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FC-ACD Exam Topics and Domains
FC-ACD is organized into 8 weighted domains.
Fundamentals of Architecture
Identify the meaning and levels of architecture
Identify the meaning and levels of architecture as enterprise, domain, and solution
Identify the various subdomains of enterprise architecture and the interactions between them
- Be aware of each of the subdomains of enterprise architecture and their purposes
- Understand the interactions between the subdomains
Explain the purpose and role of standards and frameworks in architecture
Explain the purpose and role of standards and frameworks in architecture
Identify relevant frameworks and professional standards which apply to architecture
Identify relevant frameworks and professional standards which apply to architecture by their name and purpose
Explain the meaning and objectives of governance, risk management and compliance
Explain the meaning and objectives of governance, risk management and compliance
Describe an architect's contribution to a business case
Describe an architect's contribution to a business case for securing investment and agreeing a solution
Explain the purpose and methods of performing gap analysis
Explain the purpose and methods of performing gap analysis to identify differences between two states or solutions
Describe a range of drivers for architecture
Describe internal and external factors that drive the need for architecture
Describe the purpose and use of an architecture description
Describe the purpose and use of an architecture description as defined by ISO 42010
Business Architecture
Identify the meaning and objectives of Business Architecture
Recognise the definition of business architecture and its objectives
Describe the key artefacts commonly used in business architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in business architecture to model organisation structure, processes, and change approaches
Describe the key activities undertaken by a business architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by a business architect through the Business Change Lifecycle
Describe the structure and behaviour of a business system
Describe basic components of a business system including actors, roles, functions, processes, capabilities, services, and information concepts
Applications Architecture
Identify the meaning and objectives of applications architecture
Recognise the definition of applications architecture and its objectives
Describe the key artefacts commonly used in applications architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in applications architecture
Describe the key activities undertaken by an applications architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by an applications architect in managing the applications portfolio
Describe the use and behaviour of applications in a business
Describe the use and behaviour of applications in a business context including interfaces and dependencies
Explain the purpose and use of cross-reference grids
Explain the purpose and use of cross-reference grids to visualise dependencies and identify opportunities
Identify different kinds of application
Recognise different types of application and their uses
Data Architecture
Define the meaning and objectives of data architecture
Recognise the definition of data architecture and its objectives
Describe key artefacts commonly used in data architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in data architecture for movement, storage, security and use of data
Describe key activities undertaken by a data architect
Describe the broad scope of activities undertaken by a data architect
Explain the differences between data and information and how they are used
Use the ISO/IEC 2382:2015 definitions to recognise and explain the difference between data and information
Describe the data structures used by a business and/or its applications
Describe data structures and the data lifecycle from creation to deletion
Infrastructure Architecture
Define the meaning and objectives of infrastructure architecture
Recognise the definition of infrastructure architecture and its objectives
Describe key artefacts commonly used in infrastructure architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in infrastructure architecture to design, model and maintain hardware and software solutions
Describe key activities undertaken by an infrastructure architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by an infrastructure architect including component rationalisation and solution definition
Software Architecture
Define the meaning and objectives of software architecture
Recognise the definition of software architecture and its objectives
Describe key artefacts commonly used in software architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in software architecture to model intended solutions
Describe key activities undertaken by a software architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by a software architect
Describe system modelling techniques
Recognise various system modelling techniques and their uses
Describe the role of APIs in software architecture
Describe the role of APIs in enabling data exchange and modularisation in software architecture
Security Architecture
Identify the meaning and objectives of security architecture
Recognise the definition of security architecture and its objectives
Describe the key artefacts commonly used in security architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in security architecture
Describe the key activities undertaken by a security architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by a security architect across all architecture domains
Identify legislation and professional standards relevant to security architecture
Recognise the names and descriptions of key security legislation and standards
Identify the key concepts in data architecture security
Identify key concepts in data architecture security including encryption, checksums, and digital signatures
Identify the key concepts in applications architecture security
Identify the four-step applications security process: identification, authentication, authorisation, access
Identify the key concepts in infrastructure architecture security
Identify key concepts in infrastructure security including auditing, monitoring, and penetration testing
Solution Architecture
Identify the meaning and objectives of solution architecture
Recognise the definition of solution architecture and its objectives
Describe the key artefacts commonly used in solution architecture
Describe the key artefacts used in solution architecture
Describe the key activities undertaken by a solution architect
Describe the key activities undertaken by a solution architect from understanding a problem through to governing delivery
Describe different types of solution requirements
Understand that requirements are categorised as functional or non-functional, and business or technical
Explain the purpose and stages of the solution architecture lifecycle
Recall the stages and sequence of the solution architecture lifecycle and describe the activities at each stage
Identify stakeholder categories in solution architecture
Recognise and categorise stakeholders based on descriptions of their roles and interest
How do I earn this certification?
Passing FC-ACD earns the BCS Foundation Certificate in Architecture Concepts and Domains certification. It sits in the IT Architecture track.
- SA-Enterprise - BCS Specialist Architecture Award - Enterprise Architecture Specialise in aligning IT solutions with business objectives and enabling organisational strategy
- SA-Solution - BCS Specialist Architecture Award - Solution Architecture Specialise in devising and implementing solutions that tackle organisation needs, problems, and opportunities
- SA-Data - BCS Specialist Architecture Award - Data Architecture Specialise in designing and managing data infrastructure for stakeholder decision-making
- SA-CloudInfra - BCS Specialist Architecture Award - Cloud Infrastructure Architecture Specialise in strategic framework to optimise IT sources, enhance performance, improve scalability, and mitigate security threats
- SA-Security - BCS Specialist Architecture Award - Security Architecture Specialise in security of structures, processes, and technology to protect assets, data, and systems from threats and risks
- PC-ESA - BCS Practitioner Certificate in Enterprise and Solutions ArchitectureAdvanced practitioner-level certification covering enterprise and solutions architecture. Requires FC-ACD plus at least 3 years experience in information systems or IT with some architecture involvement. Can be taken directly without specialist awards.
- TOGAF 9/10 Level 2 - TOGAF Enterprise Architecture certification TOGAF Level 2 certification is accepted as an alternative prerequisite for BCS Specialist Architecture Awards, providing an alternative entry point into the BCS architecture pathway
- BCS Business Analysis certifications Complementary BCS certification pathway for professionals interested in business analysis alongside architecture skills
Practice with Precision
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How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for FC-ACD is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2022-05-01
- Cloud Services Questions may reference cloud as part of infrastructure architecture solutions (on-premises vs off-premises)
- TOGAF Framework Candidates must recognise TOGAF by name and as an architecture framework
- APIs Questions test understanding of API purpose in software architecture
Who should take this exam?
- Good standard of written English and Maths
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