# Discovery questions, account audits and scoping gaps

*Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant Study Guide · Discovery and Architecture · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-consultant/discovery-and-architecture/discovery-questions-account-audits-and-scoping-gaps*

Which facts a consultant must collect before scoping deliverability products, Synchronized Data Sources, reporting history and campaign automation, and how an account audit turns findings into a risk-rated action plan.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant
- Exam section: Discovery and Architecture
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Provided with a set of business requirements, determine what additional information is needed to design the recommended solution.

## What the exam expects

- Name the missing fact behind a deliverability purchase: volume, branded business units, a final domain, sensitive web subdomains.
- Run an account audit: questions per area, red flags, high, medium or low risk, Alert Manager.
- Scope a Synchronized Data Sources sync: which fields, which records, and when bulk CRM changes will land.
- Turn history, audience, campaign and multi-brand requirements into discovery questions.
- Key terms: **SAP** (private domain, dedicated IP, account branding, Reply Mail Management, CloudPages domain); **dedicated IP** (a sending IP for your account alone); **account audit** (an inspection ending in a risk score per area); **Synchronized Data Sources** (copies CRM objects into synchronized data extensions); **retention window** (how long engagement data stays accessible).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated IP threshold | Required above 250,000 email messages per month | [Deliverability Products Overview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380272&language=en_US&type=1) |
| One IP in the account | It is the default for every send; no IP can be selected in a Delivery Profile | [Deliverability Products Overview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380272&language=en_US&type=1) |
| SAP domains per MID | One | [Deliverability Products Overview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380272&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Change after setup | Not possible; buy an additional configuration | [Deliverability Products Overview](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380272&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Audit high risk | Personal data in DEs, recurring errors, users who no longer need access | [Audit Your Account](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/marketing-cloud-account-optimization/audit-your-account) |
| Alert Manager | Alerts for email batch and triggered sends to a configured address | [Audit Your Account](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/marketing-cloud-account-optimization/audit-your-account) |
| SDS fields per object | 20 recommended, 250 maximum | [SDS Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_implement_synchronized_data_sources_best_practices.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| SDS automatic refresh | Over 600,000 rows changed in a minute; DE empty until done | [SDS Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_implement_synchronized_data_sources_best_practices.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Engagement data retention | 730 days since June 16, 2025 | [Retention Policy Update](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=002231187&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Data extensions over lists | More than 500,000 subscribers, triggered sends, SOAP or REST APIs | [List vs. Data Extension](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_list_versus_data_extension.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- Why should a consultant ask which fields are reference IDs before a CRM field cleanup?
- When is disconnecting and reconnecting a Synchronized Data Sources connection appropriate?
- Why can't a Delivery Profile select a specific IP in an account with one IP?
- How long does Intelligence Reports data lag behind the account?

## Sources

- [Deliverability Products Overview: Dedicated IPs, Private Domains, SAP, and SSL](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000380272&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Audit Your Account (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/marketing-cloud-account-optimization/audit-your-account)
- [Synchronized Data Sources Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_implement_synchronized_data_sources_best_practices.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [January 2025 Retention Policy Update](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=002231187&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Best Practices for Exporting and Retrieving Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000355942&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Email Studio List vs. Email Studio Data Extension](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_list_versus_data_extension.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Contact Builder Best Practices](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_contact_builder_best_practices.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Respond to Customers with Triggered Automations (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/marketing-automation-strategies/respond-to-customers-with-triggered-automations)
- [Drive Productivity with Scheduled Automations (Trailhead)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/marketing-automation-strategies/drive-productivity-with-scheduled-automations)
- [Sender Authentication Package](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_es_sender_authentication_package.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 16 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams