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PL-300 Deploy and maintain assets Practice Question

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "datasetSettings": {
    "refreshSchedule": {
      "frequency": "Daily",
      "times": ["06:00", "18:00"],
      "enabled": true,
      "localTimeZone": "UTC"
    },
    "directQuery": {
      "enableDirectQuery": false
    }
  },
  "dataSources": [
    {
      "name": "SalesDB",
      "connectionString": "Server=sqlsrv01;Database=Sales;Integrated Security=SSPI;",
      "credentialType": "Windows",
      "gatewayId": "gateway-cluster-01"
    }
  ]
}

You are reviewing the deployment configuration for a Power BI dataset. The exhibit shows a JSON snippet of the dataset settings. You need to ensure that data is refreshed twice a day at 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM UTC. However, the refresh fails at both scheduled times. What is the most likely cause?

⚠ Common exam trap

It's easy for candidates to assume time zone mismatches or DirectQuery settings cause refresh failures, but the real issue is that Integrated Security (SSPI) requires interactive user context and is not supported for unattended scheduled refresh without proper delegation configuration.

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

✓

The data source uses Integrated Security (SSPI) which is not supported for scheduled refresh.

Scheduled refresh in Power BI requires a gateway to connect to on-premises data sources, and when the data source uses Integrated Security (SSPI), the gateway cannot delegate credentials for scheduled refresh. SSPI relies on the user's interactive Windows authentication context, which is not available during unattended scheduled refresh operations. This causes the refresh to fail at both scheduled times.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✓

    The data source uses Integrated Security (SSPI) which is not supported for scheduled refresh.

    Why this is correct

    Integrated Security (SSPI) depends on the interactive user's Windows token to authenticate to the data source. In the Power BI service, scheduled refresh runs under a non-interactive service account, so there is no Windows identity to pass through. The service requires explicit stored credentials (e.g., SQL Server authentication or OAuth) for scheduled refresh, not SSPI. Because the data source is configured for SSPI, the refresh fails at the credential validation step.

  • ✗

    The refresh schedule uses UTC but the data source is in a different time zone.

    Why it's wrong here

    The scheduled refresh time is expressed in UTC, and Power BI will accurately trigger the refresh at that moment regardless of the data source's local time zone. A time-zone mismatch only shifts the effective execution time relative to the source's clock; it does not affect connectivity or authentication. The error in this scenario is a credential failure, which is unrelated to time-zone conversion. Therefore, this option cannot explain the failed refresh.

  • ✗

    The dataset has DirectQuery enabled, which prevents Import mode refresh.

    Why it's wrong here

    This dataset is explicitly configured with Import mode and DirectQuery is disabled, as stated in the scenario. Even if DirectQuery were enabled, it would not 'prevent' Import mode for the whole dataset—Power BI supports a mixed storage mode where some tables use DirectQuery and others use Import. The process of scheduled refresh is only relevant to Import-mode tables, so DirectQuery's presence or absence is not the root cause. The actual problem is the unsupported SSPI credential type, not the storage mode.

  • ✗

    The gateway ID is incorrect.

    Why it's wrong here

    An invalid gateway ID would generate a distinct error such as 'Gateway not found' or 'The gateway is not configured' during the refresh attempt. In this case, the gateway ID is correctly provided, and the error message points to an authentication failure within the data source. The gateway's role is to broker the connection, but it cannot resolve an SSPI credential because that requires an interactive user. Hence, an incorrect gateway ID would not produce the specific SSPI-related error described.

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JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

This PL-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-300 exam.