Introducing the Salesforce Data Architect Journey – Salesforce Data Architect Theory – Salesforce Certified Data Architect Study Guide

1 Introducing the Salesforce Data Architect Journey

The Salesforce Certified Data Architect credential is an important part of every Salesforce Architect’s certification journey. It forms a constituent part of the Application Architect domain of the Certified Technical Architect credential, but it can stand alone, given the varying complexities and knowledge required to pass the exam. As architects, we’re entrusted to build scalable foundations that our users can execute effectively upon, and data is the life-blood of a business. Understanding the relationship, quirks, and considerations of data and the Salesforce platform is crucial for designing applications that give users value. Passing this credential demonstrates advanced knowledge of these concepts. This book will arm you with the theory and skills necessary to pass the exam.

In this chapter, we’ll learn about the Salesforce Certified Data Architect credential by covering the various curriculum areas and why they are important to understand to not just pass the exam, but also excel in this aspect of the day-to-day role of a Salesforce Architect.

Next, we’ll get an overview of the learning journey covered in this book.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to understand the topic areas that constitute the credential, know what a Salesforce Data Architect is, and understand how the learning journey throughout this book is structured.

In this chapter, we’ll cover the following topics:

• What is the Data Architecture and Management credential?

• Introducing the exam

• Profile of a Salesforce Data Architect

• Introducing the learning journey

What is the Data Architecture and Management credential?

The Salesforce Certified Data Architect credential is one of several introduced by Salesforce to initially address three main challenges:

• As Salesforce implementations increase in size and complexity, there is an increasing need for good data management, including best practices in data architecture and management in Salesforce. Data is the life-blood for many businesses, and the architecture of Salesforce as the platform to hold that data is important.

• There was a huge gap in the knowledge required between the Certified Technical Architect credential and the other credentials available. The only prerequisite for CTA in the past was that you had to hold the Salesforce Certified Administrator certification and answer a multiple-choice pre-exam!

• Not everyone wants to necessarily be a full-blown Salesforce Certified Technical Architect. Instead, they may want to focus on one or more specific technical domains or aspects of the Salesforce platform.

Simply put, this credential puts the focus on the data architecture aspects of the Salesforce platform. Candidates who pass this credential will have had to learn about the wide range of theory, techniques, and considerations that constitute the credential syllabus, which is based on the real-world knowledge that’s required of a Data Architect on the Salesforce Customer 360 platform. By learning everything that’s required to pass the Salesforce Certified Data Architect credential, candidates will have a toolkit of knowledge and understanding to draw from, improving their ability to deliver solutions while considering the data aspects of the Salesforce platform.