What Power BI does
Power BI comprises several components: Power BI Desktop for report creation, Power BI Service for online sharing and collaboration, mobile apps for on-the-go access, and Report Server for on-premise reporting. It facilitates the creation of semantic models, which define relationships between data, and utilises a workspace and capacity model to manage resources and user access. Understanding the differences between Power BI Pro, Premium Per User, and Microsoft Fabric is crucial for selecting the appropriate licensing based on scale and feature requirements.
Power BI in Australian tenants today
Australian organisations frequently encounter workspace sprawl and governance challenges with Power BI. Integrating Microsoft Purview allows for the application of data sensitivity labels, ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act 2024 and potentially APRA CPS 234. Row-level security is essential for restricting data access based on user roles. The shift from Premium Per User to Microsoft Fabric is increasingly common, driven by enhanced scalability, advanced analytics capabilities, and alignment with Microsoft’s strategic direction, though careful planning is needed to manage migration and associated costs.