Which Framework Applies?¶
Each framework answers a different question for a different audience. The right starting point depends on what you are trying to do — not which framework you have heard of.
TL;DR
BOLT covers business–IT delivery models and who owns what. SCALE-OPS covers how the platform is governed and operated. DIALOGE covers how a solution is architected and built. SHIELD covers how the platform and solutions are protected. Most real situations span two or more frameworks — this guide helps you find the right entry point.
The Decision¶
Start with the question you are trying to answer:
"How should business and IT work together to deliver solutions?"¶
→ BOLT
BOLT defines the operating model: delivery tiers, roles, accountability, and guardrails for business-led delivery. Start here if you are setting up or restructuring how digital solutions are owned, built, and governed across business and IT.
Relevant pages: Delivery Tiers · Roles & Accountability · Guardrails
"How do we govern and operate the platform itself?"¶
SCALE-OPS covers the eight capabilities required to run Power Platform as an enterprise service: environments, DLP, CoE operations, automation, lifecycle, performance, and scalability. Start here if you are setting up a CoE, designing an environment strategy, or managing platform health.
Relevant pages: Stewardship · Containment · Operations
"How should this solution be architected and built?"¶
→ DIALOGE
DIALOGE covers the seven building blocks of a Power Platform solution: data, integration, AI, logic, operations, go-live, and experience. Start here if you are designing or reviewing a specific solution.
Relevant pages: Data · Integration · Go-Live
"How do we protect the platform and solutions from security and compliance risk?"¶
→ SHIELD
SHIELD covers the six security pillars: sight (visibility), harden (data protection), inspect (application review), enforce (policy), lockdown (network and access), and defend (threat response). Start here if you are designing security controls, conducting a security review, or responding to a compliance requirement.
Relevant pages: Harden · Inspect · Enforce
By Role¶
| Your Role | Primary Framework | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| CIO / CTO / CFO | BOLT | SCALE-OPS |
| Business Unit Leader | BOLT | DIALOGE |
| CoE Lead | SCALE-OPS | BOLT |
| Platform Admin | SCALE-OPS | SHIELD |
| Solution Maker / Citizen Dev | DIALOGE | BOLT |
| Solution Architect / Engineer | DIALOGE | SCALE-OPS · SHIELD |
| CISO / Security Architect | SHIELD | SCALE-OPS |
| Compliance / Risk | SHIELD | SCALE-OPS |
By Situation¶
| Situation | Start Here |
|---|---|
| Setting up a CoE | Scenario: Launch a CoE |
| Enabling business-led delivery | BOLT: Delivery Tiers |
| Designing environment strategy | SCALE-OPS: Containment |
| Building a solution | DIALOGE Overview |
| Going live with a solution | Scenario: Security Review Before Go-Live |
| DLP policy design | SHIELD: Harden · DLP Decision Guide |
| Building delivery pipelines | Scenario: ALM at Scale |
| Responding to a security incident | SHIELD: Defend |
| Audit or compliance review | SHIELD: Enforce |
| Platform performance issues | SCALE-OPS: Performance |
Most Situations Span Two Frameworks¶
The frameworks are designed to work together, not independently. Common pairings:
| Situation | Frameworks |
|---|---|
| Citizen development programme | BOLT + SHIELD |
| CoE setup | SCALE-OPS + BOLT |
| Solution go-live | DIALOGE + SHIELD |
| DLP policy design | SHIELD + SCALE-OPS |
| Enterprise solution architecture | DIALOGE + SHIELD + SCALE-OPS |
See How the Frameworks Connect for the full picture.