SF-Data-Arch Master Data Management Practice Question
Northern Trail Outfitters uses Salesforce as its system of entry for customer records, but the ERP remains the system of record for billing addresses. A data architect must design the MDM integration so that when a billing address changes in the ERP, Salesforce is updated, but address edits made in Salesforce do not flow back to the ERP. Which MDM pattern should the architect implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that bi-directional synchronization with survivorship rules is equivalent to a system-of-record pattern, when in fact any bi-directional design still writes Salesforce edits back to the source system.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
One-way synchronization from the ERP to Salesforce, with Salesforce address fields made read-only for users.
The scenario defines a clear attribute-level system of record: the ERP owns billing address, Salesforce merely consumes it. That maps to a unidirectional publish-and-subscribe integration combined with UI-level protection so Salesforce users cannot create authoritative edits. Bi-directional approaches and federation both contradict either the direction requirement or the expectation that the value is persisted and usable natively inside Salesforce.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Federated access using Salesforce Connect to display the ERP address in real time without persisting it in Salesforce.
Why it's wrong here
Federation is a valid MDM pattern, but it makes the address available only through live callouts rather than storing it in Salesforce. Reporting, offline use, and automation on the address field would break, and the requirement states that Salesforce should be updated when the ERP changes, implying a persisted replicated value rather than a virtual external object reference.
- ✗
Bi-directional synchronization with last-write-wins conflict resolution based on the most recent ModifiedDate.
Why it's wrong here
Last-write-wins would allow a Salesforce address edit to overwrite the ERP value whenever the Salesforce record has the later timestamp, directly violating the requirement that Salesforce must not push address changes back. It also introduces nondeterministic outcomes when clocks or time zones differ between systems, so it fails the scenario on both the direction and the conflict-resolution requirements.
- ✓
One-way synchronization from the ERP to Salesforce, with Salesforce address fields made read-only for users.
Why this is correct
This implements a system-of-record pattern where the ERP owns the billing address attribute and Salesforce is a downstream consumer. Making the fields read-only prevents Salesforce-originated edits from ever being treated as authoritative, and the unidirectional integration guarantees no write-back path exists, which is exactly the governance the architect was asked to enforce.
- ✗
Bi-directional synchronization with a survivorship rule that always prefers the ERP value for the address field.
Why it's wrong here
A survivorship rule that always prefers the ERP value still requires a write path from Salesforce to the ERP, because bi-directional synchronization means both systems publish changes. The Salesforce edit would be transmitted and then discarded or overwritten, creating unnecessary traffic and audit noise, and it does not satisfy the explicit requirement that Salesforce edits must not flow back.
About these practice questions
One of 222 original SF-Data-Arch practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Salesforce exam blueprint
This SF-Data-Arch practice question is part of Courseiva's free Salesforce certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SF-Data-Arch exam.