visualforce

– When to use

– Standard versus custom controller

– Internal or external

– Customer skill set

Topics

• Sites and Portals

– Options

– Trade Offs

– Licensing

– Security Impact

Topics

• Identity Management

– DA

– SAML

– Oauth

– Developerforce – CRC:SSO

Topics

• Performance/Scalability

– Configure, App Exchange, Build

– Best Practices

– Visualforce Pages

– Constraints

Topics

• Large Data Volumes

– Loading/Updating

– Extracting

– Tuning

– Data Reduction

Topics

• Single versus Multi-org

– Pros and Cons

– Deployment Strategies

– Governance

Topics

• Mobile

– Native Apps

– Hybrid

– HTML5

– Trade offs

Topics

• Project Governance

– Methodology

– Change Management

– Stakeholder Management

– Centre of Excellence

The Exams

Self Assessment

• Multiple Choice

• 42 questions

• 30 minutes

• Free, non-proctored

Cognitive

• Multiple choice

• 60 questions

• 120 Minute time limit

• Pass mark 63%

Cognitive

• Proctored

• $500

• Scenario based

• Not about memorizing

Review Board

Review Board

• Pass cognitive first

• Take within 1 year

• $6000

• Regular sessions

Review Board

• Email notification

• Video link or in person

• Moderated

• US hours

Review Board

• Produce case study

• Real-life implementation

• Client approval

• Hard to choose

Case Study

• Client/Project Background

• As-is and to-be

• Architecture diagram

• Appropriate data model

Case Study

• Risks and mitigation

• Stakeholders

• Sharing model

• Security

Case Study

• Key use cases

– Problem

– Solution alternatives

– Decision with reasons

• Development Methodology

Case Study

• Change Management

• Post go live

• Challenges

• Avoid confidential information

Review Board – Make Up

• Highly Skilled

• International Presence

• Mix of skills

• Trained as a judge

Review Board - Overview

• 4 hour session

• Architect a solution from cold

• Present and Q&A

• Present case study and Q&A

Review Board - Prep

• Rehearse case study presentation

• Dry-run to tune timing

• Take photo ID

• Windows laptop!

Review Board – Part 1

• 75 minutes

• Sample scenario

• Architect Solution

• Produce presentation

Review Board – Part 1

• Only 75 minutes!

• Complex requirements

• Time box

• No right answer

Review Board – Part 2

• 30 minutes

• Uninterrupted

• Present solution

• Laptop, whiteboard, flipcharts

Review Board – Part 2

• Use all available time!

• Justify your decisions

• Give details

• Be clear and confident

Review Board – Part 3

• 30 minutes

• Q&A on solution

• Interview style questions

Review Board – Part 3

• Longest 30 minutes of your life

• Questions Deepen

• Don’t Guess

• Don’t Dwell

Review Board – Part 4

• 30 minutes

• Present case study

• Laptop, flipchart, whiteboard

Review Board – Part 4

• Should be polished

• Talk in detail

• Communicate effectively

• Use all available time

Review Board – Part 5

• 45 minutes

• Q&A on case study

• Board are prepared

Review Board – Part 5

• Know your case study!

• Talk in detail

• Not restricted to case study

Review Board Advice

• Treat as Customers

• Keep Calm

• Be Confident

• Its your story

Results

• Up to 4 weeks

• Includes Feedback

• Borderline cases

Problems To Date

• Lack of experience/knowledge

• Communicating pros and cons

• Overcome with nerves

• Not at the right level

Retake Policy

• Self-assessment - free

• Multiple choice - $250

• Review board includes 1 retake

• $6000 third attempt

Maintenance

• Developer Certification

• Community Contributions

• Review Board member

Q&A

Feedback/Follow Up

• Twitter: @bob_buzzard

• Facebook: TheRealBobBuzzard

• Developerforce: bob_buzzard

• Blog: http://bobbuzzard.blogspot.co.uk/