My PL-900 Experience: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals

• Difficulty: It’s more straightforward than many IT cert exams. If you know how each component (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents) fits into the Microsoft ecosystem, you should be fine.

• Format: Multiple-choice questions with a 70% passing score. You have 60 minutes to complete it.

• Delivery Method: I took it online, which comes with its own quirks. The proctor will insist on a completely clean desk and a quiet environment—no joke. If you have a noisy place or complicated setup, consider a Pearson VUE testing center.

• Lessons Learned:

  • Follow the exam environment instructions to the letter.

  • Double-check your microphone, camera, and internet connection if doing it virtually.

  • If you’re more comfortable in a controlled testing environment, a test center might be worth the extra time to avoid surprises.

Introduction

Why I Took the PL-900

My organization tasked me with leading the Power BI and Power Automate development for our InfoSec team. Our goal was to transform raw data into meaningful dashboards that executives could interpret quickly and accurately, then make risk-informed decisions. Sure, I could have “just learned on the job,” but the PL-900 certification offered a structured way to deepen my foundational knowledge of the Power Platform ecosystem.

Even though my primary career focus is cybersecurity, I found that having a broad understanding of Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and the rest of Microsoft’s toolbox made me much more effective at my job. By getting the fundamentals down, I was able to:

• Automate workflows and reminders (for example, SLA email reminders from SharePoint lists).

• Streamline the generation and updating of Power BI dashboards.

• Pull data from security to add escalation notifications for new hires’ training completion, and visualize security posture with simple, interactive dashboards.

How I Prepared

1. Udemy Practice Tests

I relied heavily on “PL-900 Practice Tests: Power Platform Fundamentals 2024” by Fahd Sheraz. These tests were a great way to get comfortable with the exam’s style and terminology. Practice exams help pinpoint knowledge gaps quickly—you’ll see where you need to brush up, whether it’s on Power Automate connectors, Power Apps design elements, or the interplay between Power BI and the Common Data Service (now known as Microsoft Dataverse).

• Study Time: I logged about 20 hours of study, which included taking multiple practice tests, reviewing explanations, and revisiting official Microsoft documentation.

2. John Savill’s YouTube Cram

If you haven’t come across John Savill’s YouTube channel, you’re missing out. His whiteboard visuals and straight-to-the-point approach are perfect for cramming the essentials of the PL-900. I especially love how he breaks down complex topics into digestible segments, making it feel more like a practical workshop than a lecture. You’ll not only learn enough to pass the test, but also retain real-world tips for building effective solutions.

3. Hands-On Experience

Power Automate and Power BI were areas I was already using at work. Having hands-on experience is a game-changer:

• Workflow Automation: Automating SLA reminders via email notifications when items in a SharePoint list near their expiration date.

• Data Visualization: Creating dynamic dashboards to track:

  • Out-of-policy hosts with data from security scanning tools

  • New hire training completion rates (and sending escalations if needed)

  • Policy review statuses for end-of-year compliance

  • Risk management with a color-coded heat map and progress against remediation milestones

  • Security culture metrics (e.g., phishing simulation engagement)

Even though the exam itself is high-level, I’d still recommend diving into real scenarios if possible—it cements the concepts and gives you confidence to answer “Why would I use X feature over Y?” in any real-life setting.

The Exam Experience

Life After PL-900

My Advice and Tips

Final Thoughts

In December 2024, I decided to take on the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900) exam. On the surface, this might look like a small detour from my main passion, cybersecurity, but in reality, the Power Platform became integral to my work within InfoSec. Below, I’ll share why I took this exam, how I studied, the resources I used, and some key lessons learned that might help you on your certification path.

After passing the exam, I found it valuable in conversations with colleagues and leadership. Having that “stamp of approval” from Microsoft can open doors—even if you’ve been building solutions for a while, the credential can serve as an external validation of your skill set.

• Wider Context: Understanding the basics of how the entire Power Platform ties together gave me a deeper appreciation for how many different ways I can solve InfoSec challenges.

• Professional Growth: From a career standpoint, it’s nice to showcase that you can move fluidly between cybersecurity and business intelligence/automation projects.

1. Get Hands-On

   • Download Power BI Desktop (it’s free for personal use) and try building a quick dashboard with any data you have. It could be personal finance data, a sports stats dataset, or a small departmental dataset from work.

2. Stay Organized

   • When you’re booking your online exam, be sure your environment is clean and quiet. No loose papers, no random objects on your desk.

3. Practice with Someone

   • If possible, work on small projects with a coworker or friend. Having a second set of eyes can help you overcome snags, whether you’re stuck on a Flow error in Power Automate or can’t figure out a DAX measure in Power BI.

4. Leverage Online Communities

   • There are active Power Platform communities on Reddit and Microsoft’s own community forums. Even lurking there can provide insights into real user questions and solutions.

5. Stay Curious

   • There’s more to the Power Platform than what’s asked on the exam (Power Virtual Agents, AI Builder, Power Pages). Exploring these tools will make you a more well-rounded professional in the Microsoft ecosystem.

As for next steps, I’m considering other Microsoft certifications that dive deeper into Power BI or Azure. There’s a lot of synergy between cybersecurity, the cloud, and data analytics—and the PL-900 was a great springboard into that world. If you’re in InfoSec or any tech role requiring automation and data-driven decisions, the PL-900 is worth your time.

The Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam (PL-900) proved to be a low-stress, high-impact certification. Even if you’re not planning to become a full-time Power Apps developer or BI guru, the foundational knowledge can transform how you approach data, automation, and business solutions in your day-to-day work. If you’re looking to expand beyond cybersecurity or simply want a new angle to solve problems more efficiently, consider adding the PL-900 to your to-do list.

Let me know if you have any questions or want to share your own Power Platform journey by connecting with me on LinkedIn. Happy automating, and good luck with your exams!