Modern Architecture 101 for New Engineers & Forgetful Architects

I've been a Microsoft field engineer for fourteen years—learn from my experience and mistakes. Today’s landscape of architectural choices for enterprise solutions is vast, with real problems to solve and real issues that come with those solutions. Big enterprises or small, problems are problems. There are plenty of tools and frameworks, but what really sets enterprise solutions apart from one-off applications are the fundamental patterns. In this session, we’ll break down a typical enterprise architecture piece by piece, focusing on the decisions engineers and architects make when tackling common problems and requirements. We’ll dive into areas like scalability, security, integration, and maintainability, giving you practical insights whether you’re new to the field or just need a refresher.

Discuss the fundamental responsibilities of a software architect. Understand the core architectural patterns that distinguish enterprise systems from one-off apps. Learn how real-world constraints shape decisions around scale, security, integration, and maintenance. Apply hard-earned lessons from the field to avoid common mistakes and design more resilient systems.