The answer is that the user is not in the allowedUsers list for the XMLA endpoint. This is correct because Power BI Premium datasets require explicit membership in the XMLA endpoint’s allowedUsers or allowedGroups list for client tools like SSMS to connect, separate from the workspace role permissions that grant report viewing access. The user can view reports in the Power BI service because they have a workspace role (such as Viewer), but SSMS connectivity via the XMLA endpoint is gated by this distinct security list. On the PL-300 exam, this tests your understanding of the dual permission model for Premium datasets—workspace roles control service access, while the XMLA endpoint list controls external tool connections. A common trap is assuming that report viewing implies SSMS access, but the XMLA endpoint requires explicit inclusion. Memory tip: think of the XMLA endpoint as a separate “gate” that needs its own key—being inside the workspace building does not automatically open that gate.
PL-300 Deploy and maintain assets Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and maintain assets. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Power BI XMLA endpoint configuration:
{
"allowedUsers": [
"user1@contoso.com",
"user2@contoso.com"
],
"allowAzureAnalysisServicesConnections": true,
"blockExternalConnections": false
}
You are troubleshooting connectivity to a Power BI Premium dataset via the XMLA endpoint. A user reports that they cannot connect using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) but can view reports in the Power BI service. The user's email is user3@contoso.com. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
Power BI XMLA endpoint configuration:
{
"allowedUsers": [
"user1@contoso.com",
"user2@contoso.com"
],
"allowAzureAnalysisServicesConnections": true,
"blockExternalConnections": false
}
A
External connections are blocked by the configuration.
Why wrong: blockExternalConnections is false.
B
The user does not have permission to view reports.
Why wrong: They can view reports.
C
The user is not in the allowedUsers list for the XMLA endpoint.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user is not in the allowedUsers list for the XMLA endpoint.
Option C is correct because the XMLA endpoint for Power BI Premium datasets requires explicit user membership in the allowedUsers list (or allowedGroups) to enable client tools like SSMS to connect. The user can view reports in the Power BI service, which uses a different permission model (workspace roles), but SSMS connectivity via XMLA is gated by this separate list. Since the user is not in the allowedUsers list, the connection fails even though they have report viewing access.
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.
✗
External connections are blocked by the configuration.
Why it's wrong here
blockExternalConnections is false.
✗
The user does not have permission to view reports.
Why it's wrong here
They can view reports.
✓
The user is not in the allowedUsers list for the XMLA endpoint.
Why this is correct
Only user1 and user2 are allowed.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The XMLA endpoint is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
The configuration shows it is enabled.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse workspace permissions (which control report viewing) with the separate XMLA endpoint access list (which controls client tool connectivity), leading them to incorrectly choose Option B or Option D.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The configuration shows it is enabled.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The XMLA endpoint uses TCP port 443 (HTTPS) and requires the user to be added to the allowedUsers list under the workspace's 'XMLA Endpoint' settings in the Power BI Admin portal or workspace settings. This list is separate from workspace roles (Admin, Member, Contributor, Viewer) and is specifically for client tool connectivity (SSMS, Excel, etc.). A common real-world scenario is when a workspace is shared with viewers who can consume reports but cannot use SSMS for ad-hoc analysis until they are explicitly added to the allowedUsers list.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Deploy and maintain assets — This question tests Deploy and maintain assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user is not in the allowedUsers list for the XMLA endpoint. — Option C is correct because the XMLA endpoint for Power BI Premium datasets requires explicit user membership in the allowedUsers list (or allowedGroups) to enable client tools like SSMS to connect. The user can view reports in the Power BI service, which uses a different permission model (workspace roles), but SSMS connectivity via XMLA is gated by this separate list. Since the user is not in the allowedUsers list, the connection fails even though they have report viewing access.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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