One of the key aspects of the PL-900 Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam is understanding various types of environments and their functions. In this article, we will discuss different types of environments, their purposes, how they are set up and examples of when they might be used.
There are essentially three different types of environments that you will need to be familiar with; Default, Production, and Sandbox. Let’s delve into each.
1. Default Environment
The default environment serves as a container for all apps and flows that are not associated with another environment. It includes certain features that are unavailable in other environment types, such as the Common Data Service’s default environment database.
The default environment is automatically created by Power Apps and all users in a tenant have access to it. It is impossible to delete this environment or change its type. However, adding a database to the default environment is permissible.
2. Production Environment
A production environment is where apps and flows are run and used in real-life situations. It is an environment that contains live data and is used by end users for their daily activities.
Each tenant can contain multiple production environments. However, it’s crucial to carefully manage user access and permissions as sensitive data will likely reside in these environments.
3. Sandbox Environment
Sandbox environments are utilized for development and testing purposes. They serve as isolated environments to test apps, flows, and other customizations with minimal risk to live data or disrupting operations in the production environment.
In a Sandbox environment, you can perform operations like reset, delete, and copy without affecting your real data.
| Environment Type | Purpose | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Default | Container for apps and flows not associated with another designated environment | Cannot be deleted, database capable |
| Production | Live environment where apps and flows are run and data is processed | Contains live data, strict user access and permissions |
| Sandbox | Testing and development environment | Safely test without affecting live data, can reset, delete, and copy |
The key to successfully utilizing these environments is understanding their various capabilities and limitations. Selecting the right type of environment for a specific task helps save time, protect data, and promotes more efficient practices.
Practice Scenario Example:
Let’s look at an example scenario: A company wants to integrate a new Power Apps application to manage their business operations. They decide to design and develop the app in the Sandbox environment, away from their live data. Once testing, prototyping, and user acceptance are done in the Sandbox, they move the app to the Production environment, where end-users can start using the app with real data. The Default environment, on the other hand, might be used to store organizational level data that’s not critical for the app but might be useful in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding environments is a critical aspect of the PL-900 Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam. Successfully differentiating between and choosing the right environment can positively impact productivity, data safety, and efficient resource usage.
Practice Test
Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of tools used to develop applications without the need for extensive programming knowledge. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Power Platform is a low-code platform that includes four Microsoft products: Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents.
Microsoft Power BI is part of the Power Platform suite and serves primarily as an automation tool. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Microsoft Power BI is a business analytics tool that delivers insights for analyzing data. Power Automate is the tool used primarily for automation within the Power Platform.
A Production environment in Power Platform is designed solely for testing and development True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Production environment is where applications that are completed and tested are released for users. The development and testing take place in the Sandbox environment.
In Power Platform, a trial environment can only be converted to a production environment. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: In Power Platform, a trial environment can be converted to either a production environment or a sandbox environment based on the requirement.
Which of the following are components of the Microsoft Power Platform?
- Power BI
- Power Automate
- Power Gremlin
- Power Apps
Answer: A, B, and D
Explanation: The Microsoft Power Platform comprises Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate. There is no component known as Power Gremlin.
Sandbox environments offer full administrative rights and capabilities in Power Platform. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Sandbox environments in Power Platform provide full administrative rights allowing apps, flows, and reports to be built, changed, and tested without impacting production.
The Power Platform’s Dataflow feature allows you to model, secure, and analyse data for end-user applications. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Dataflow in Power Platform is a data preparation tool that allows for data to be curated from various sources, modelled, secured, and prepared for end-user applications.
Sandbox environments in Power Platform are primarily designed for production and end user usage. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Sandbox environments are primarily used for testing and development purposes and not for production or live usage.
In Power Platform, individual user settings and personalization are stored in which environment?
- User Environment
- Default Environment
- Sandbox Environment
Answer: B. Default Environment
Explanation: Default environment is the environment created by Power Platform for each tenant where user personalization and user settings are stored.
Power Virtual Agents is a tool in the Power Platform suite used to build intelligent virtual agents. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power Virtual Agents is indeed a tool in the Power Platform suite that can be used to build intelligent, conversational virtual agents, or bots.
Interview Questions
What is Microsoft Power Platform?
Microsoft Power Platform is a comprehensive solution that combines various services – Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents – to provide a robust platform to analyze data, build solutions, automate processes, and create virtual agents.
What are the four core components of the Microsoft Power Platform?
The four core components of the Microsoft Power Platform are Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents.
What is the main goal of Power BI in the Microsoft Power Platform environment?
The main goal of Power BI in the Microsoft Power Platform environment is to convert raw data into meaningful insights using interactive visualizations.
How can you describe Power Apps in the Microsoft Power Platform context?
In the context of the Microsoft Power Platform, Power Apps allow users to build custom applications quickly, without the need for writing code, thus enabling business experts to develop solutions that suit their needs.
What is the primary function of Power Automate in the Microsoft Power Platform?
Power Automate in the Microsoft Power Platform is primarily used for creating automated workflows between applications and services to synchronize files, get notifications, collect data and more.
Can you describe what Power Virtual Agents are and their role in the Microsoft Power Platform?
Power Virtual Agents allow users to create powerful chatbots using a guided, no-code graphical interface. These chatbots can engage in conversations with people to help answer questions, provide information, and perform common tasks.
What is the common data service, and why is it important in the Power Platform?
The common data service allows users to securely store and manage data that’s used by business applications. It provides a unified and simplified data schema so that applications and services can interoperate effectively.
Can you define the term ‘environment’ as it pertains to the Microsoft Power Platform?
An ‘environment’ in the Microsoft Power Platform context is a space to store, manage, and share business data, apps, and flows. It provides a secure and isolated space to ensure that business data is not mixed with other data.
How does Power Platform handle security and privacy?
Microsoft Power Platform offers several robust security features, including role-based security, user authentication, and data loss prevention policies. It also adheres to global standards such as GDPR for data privacy and protection.
Does the Microsoft Power Platform support mobile devices?
Yes, Microsoft Power Platform supports mobile devices. Power Apps has a mobile app version that allows users to run the apps built on the platform on their mobile devices.
What is the benefit of the Power Platform’s integration with Microsoft 365?
The integration with Microsoft 365 allows seamless use of Power Platform apps within Microsoft Teams, enhancing collaboration. It also means users can use familiar tools such as Office 365 and Excel to extend and customize data.
How does Power Platform support third-party connections?
Power Platform supports third-party connections through hundreds of prebuilt connectors, allowing users to create apps and flows that interact with data in other services.
What is AI Builder in the context of Microsoft Power Platform?
AI Builder is a turnkey solution that brings the power of Artificial Intelligence through a point-and-click experience. It’s used to add intelligence to Power Apps and Power Automate.
Can non-technical users use the Microsoft Power Platform?
Yes, the Microsoft Power Platform is designed to empower both technical and non-technical users to analyze data, build solutions, automate processes, and create virtual agents.
How does Power Platform ensure data consistency?
Power Platform ensures data consistency by data integration and unifying data through common data service, which eliminates data silos and ensures that everyone in the organization is working with the same data.
extutorials.com