There Is No Greater Achievement In This Field. Microsoft Has Honored Karel Beránek With a Prestigious Certification
Being part of Microsoft’s elite FastTrack program is an achievement reserved for only a select few. And earning this recognition with three certifications is virtually unheard of. Yet our Delivery Director, Karel Beránek, has done just that, completing a collection held by only one other person in the world.
He currently holds certifications in Power Platform, Power Automate, and Dynamics 365, which together represent the highest possible individual recognition in the field of solution architecture. Despite this, Karel remains grounded and focuses not on accolades, but on staying technologically relevant and maintaining the trust of customers in real-world practice, as he shares in our interview.
You are two of the only people in the world holding all these certifications. What does this mean for you personally and professionally?
It's a confirmation of long-term, systematic work in the area of solution design on the Microsoft platform. It’s not about a one-time achievement, but a combination of deep technical expertise, real-world project experience, and the ability to translate knowledge into strategy and solution architecture.
Personally, it gives me confidence that I'm on the right path. Professionally, it enables me to lead complex projects with trust from both customers and colleagues. At the same time, it’s a significant responsibility, the outcomes of my work must meet certain standards.
Is it objectively considered a high prestige in your field?
Yes, it is. FastTrack Recognized Solution Architects is a Microsoft-recognized program that only acknowledges a handful of architects each year. In my opinion, the MVP award is becoming increasingly recognized as well, though it focuses more on community impact, such as blogging and other public contributions, rather than technical skills. That’s not really my focus (for now).
Compared to standard certifications, this title is based on real projects evaluated by Microsoft technical experts. It’s not an exam, but proof that you can consistently design and lead top-tier enterprise solutions in line with best practices for the Microsoft cloud ecosystem.
What specific competitive advantage does this give you now compared to others?
Trust and access to information. This recognition opens doors to internal Microsoft technical communities and gives us early insight into some product developments before their official release. Thanks to that, we can offer customers solutions that are not only technically sound but also sustainable in the long term. It also increases client trust in our designs: they know the architecture aligns with Microsoft’s standards.
How did you manage to earn such recognition? What was the process before you officially received it?
This recognition would not have been possible without the team I have around me at ACTUM Digital. It requires selecting a representative project that demonstrates complex architecture, covers all key areas (governance, security, performance, scalability, maintainability, etc.), and shows clear value for the customer.
For each of my recognitions, I had to prepare such a mini-project, including feedback from several clients regarding my work on their projects. The submitted materials are then reviewed by Microsoft and go through an initial screening. If the candidate passes this theoretical round, an interview follows with a Microsoft architect, where everything is discussed in detail. Even after that call, the outcome isn’t guaranteed, it goes through another evaluation phase. Only then does the candidate receive confirmation. I went through this cycle three times, once for each specialization, and the entire process took several months.
Is there room for further growth within the FastTrack Recognized Solution Architects program? Are there other levels in the field you'd like to reach?
FastTrack Recognized Solutions Architects is currently the highest individual recognition in solution architecture on the Microsoft platform. Further development is possible in both breadth and depth, for example by covering additional workloads such as Data & AI or Security. For me personally, the priority is to stay technologically relevant and maintain the quality of work that aligns with this recognition. Being acknowledged is one thing, earning and keeping the trust of customers in practice is another.