- A
Enable encryption at rest for the dataset.
Why wrong: Encryption at rest protects data from unauthorized physical access but does not control user permissions.
- B
Use Power Query to mask PII columns by replacing values with '***'.
Why wrong: Masking in Power Query is static and applies to all users; it does not provide granular access control.
- C
Define row-level security (RLS) roles in Power BI Desktop.
RLS filters data for users based on their role, restricting access to rows they are authorized to see.
- D
Apply sensitivity labels to the dataset.
Why wrong: Sensitivity labels classify data but do not enforce access restrictions at the row level.
- E
Implement object-level security (OLS) to hide sensitive tables from certain users.
OLS can hide entire tables or columns from unauthorized users, complementing RLS.
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are connecting to a data source that contains Personally Identifiable Information (PII). You need to ensure that only authorized users can view the data in Power BI reports. Which TWO actions should you take?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Define row-level security (RLS) roles in Power BI Desktop.
Option C is correct because Row-Level Security (RLS) allows you to restrict data access at the row level based on user roles defined in Power BI Desktop. By creating roles and using DAX filters, you can ensure that only authorized users see specific rows of PII data when the report is published to the Power BI service and users are mapped to roles.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable encryption at rest for the dataset.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest protects data from unauthorized physical access but does not control user permissions.
- ✗
Use Power Query to mask PII columns by replacing values with '***'.
Why it's wrong here
Masking in Power Query is static and applies to all users; it does not provide granular access control.
- ✓
Define row-level security (RLS) roles in Power BI Desktop.
Why this is correct
RLS filters data for users based on their role, restricting access to rows they are authorized to see.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply sensitivity labels to the dataset.
Why it's wrong here
Sensitivity labels classify data but do not enforce access restrictions at the row level.
- ✓
Implement object-level security (OLS) to hide sensitive tables from certain users.
Why this is correct
OLS can hide entire tables or columns from unauthorized users, complementing RLS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse data masking (Option B) with dynamic security, not realizing that Power Query masking is irreversible and applies to all users, whereas RLS and OLS provide granular, user-specific access control without altering the underlying data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RLS in Power BI works by defining roles with DAX filter expressions that are evaluated at query time against the user's identity (via UserPrincipalName or custom functions like USERNAME()). Object-Level Security (OLS) complements RLS by hiding entire tables or columns from specific roles, using the Tabular Object Model (TOM) to set permissions on metadata objects. In real-world scenarios, combining RLS and OLS ensures that sensitive PII columns or tables are invisible to unauthorized users, while authorized users see only the rows they need.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PL-300 question test?
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Define row-level security (RLS) roles in Power BI Desktop. — Option C is correct because Row-Level Security (RLS) allows you to restrict data access at the row level based on user roles defined in Power BI Desktop. By creating roles and using DAX filters, you can ensure that only authorized users see specific rows of PII data when the report is published to the Power BI service and users are mapped to roles.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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