xRM Security

Security in CRM

• (Mostly) method of giving / restricting data (and data operations)
• As well as data;
• Security Roles
• Organisation Chart
• 3 Dimensional “Matrix”
• A ‘Copy Of’ Active Directory
• A Business Unit is a separate functional area

Privileges

• Update – Write
• Update – these are xRM platform operations
• Append
• Participate in relationship
• Append To
• Participate in relationship
• Assign
• Change Owner
• Share
• Allow others visibility

Possible Starting Point(s)

• Can Unify Security Model across (Unified Data Management):
• Microsoft
• Active Directory
• Exchange
• SharePoint
• Dynamics CRM 
• Etc …
• Do this by matching categorisations (e.g. Active Directory Group = Dynamics CRM Security Role, Active Directory Folder = Dynamics CRM Business Entity etc …)
• And so also remember to give a user access to an entity give the user access to a group with access to that entity not the entity directly
• Possible Starting Point: Use Active Directory Security Design Principles …
• Establish a Generic Data Management policy at the same time
• Another Starting Point: Security Roles designed for your Vertical Industry or closest other vertical

A few hints

• Try and keep as ‘flat’ as possible - no need to represent every ‘level’ of the hierarchy just for the sake of it
• Once again, a business unit could be a:
• Functional Unit
• Division
• Therefore FINALISE a ‘flat’ Org Chart with the users and assign users to appropriate business units
• And then a Security Role could correspond to a particular job function(s) – and then FINALISE Job Functions with the users
• Hence no need to ‘drill down’ into individual privileges on each business entity initially
• Minimise Redundancy Tip: In Security Roles create a ‘base’ security role(s) and add privileges to that
• You could also look at it from the purpose of ‘restricting’ data and the data different users can access – start by giving everyone everything

Dynamics xRM Subject Tree

What is the Subject Tree (Subject) actually used for ??

• (short answer) Categorisation of Information
• It is scoped to the xRM Tenancy

When designing the Subject Tree … consider …

• Functional Areas
• Degree of Separation
• Grouping of Areas
• Hierarchy

From a Technical Perspective

• System of Nested Buckets
• Multi Level ‘Tree’
• Are you using a system of dependant Picklists?

In Dynamics CRM the Subject Tree is directly related to:

• Product
• Sales Literature
• Knowledge Base
• Case
• Indirectly linked to almost all of the entities
• You can query nearly any table from the Subject Tree

Is Google (keyword search) making other information sorting mechanisms obsolete?

• Tags, Metadata, Lists …
• Chronological Archives
• Advanced Find
• Specific Field Searches (e.g. Knowledge Base Search)
• This includes the Subject Tree! 

Productivity Aims; an ever increasing list ...

1. Improve Quality of Life
2. Time Savings
3. Improve Organisation
4. Minimise Waste
5. Design Diversity Policies
6. Reduce (Unnecessary) Paperwork
7. Remove Duplication of Information
8. Right Information at the Right Time
9. Make sure Processes are followed 
10. Implement Diversity Policies for Girls & Women
11. Implement Diversity Policies for Indigenous etc ...
12. Implement Diversity Policies for LGBT ...
13. Save the Environment
14. Increasing the Pool of Knowledge
15. Increase Cross-skilling
16. Increase Up-skilling
17. Increase STEM
18. Improving Equal Employment Opportunity
19. Increasing Compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity
20. Creating Employment
21. Creating Business Opportunities
22. Flexible Working without decreasing Output
23. Results over Effort
24. Quality over Quantity! 
25. Drive down the Cost of Production!
26. Reduce Arguments and Conflict
27. Resolving Conflicts 
28. Reduce Incidents
29. Capturing (otherwise lost) Information
30. Building Knowledge
31. Getting the Right Staff into Regional or Remote Areas
32. Increasing Motivation
33. Reducing Harm
34. Living within your Means
35. etc ... 
36. More Skilled People into the Right Jobs.
37. ** BUILDING NEW SKILLS **

 

Please feel free to Comment if you can add to this list! 

I personally advocate for Microsoft having that Productivity focus - a good way for Microsoft Partners to look at it - to try and achieve something along the lines of what is described in the above list - otherwise you need to re-evaluate!

BTW Microsoft is great if you already have an existing business, not so good if you want to start a business from scratch!

SharePoint 2013 Pre-Requisite Topics from Core & Advanced

Very important

• DNS
• SQL Clustering
• SQL High Availability
• Farm Solutions

Important

• SQL Server Reporting Services
• PowerShell (Advanced)
• BCS Models
• Digital Certificates
• Active Directory Federation Services
• Performance Monitoring
• RAID
• WAN Optimisation
• Network Load Balancing

Minor

• Azure Workflow Server
• Office Web Apps
• SMTP
• etc ... 

SharePoint Training certainly sharpens your brain alright! 

Yes - it's about business and new laws as well as technology

https://www.cnet.com/news/matt-damon-says-tech-cant-solve-everything/

We also need the Attorney General to ratify any new legislation that comes in!

You don't really need the Attorney General involved for flying cars!

Australian Privatisation of Universities and Research Organisations – have a think about

Key Reasons

• Easier for Private Organisations to implement technology (key to realising below scenarios)
• Specialisation: An Australian University could specialise in Medical Disciplines and Medical Research!
• Profitability: Australian Universities better positioned in Export Markets (esp: China & Asia)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization

• More educational content now on Wikipedia, Google etc … than going to a public University
• Or calling the Support line of your ISP!
• That’s not to forget very good Microsoft curricula! ;)
• All you need is computer and a fast Internet connection.
• Global Mega-corporations do have the power to muscle others around in Education - Australian Universities have to evolve!
• And the best example (I think) of compelling Universities in this direction:
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia !! 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Of course Universities don't really teach from Wikipedia so much, more Textbooks and Journals!!  
  

 

Global Companies in Education

• Of course we are getting more influence now from Global companies
• Cisco, Apple, Google, Microsoft!
• Encourage these companies to get more involved in Australian vocational sector! – that is teaching their curriculums
• Even Facebook has a great productive use when you go back to Uni! (sort of)

• In USA you can get degrees in garbage collecting – we would not go that far here but diversity in Tertiary Education is encouraged!
• More quantity and quality of Certificates & Diplomas in Vocational Sector
• Allow closer co-operation between Universities & TAFE and encourage more Exit Points e.g. Degree to Graduate Certificate or Diploma

 

Accredited Courses (Australia)

• Retain core of HECS system and Youth Allowance / AUS Study
• More Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Exit Points for Universities
• Better position Australian University Graduates to compete in Global marketplace and work for Global companies
• Increase quantity of quality Graduates

Exciting Possibilities

• Encourage Consolidation (with better Australian transport)
• Merge UTS with QUT and operate 2 main campuses in Brisbane & Sydney
• Charles Sturt University could merge with USQ to form a Regional University
• Twinning Programs with US or Japanese or European Universities
• E.g. Complete first 1 or 2 years in Australia – finish off degree in US and receive degree from there
• Encourage Global M&A of Australian Universities
• Oxford & Cambridge to buy G8 Australian University
• Stanford (or whoever) to buy Australian Technology University
• $$$ University of Tokyo to buy some Australian Universities $$$

Student Loans should be considered as alternatives to paying cash

• Becoming more difficult to work part time and study part time or full time etc …
• Conditions for unskilled jobs becoming worse & worse & worse
• Also situation is not ideal as you need to devote time to study not serving 2 masters – therefore affects quality of qualification
• Need to look at more Student Loans (e.g. ANZ, Westpac, etc …) possibly from private sector for certain courses especially those with a high graduate employment rate

This issue will never die!
The issue keeps coming up but perhaps one needs to make the right arguments to make it happen!
No doubt in the Australian situation a DIFFERENTIAL Privitisation approach is required!

A complex issue - I would say Microsoft would have to play a part.

At the end of the day - think about it this way - it is about people achieving their hopes & dreams!