PL-900 Practice Question: Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate
A financial analyst needs to run a Power Automate flow that retrieves data from an on-premises SQL Server and writes it to a SharePoint list. The flow must use a data gateway. Which gateway type should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse network gateways with data gateways, or assuming that any gateway can provide the necessary connectivity for Power Automate.
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
✓
On-premises data gateway
To connect Power Automate to an on-premises SQL Server, the on-premises data gateway is required. It securely bridges cloud services and on-premises data, supporting connectors like SQL Server. Other gateway types serve different purposes: Azure Virtual Network gateway is for network connectivity, Microsoft 365 gateway does not exist, and Power BI personal gateway is for individual Power BI use, not for Power Automate flows.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
On-premises data gateway
Why this is correct
The on-premises data gateway is designed to enable secure access to on-premises data sources, such as SQL Server, from cloud services like Power Automate. It acts as a bridge, allowing the flow to query the SQL Server and retrieve data without exposing the server to the internet. This is the correct gateway type for this scenario.
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Power BI personal gateway
Why it's wrong here
The Power BI personal gateway is intended for individual use with Power BI, allowing refresh of datasets from on-premises sources. It is not designed for shared use with Power Automate flows and may have limitations in terms of performance and concurrency. For a production flow, the on-premises data gateway is the correct choice.
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Azure Virtual Network gateway
Why it's wrong here
An Azure Virtual Network gateway is used to connect Azure virtual networks to on-premises networks or other Azure networks. It is not a Power Platform component and does not provide the connector capabilities needed for Power Automate to access on-premises SQL Server. Therefore, it is not the appropriate gateway for this requirement.
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Microsoft 365 gateway
Why it's wrong here
There is no gateway called 'Microsoft 365 gateway' for on-premises data access. Microsoft 365 services use different mechanisms for connectivity. Power Automate requires a specific data gateway to connect to on-premises resources, and this option is not a valid gateway type in the Power Platform.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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