Integration-Architect Salesforce Certified Platform Integration Architect (Plat-Arch-204) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Timing aspects, real-time/near real-time (synchronous or asynchronous), batch and update frequency are relevant details that an integration architect should seek to specifically solve for integration architecture needs of the program. These details help to determine the appropriate integration pattern, technology, and solution for the business requirements. Core functional and non-functional requirements for User Experience design, Encryption needs, Community and license choices are important for the overall program design, but not specific to the integration architecture needs. Integration skills, SME availability, and Program Governance details are also important for the program execution, but not specific to the integration architectureneeds.

The continuation class in Apex allows you to makelong-running requests to external web services and process their responses in a callback method. This is useful for scenarios where the response time exceeds the normal Apex limits, such as 10 seconds for synchronous transactions or 120 seconds for asynchronous transactions. By using continuation, you can avoid hitting these limits and provide a better user experience1

Option C is correct because Salesforce should be the system of record for their customers and prospects, as it is the CRM solution that the sales and service associates use to view and log their interactions with them. Salesforce can also integrate with the Marketing and ERP solutions to display relevant information from those systems, such as campaign history, invoices, and orders12

Option A is incorrect because ERP is not a suitable system of record for customers and prospects, as it is mainly focused on invoicing and order fulfillment. ERP may not have all the data that the sales and service associates need to interactwith them, such as contact details, preferences, activities, and opportunities. ERP may also have different datamodels and definitions than Salesforce and Marketing, which can cause data quality and consistency issues3

Option B is incorrect because Marketing is not a suitable system of record for customers and prospects, as it is mainly focused on email campaigns. Marketing may not have all the data that the sales and service associates need to interact with them, such as account information, service cases, contracts, and quotes. Marketing may also have different data models and definitions than Salesforce and ERP, which can cause data quality and consistency issues.

Option D is incorrect because creating a new custom database for customers and prospects is not a feasible orefficient solution, as it would require additional development, maintenance, and integration costs. It would also create another layer of complexity and potential data duplication in the system landscape. Salesforce already provides a robust and flexibleplatform for managing customer and prospect data, which can be easily customized and integrated with other systems.

The correct answer is A, C, and D. These are three relevant details that a Salesforce Integration Architect should seek to specifically solve for Integration architecture needs of the program. These detailscan help the Integration Architect to understand the scope, requirements, and constraints of the integration solution, and to choose the appropriate tools, methods, and patterns. The details are:

Source and Target system, Directionality, data volume & transformation complexity along with any middleware that can be leveraged. This detail can help theIntegration Architect to identify the systems involved in the integration, the direction of data flow, the amount and complexity of data to be exchanged, and the middleware or platform capabilities that can facilitate the integration.

Timing aspects - real-time/near real-time (synchronous or asynchronous), batch; update frequency. This detail can help the Integration Architect to determine the latency, reliability, and scalability requirements of the integration solution, and to choose the suitable integration protocols and techniques.

Integration Style - Process based, Data based, Virtual integration. This detail can help the Integration Architect to select the appropriate integration style that matches the business needs and objectives. Process based integration focuses on orchestrating business processes across systems, data based integration focuses on synchronizing data across systems, and virtual integration focuses on providing a unified view of data across systems.

The mobile device should make a REST Apex inbound call to meet the requirement. A REST Apex inbound call allows the mobile device to invoke custom Apex logic on Salesforce using a RESTful interface. The Apex logiccan then access the geolocation field using the user’s OAuth token and update it with the GPS coordinates from the mobile device. The geolocation field is secured with Field Level Security, so the user can view the value without changing it. A SOAP API inbound call or a REST API inbound call would not be able to access the custom geolocation field, as they are not supported by the standard Salesforce objects and fields. Reference: Salesforce Integration Architecture Designer Resource Guide, page 20

Trigger invokes Queueable Apex method, with custom error handling process. Queueable Apex allows you to run asynchronous jobs that can make callouts to external web services. You can use custom error handling logic to handle any failures and retry the callouts if necessary. You can also use Database.Stateful interface to maintain state across transactions and ensure that each order is sent exactly once. This solution meets the requirements of sending order and line items directly to an existing finance application web service when an order is fulfilled, and ensuring that each order reaches the finance application exactly once for accurate invoicing. References: Certification - Integration Architect - Trailhead, [Queueable Apex], [Making a Web Service Callout from a Queueable Apex Job]

The HttpCalloutMock interface allows testing HTTP callouts by returning a predefined response in a test context. By implementing HttpCalloutMockto return responses per RAML specification, the Apex REST API Clients unit tests can confirm that the API requests and responses match the expected format and values. Calling the Apex REST API Clients in a test context to get the mock response is also necessary to verify the adherence to the RAML specs. Calling the HttpCalloutMock implementation from the Apex REST API Clients or requiring the Apex REST API Clients to implement the HttpCalloutMock are not valid options because the HttpCalloutMock interface is implemented by a separate class that is passed as a parameter to the Test.setMock method2

The error “Max CPU time exceeded” occurs when a batch of records takes more than 10 minutes to process in the Bulk API. Using a smaller batch size can reduce the processing time and avoid this error. However, there are some trade-offs to consider when using a smaller batch size, such as:

Answer A is valid because a smaller batch size may cause record-locking errors if multiple batches try toupdate the same records or records that are related by a lookup or master-detail relationship. This can result in concurrency issues and data inconsistency1

Answer B is valid because a smaller batch size may increase the time required to executebulk jobs, as more batches need to be created and processed sequentially. This can affect the performance and efficiency of the integration1

Answer C is not valid because a smaller batch size may not exceed the concurrent API request limits, as the Bulk API does not count against the concurrent request limit. TheBulk API has its own limit on the number ofbatches that can be queued or in progress, which is 5,000 per rolling 24-hour period2

Answer D is not valid because a smaller batch size can trigger “Too many concurrent batches” error only if the number of batches exceeds the limit of 5,000 per rolling 24-hour period. Thiserror is not related to the parallel mode of the Bulk API, which allows up to 10 batches to be processed simultaneously

 Idempotent design means that the same request can be repeated multiple times without changing the outcome. This is useful for avoiding duplicate orders in case of network failures or timeouts. By implementing idempotent design, the sales representatives can retry the order(s) in question without creating duplicates in the manufacturing system. Outbound messaging is not a reliable solution because it does not guarantee delivery or acknowledgement of messages. Scheduled apex is not a real-time solution and may not catch all the duplicate or missing orders

 Invoking middleware service to retrieve valid shipping methods is a solution that can allow the sales representatives to select between valid services for the customer’s country. The middleware service can act as a single point of entry for all shipping services and provide routing and transformation capabilities. Using middleware to abstract the call to the specific shipping services is a solution that can allow the sales representatives to request shipping estimates from the selected service. The middleware can hide thecomplexity and heterogeneity of the shipping services and provide mediation and orchestration capabilities. Using Platform Events to construct and publish shipper-specific events is not a solution, as Platform Events are used for event-driven integration,not for web-service integration. Storing shipping services in a picklist that is dependent on a country picklist is not a solution, as it does not address how to request shipping estimates from the shipping services. Reference: Salesforce Integration Architecture Designer Resource Guide, page 16-17

 The integration architect should require bulk load for Einstein Analytics and callouts to RESTful services for the Community Cloud portal and Einstein Analytics. Bulk load is a capability that allows loading large volumes of data into Einstein Analytics from external sources, such as the Patient Prescriptions System. This can be done securely by using encryption in transit and at rest, and by masking or removing any identifiable patient information from the data. Callouts to RESTful services are a capability that allows making requests to external web services from Salesforce, such as the Patient Prescriptions System. This can be done securely by using identity tokens or certificates for authentication and authorization, and by using encryption in transit and at rest12

The Architect should determine the data access prevention requirements and then identify the system constraints before recommending a solution. The data access prevention requirements are the business rules and policies that define how to prevent deactivated employees from accessing Salesforce data. For example, the Architect should determine whether the HR system can send a notification to Salesforce when an employee is deactivated, or whether Salesforce needs to query the HR system periodically to check the employee status. Thesystem constraints are the technical limitations and challenges that may affect the integration solution. For example, the Architect should determine whether the HR system supports outbound or inbound integration, what are the security and authenticationprotocols, what are the data formats and protocols, and what are the performance and scalability requirements. The frequency of the integration is not as important as the requirements and constraints, as it can be adjusted based on the business needs and technical feasibility. The data volume requirements and loading schedule are not relevant for this scenario, as they are more applicable for data migration or replication scenarios.

Named Credentials and Protected Custom Settings are two persistence mechanisms that can be used to ensure that secrets are protected from deliberate or inadvertent exposure. Named Credentials allow you to specify the URL of a callout endpoint and its required authentication parameters in one definition. Salesforce manages all the authentication for Apex callouts that specify a namedcredential as the callout endpoint, and you don’t have to add more authentication logic in your Apex code. Named Credentials can be defined to provide a secure and convenient way of settingup authenticated callouts, and they can also be usedin Lightning components, Visualforce pages, and flows1.

Protected Custom Settings are a type of custom settings that store application-specific data that is hidden from subscribers. They are only accessible by the managed package that created them, and they canbe used to store secrets such as encryption keys, passwords, or tokens. Protected Custom Settings can be accessed by Apex code, formulas, or validation rules within the same namespace as the settings2.

Encrypted Custom Fields are not a suitable mechanism for storing secrets, because they are not designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. Encrypted Custom Fields allow you to encrypt text fields using a standard encryption scheme. The encrypteddata is masked in reports, list views, and search results, but it can still be viewed by users who have the “View Encrypted Data” permission. Encrypted Custom Fields are intended to protect data from unauthorized access by users within your organization, not from external threats or malicious code3.

Protected Custom Metadata Types are another type of custom metadata types that store application-specific data that is hidden from subscribers. They are similar to Protected Custom Settings, but they have some advantages such as being deployable using change sets or Metadata API, being accessible by SOQL queries, and being able to reference other metadata types or settings. However, Protected Custom Metadata Types cannot be used to store secrets, because they do not support encryption or masking of sensitive data. Protected Custom Metadata Types are intended to store configuration datathat is specific to your managed package, not secrets that need to be secured.

Therefore, the correct answer is B and D, because Named Credentials and Protected Custom Settings are the only persistence mechanisms that can be used to securely store secretsin Salesforce.

 The OAuth protocol is a standard way to authorizeaccess to web resources. By configuring a connected app with an authorization endpoint of the API gateway, Salesforce can obtain an access token from the API gateway and use it to invoke the external API securely. This avoids the need to manage certificates oruser credentials for authentication2

 A trigger is a programmatic way of executingsome logic when a record is inserted, updated, deleted, or undeleted in Salesforce. A trigger can invoke an Apex class that contains the code to perform aREST callout to an external system. A REST callout is a way of sending an HTTP request to a service endpoint and receiving a response. A REST callout can be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on whether the Apex code waits for the response before continuing the execution. A synchronous callout is suitable for scenarios where the response is needed immediately, such as order fulfillment1.

An Apex proxy class is a class that is generated from a WSDL (Web Service Description Language) document of an external SOAP web service. An Apex proxy class can be used to make a SOAP callout to the external web service, but not a REST callout. A SOAP calloutis another way of sending an HTTP request to a service endpoint and receiving a response, but it uses a different format and protocol than REST2.

Process Builder is a declarative tool that allows you to automate business processes by defining criteria and actions. Process Builder can invoke an Apex class that implements the Process.Plugin interface, which allows you to extend the functionality of Process Builder with custom logic. However, Process Builder does not support synchronous callouts, because it runs in the background and does not wait for the response from the external system. Process Builder only supports asynchronous callouts, which are executed after the transaction is committed3.

Batch Apex is a way of processing large volumes of data asynchronously by breaking them into smaller batches of records. Batch Apex can be used to perform complex or long-running operations on data, such as data cleansing, archiving, or integration. Batch Apex can make callouts to external systems by implementing the Database.AllowsCallouts interface in the batch class. However, Batch Apex is not suitable for scenarios wherethe callout needs to be synchronous, because it runs in the background and does not wait for the response from the external system. Batch Apex also has some limitations, such as the maximum number of batches in the queue, the maximum number of records per batch, and the maximum number of callouts per batch4.

A Lightning Component is a reusable unit of user interface that can be used to build modern web apps with Salesforce. A Lightning Component can make a callout to an external system by using JavaScript code or by invoking an Apex controller class that contains the logic for the callout. A Lightning Component can make a synchronous or asynchronous callout, depending on whether the JavaScript code or Apex code waits for the response before continuing the execution. However, a Lightning Component is not a good choice for scenarios where the callout needs to be triggered by arecord change, such as when an opportunity is closed/won. A Lightning Component requires user interaction, such asclicking a button or loading a page, to initiate the callout5.

Therefore, the correct answer is A, because writing a trigger that invokes an Apex class to make a REST callout to the Order Management System is the only option that satisfies the requirements of making a synchronous callout when an opportunity is closed/won.

Using middleware queuing and buffering is a solution that can handle errors during service outages by storing the messages in a queue until the service is available again. This way, Salesforce does not loseany data or encounter any failures when the service is down. Using @future jobld and custom scheduled apex process to retry failed service calls is not a good solution because it can consume a lot of governor limits and create a lot of duplicate records. Using Outbound Messaging to automatically retry failed service calls is also not a good solution because it has a limited number of retries and a fixed retry interval, which may not be sufficient for long service outages. Using Platform Event replayld and custom scheduled Apex process to retrieve missed events is not applicable for this scenario because Platform Events are used for event-driven integration, not for web-service integration. Reference: Salesforce Integration Architecture Designer Resource Guide, page 29-30

Platform Events are a type of event-driven architecture that allows you to publish and subscribe to events in Salesforce and external systems. To subscribe to an event, the integration user in Salesforce needs read access to the event entity, which defines the schema and properties of the event message. To publish an event, the integration user in Salesforce needs create permission on the event entity, which is a special type of sObject that can be inserted into the platform event queue. Error handling must be performed by the remote service because the event is effectively handed off to the remote system for further processing. Salesforce does not guarantee the delivery or acknowledgment of the event by the external system. The external system should implement its own logic to handle errors, such as retrying failed events, logging errors, or sending notifications. References: Certification - IntegrationArchitect - Trailhead, [Platform Events Developer Guide]

 Make a callout to the payment gateway through ESB supporting error handling and logging for audit purposes. This solution meets the requirements of integrating with an external RESTful service, ensuring real-time updates to the CSR, and supporting post payment processes. ESB stands for Enterprise Service Bus, which is a software architecture model that allows communication between different applications via a common bus. ESB can handle the callout to the payment gateway service, and provide error handling, logging, routing, transformation,and orchestration capabilities. ESB can also integrate with other systems or services that are involved in the post payment processes, such as billing, invoicing, or reporting. References: Certification - Integration Architect - Trailhead, [Enterprise Integration Patterns]