---
title: "Authoring"
slug: "authoring"
abstract: "Overview of Sitecore Authoring supported infrastructure, references, scaling, and privacy and security."
---
# Authoring

The Commerce Authoring role is the instance of the Commerce Engine that serves traffic from the [Commerce Business Tools](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/91/sitecore-experience-commerce/en/sitecore-xc-business-tools.html).

## Supported infrastructure

You can host the Commerce Authoring role on:

- IIS
- [Azure App Service](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/)

Refer to the [Sitecore Commerce compatibility table](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/804595) for compatible versions.

## Reference structure

The Authoring role has its place in the Sitecore reference structure. It can be referenced by other roles, and it can also reference other roles.

![The Authoring role's place in the Sitecore reference structure.](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/images/XC_Authoring_9_1_9_2.png)

### Referenced by

The Authoring role is referenced by the following roles:

- [BizFX](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/bizfx.html "BizFX")
- [Content Management](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/content-management--cm-.html "Content Management (CM)")
- [EXM Dispatch](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/exm-dispatch.html "EXM Dispatch")

### References

The Authoring role references the following roles:

#### Storage roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Global database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/global-database.html) | Global | 1433 | SQL |  |
| [Shared Environments database](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/shared-environments-database.html) | SitecoreCommerce9_SharedEnvironments | 1433 | SQL |  |

#### Application roles

| Role name | Connection string name | Default Port | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| xm-content-management | None - see notes. |  | HTTPS | Accesses items via the [Sitecore Services Client](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/sitecore-experience-manager/sitecore-services-client.html). |
| Identity Server | ID server URL |  | HTTPS |  |

#### Search indexes

| Index | Port, Solr | Port, Azure Search | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Catalog Items Scope index](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/catalog-items-scope-index.html) | 8983 | 443 | HTTPS | For search in the Business Tools. |
| [Customers Scope index](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/customers-scope-index.html) | 8983 | 443 | HTTPS | For search in the Business Tools. |
| [Orders Scope index](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/platform-administration-and-architecture/orders-scope-index.html) | 8983 | 443 | HTTPS | For search in the Business Tools. |

## Privacy and security

The Authoring role handles personal data in the following ways:

- Query, Create and Update Operations on Customer and Orders which can contain personal data.
- Query via search indexes which contain personal data.

Refer to the [Sitecore Commerce DevOps Guide](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/91/sitecore-experience-commerce/en/commerce-devops-312290.html) for steps to secure the Authoring role.