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Publish Solution to AppSource with External Data Source (Azure MSSQL)

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Posted on by AdamGill1965

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We are planning to publish our PowerApps Solution to the Microsoft AppSource as an Unmanaged Solution (we are aware that you have to create and upload a Managed Solution, first!) But we also need to protect our Intellectual Property. We are considering "splitting" the Data Tables / Data Sources to allow us to do that. Basically, we have a bunch of Profile Data which will sit within the Solution and that will be accessible to the consumer - and we have a bunch of Study Guides, Assessment Tests and Appraisal Narratives that we need to keep under wraps - perhaps by storing them in an MSSQL instance in Azure and connecting our Solution to that remote data source, wherever it is deployed as an Unmanaged Solution.

Is this a viable approach - or perhaps is there some other way of "locking out" users from accessing sensitive Table Data or associated Files/Documents in an Unmanaged Solution capacity?

Thanks!

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Michael E. Gernaey 53,968 Super User 2026 Season 2 on at

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Hi @AdamGill1965

I am not sure why you think putting an unmanaged solution protects anything as its just the opposite.

I can tell you this, there is no way to completely protect yourself when it comes to Dynamics and Power Apps. Its just not that kind of platform. Manage, Unmanaged is all irrelevant really as it relates to protection, especially of the data as you cannot lock out everyone no matter how hard you try, its not possible, since customizers, admins etc have to have privs to things.

That being said.. If you really and truly have to do it, then store things behind a secure end point (I would not use SQL, use Blob Storage and then put an API in front of it). You can then create a custom connector which you can register and so on..

But either way, you definitely would need to keep them off the system and make call outs to it. However at some point they have to load them, and at that point, unless you are licensing each piece.. people are going to be able to download them.

Trust me.. this is a wrestling match that ALL ISVS's and Indis have.

If I have helped you, I would really appreciate if you please Mark my answer as Resolved/Answered, and give it a thumbs up, so it can help others

Cheers

Thank You
Michael Gernaey MCT | MCSE | MCP | Self-Contractor| Ex-Microsoft
https://gernaeysoftware.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgernaey

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AdamGill1965 311 on at

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Thank you for your response. It makes sense that perhaps PowerApps is not the right platform if we are intending on protecting our Intellectual Property - or that we ensure Copyright and a License Agreement covers these aspects proficiently.

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