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Dynamics 365 CI Journey ALM Best Practices: Getting Started

Nikolai Popov Profile Picture Nikolai Popov Microsoft Employee

As businesses continue to leverage the power of Dynamics 365 CI Journey to engage customers and drive growth, implementing effective Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) practices become crucial. ALM encompasses strategies, processes, and tools that ensure the successful development, deployment, and management of applications. In this series of articles, we will delve into ALM best practices tailored to Dynamics 365 CI Journey. 

This article, the first in a series, delves into the basics of ALM. Since this article is just to explain basics, you can learn more by diving into links incorporated over the text. 

 

Introduction to Dynamics 365 CI Journey ALM 

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) encompasses strategies, processes, and tools to ensure the successful lifecycle of applications. For Dynamics 365 CI Journey (CIJ), ALM involves optimizing customization changes, data migrations, Content Lifecycle Management (CLM) strategies and deployment processes. By adhering to ALM best practices, organizations can mitigate risks and ensure the reliability and security of their marketing solutions. 

 

Understanding ALM Basics 

Before delving into the specifics of Dynamics 365 CI Journey ALM, it's important to grasp the fundamental concepts: 

  1. Solution Management: Solutions package components like entities, attributes, workflows, and more. In Dynamics 365 CI Journey, solutions play a pivotal role in managing customizations across environments. 

  1. Data Migration: Data migration ensures smooth movement of data between environments while maintaining integrity. 

 

Key ALM Best Practices for Dynamics 365 CI Journey 

  1. Solution Transfer: Microsoft provides tools to export and import solutions between environments. Leveraging this capability, businesses can move customizations and configurations from development to testing and production environments. Refer to the official documentation on transfer solutions for detailed steps. 

  1. Data Transfer: Transferring data between environments is vital for maintaining consistent testing and production data. Dynamics 365 Marketing supports data import/export processes to ensure data continuity. Learn more about transferring data for effective data migration. 

  1. Version and Source Control: Implement version control practices to track changes and maintain code integrity. Leverage Azure DevOps or GitHub for collaborative development. 

  1. Testing and Validation: Rigorous testing in sandbox environments ensures stable solutions before deployment. Testing features in the production environment, such as test sends and test segments, aid in validating campaigns. Implement test automation. 

  1. Security and Compliance: Define proper security roles and permissions, avoiding shared access keys. Utilize secure authentication methods like Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for enhanced security. 

 

Content Lifecycle Management (CLM) Strategies or Data transfer in Dynamics 365 CI Journey 

CLM focuses on managing marketing content across environments effectively. Here's how CLM fits into your ALM strategy: 

  1. Instance Configuration Strategy: Choose between single production instances per country/market or a single, independent instance shared across markets. Clearly define processes and content management rules. 

  1. Common Asset Creation and Management: Establish clear processes for creating and updating common assets across environments. Consider manual copying for non-solution-aware marketing assets. 

  1. Visibility Rules and Testing: Define visibility rules across marketing and customer data. Conduct POCs to validate rules. Assess Business Unit (BU) Scoping capability for alignment. 

  1. Handling Customizations and Marketing Assets: Plan for manual transfer of non-solution-aware marketing assets between lower and higher environments. Document asset transfer procedures. 

  1. Testing Features and Turnaround Time: Utilize testing features in the production environment before launching campaigns. Factor in the time needed for asset transfers in lower environments. 

 

Conclusion 

Effective Application Lifecycle Management is essential to the success of Dynamics 365 Marketing projects. By following ALM best practices, businesses can streamline development processes, enhance collaboration, and ensure the reliability and security of their marketing solutions. In the next articles of this series, we will explore advanced ALM strategies, delve into more specific scenarios, and provide actionable insights to further enhance your Dynamics 365 Marketing experience. 

 

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