The correct answer is to enable versioning on the SharePoint list and modify the app to check the last modified timestamp before update. This solution directly addresses the Power Apps concurrent update conflict by implementing optimistic concurrency control, where the app compares the timestamp of the record when it was loaded against the current timestamp in SharePoint before writing changes. If another user has already saved a newer version, the app detects the mismatch and can alert the user to refresh, preventing silent data loss. On the PL-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Power Apps handles data source conflicts, especially with SharePoint, which lacks built-in locking mechanisms. A common trap is choosing to simply increase the refresh rate or use a timer, which does not resolve the root cause of overwrites. Remember the memory tip: “Stamp out conflicts”—the timestamp is your shield against lost updates.
PL-900 Practice Question: Identify foundational components of Power Platform
This PL-900 practice question tests your understanding of identify foundational components of power platform. 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.
An organization uses Power Apps to manage inventory. The app uses a SharePoint list as the data source. Users report that when two employees update the same item simultaneously, data is lost. What is the best solution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable versioning on the SharePoint list and modify the app to check the last modified timestamp before update
Option D is correct because it directly addresses the root cause of data loss: concurrent updates overwriting each other. By enabling versioning on the SharePoint list, the app can retrieve the last modified timestamp before performing an update. If the timestamp has changed since the record was loaded, the app can detect a conflict and prompt the user to refresh, preventing silent overwrites. This pattern is known as optimistic concurrency control and is the standard approach for SharePoint-based Power Apps.
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.
✗
Switch the data source to Microsoft Dataverse
Why it's wrong here
Dataverse has better concurrency, but migrating is not the simplest immediate fix.
✗
Restrict editing to one user at a time using permissions
Why it's wrong here
Too restrictive and not practical for concurrent use.
✗
Use Power Automate to create a flow that queues updates
Why it's wrong here
Queuing doesn't solve the conflict; it just delays it.
✓
Enable versioning on the SharePoint list and modify the app to check the last modified timestamp before update
Why this is correct
Versioning tracks changes, and checking timestamps prevents overwrites.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
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 assume a more complex solution (like switching to Dataverse or using Power Automate) is required, when the simplest and most effective fix is to leverage existing SharePoint features like versioning and timestamp checking within the app logic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SharePoint lists support column-level versioning and a built-in 'Modified' field that updates automatically on every change. In Power Apps, the Patch function can include a condition that checks the current 'Modified' value against the value when the record was loaded; if they differ, the update is rejected. This is a form of optimistic concurrency control, which is more efficient than pessimistic locking (e.g., exclusive locks) because it allows concurrent reads and only fails on write conflicts. In high-traffic inventory apps, this pattern prevents lost updates without requiring a data source migration.
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.
Identify foundational components of Power Platform — This question tests Identify foundational components of Power Platform — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable versioning on the SharePoint list and modify the app to check the last modified timestamp before update — Option D is correct because it directly addresses the root cause of data loss: concurrent updates overwriting each other. By enabling versioning on the SharePoint list, the app can retrieve the last modified timestamp before performing an update. If the timestamp has changed since the record was loaded, the app can detect a conflict and prompt the user to refresh, preventing silent overwrites. This pattern is known as optimistic concurrency control and is the standard approach for SharePoint-based Power Apps.
What should I do if I get this PL-900 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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