PL-900 Practice Question: Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate
Which TWO scenarios are suitable for using a scheduled cloud flow in Power Automate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Microsoft often tests the distinction between trigger types—candidates confuse event-driven triggers (e.g., 'When a file is created') with scheduled triggers, leading them to select options like A or C for scheduled flows.
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
✓
Backing up a database to a cloud storage every night at midnight
Scheduled cloud flows run on a recurring schedule, making them ideal for time-based automation like nightly backups or daily report generation. Option B triggers at a specific time (midnight) without requiring an external event, which matches the scheduled flow pattern exactly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Creating a file in SharePoint whenever a new file is uploaded to a OneDrive folder
Why it's wrong here
This is an event-driven scenario best handled by an automated flow.
- ✓
Backing up a database to a cloud storage every night at midnight
Why this is correct
Scheduled flows can be configured to run at a specific time each night.
- ✗
Sending an approval request to a manager when a new expense report is submitted
Why it's wrong here
Sending an approval request when a new expense report is submitted requires an **instant trigger** (e.g., "When a new item is created" in SharePoint or Dataverse) that fires immediately upon data creation, not a scheduled trigger that runs at a fixed time. A scheduled cloud flow would only check for new submissions at intervals, introducing unacceptable delays. This option is tempting because scheduled flows are commonly used for periodic batch approvals (e.g., daily review of all pending reports), but the stem demands real-time, event-driven initiation.
- ✗
Sending a welcome email to a new user immediately after they sign up
Why it's wrong here
This requires an instant trigger, such as when a new user is created in Azure AD.
- ✓
Generating a daily report of all new sales orders every morning at 8 AM
Why this is correct
Scheduled flows run on a recurring schedule, perfect for daily reports.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This PL-900 question is part of Courseiva's 904-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on PL-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. You need to create a flow that runs every hour to check a SharePoint list for items with a 'Due Date' that has passed and sends a reminder email to the assigned person. Which type of flow should you create?
easy- A.Desktop flow
- B.Automated cloud flow
- C.Business process flow
- ✓ D.Scheduled cloud flow
Why D: A scheduled cloud flow runs on a recurring schedule and can include actions to query SharePoint and send email. Automated flows trigger on events, not time. Desktop flows are for desktop automation. Business process flows guide users.
Variation 2. You need to create a flow that runs on the first day of every month and sends a summary email of all new SharePoint list items added in the previous month. The email should be sent to the sales team. Which type of flow should you create?
medium- A.Business process flow
- B.Desktop flow
- ✓ C.Scheduled cloud flow
- D.Automated cloud flow
Why C: A scheduled cloud flow can run on a recurring schedule (e.g., first day of month) and includes actions to query SharePoint and send email. Automated flows trigger on events, not schedules. Desktop flows are for desktop automation. Business process flows guide users through stages.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PL-900 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-900 exam.