Connecting via the application's REST API is a standard, vendor-supported method for integrating with complex systems like CRMs. This approach ensures data integrity by interacting with the application layer, respecting the system's business logic and security model. It is the required method for most SaaS CRMs (e.g., Salesforce) where the underlying database is inaccessible. Qlik Replicate provides both a generic REST API source and specific application connectors that utilize APIs, making this a robust and widely applicable solution for modern enterprise applications. This method provides a stable integration point that is less likely to be affected by underlying database schema changes.

A. This option is ambiguous as "connecting to the application" lacks the specific technical protocol required to define a Qlik Replicate source endpoint.

B. Using CSV exports is a batch process, not real-time replication, and negates the core Change Data Capture (CDC) functionality of Qlik Replicate.

D. Connecting directly to the RDBMS can bypass critical application business logic, potentially leading to data inconsistency, and may violate vendor support agreements.

1. Qlik Replicate Help, "Salesforce source endpoint": This official documentation describes the configuration for replicating data from Salesforce, a major CRM application. The prerequisites and settings exclusively reference the Salesforce API and user permissions required to access it, confirming that the API is the sanctioned method for this type of source. (Accessed via Qlik Help Portal for Qlik Replicate, specific version documentation).

2. Qlik Replicate Help, "REST API source endpoint": This document details the generic REST API source endpoint in Qlik Replicate. It states, "The REST API endpoint allows you to replicate data from web applications that expose their data through REST APIs." This confirms that using a REST API is a built-in, supported capability for accessing application data. (Accessed via Qlik Help Portal for Qlik Replicate, specific version documentation).

3. Qlik Replicate User Guide, Section: "Application Sources": The product documentation explicitly categorizes certain sources like Salesforce and SAP as "Application Sources," which are distinct from "Database Sources." This architectural distinction highlights that the intended connection method is through the application layer (often an API), not directly to the database, preserving application integrity. (Found in the table of contents for sources in any recent Qlik Replicate User Guide).