# Multi-org designs: cross-org adapter, consolidation, Data Cloud One

*Platform Data Architect Study Guide · Salesforce Data Management · Last updated October 26, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-data-architect/salesforce-data-management/multi-org-designs-cross-org-adapter-consolidation-data-cloud-one*

How to use data across several Salesforce orgs: the cross-org adapter for in-place access, Bulk API 2.0 extraction or middleware for aggregation and sync, External ID cross-references for org consolidation, and Data 360 provisioning with a Data Cloud One home org, companion orgs or data sharing between instances.

- Certification: Salesforce Platform Data Architect
- Exam section: Salesforce Data Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/platform-data-architect

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a customer scenario, recommend a design to effectively consolidate and/or leverage data from multiple Salesforce instances.

## What the exam expects

- Decide whether one org or several fits, then pick the org-to-org pattern from the requirement: view or edit in place, aggregate for reporting, or keep records in sync.
- Know what the cross-org adapter can't carry over and what still runs in the target org.
- Plan an org consolidation load with source-Id External IDs, parent-before-child order and an Id cross-reference for polymorphic fields.
- Choose the Data 360 home org, Data Cloud One or multiple instances with data sharing, and explain companion org limits, credits, region and latency.

Key terms: **cross-org adapter** (Salesforce Connect adapter that reads another org through the REST API); **home org** (the org that holds the Data 360 license and instance); **companion org** (an org connected to the home org through Data Cloud One); **data space** (a logical container of data and metadata); **data share** (zero-copy sharing of chosen objects between Data 360 instances).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Salesforce to Salesforce | Reached end of life | [Data Integration with Salesforce](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-integration.html) |
| Platform events between orgs | Not optimal; can't listen between orgs for the same event | [Data Integration with Salesforce](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-integration.html) |
| External object limits | No formula or roll-up references; no Activities, Events or Tasks | [External Objects in Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.platform_connect_considerations_compatibility.htm&type=5) |
| Polymorphic fields on upsert | WhoId, WhatId and custom object Owner can't map to External IDs | [Import Related Records with an External ID](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000383207&language=en_US&type=1) |
| Data 360 region | Set by the location of the org that receives the license | [Data 360 Provisioning](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-360-provisioning.html) |
| Companion org ingestion | Not allowed; home org only | [Data 360 Provisioning](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-360-provisioning.html) |
| Companion org credits | Consumed from the home org; per-org view in Digital Wallet | [Data 360 Provisioning](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-360-provisioning.html) |
| Data shares | Zero copy; tags not shared | [Data 360 Provisioning](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-360-provisioning.html) |

## Check yourself

- Why isn't a platform event pair a good org-to-org sync design?
- When is a new, dedicated Data 360 home org justified?
- Why might European companion org users see slower unified profile queries?

## Sources

- [Data 360 Provisioning](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-360-provisioning.html)
- [Data Integration with Salesforce](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/decision-guides/guide/data-integration.html)
- [Unify Source Profiles](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=data.c360_a_identity_resolution_unify_source_profiles.htm&type=5)
- [Data Cloud One](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_cloud_one.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Choose Which Salesforce Connect Adapter to Use](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.platform_connect_adapters.htm&type=5)
- [External Objects in Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=platform.platform_connect_considerations_compatibility.htm&type=5)
- [General Limits for Salesforce Connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.platform_connect_general_limits.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Import Related Records with an External ID in Salesforce Data Loader](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000383207&language=en_US&type=1)
- [Upserting Records](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/langCon_apex_dml_examples_upsert.htm)
- [Reliability (Well-Architected)](https://architect.salesforce.com/docs/architect/well-architected/guide/reliability.html)
- [About Salesforce Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?language=en_US&id=data.c360_a_data_cloud.htm&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 18 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Platform Data Architect pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams