Power BI Configuration

[paulharperd]

Hello, we are looking to properly utilise Power BI in our organisation. We currently have Pro licences as we all have E1 Microsoft licenses, but a number of us do now have premium licenses. What are generally the first steps to setting up and configuring the Power BI service, gateways, etc, so that we have a cloud area that can correctly share reports, workspaces and apps across the company? The datasources are the occassional on premise files, but generally our SQL server, of which we have a handful, some living in the cloud, some living in datacentres. 

Any pointers into first steps would be good.

[v-tianyich-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @paulharperd ,

I've roughly summarized the following points, which I hope will help you:

1. Set up Power BI Service: The first step is to set up the Power BI service. This is a cloud-based service that you can access from anywhere. You can sign up for the service using your work email. Here is a link to the official documentation that explains how to sign up: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guided-learning/gettingstarted?tutorial-step=2

2. Install Power BI Gateway: If you have data sources on-premises, you need to install and configure the Power BI Gateway. This will allow Power BI to access your on-premises data. Here is a link to the official documentation that explains how to install and configure the gateway: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/data-integration/gateway/service-gateway-install

3. Connect to Data Sources: You can connect Power BI to your SQL servers and other data sources. Here is a link to the official documentation that explains how to connect to data sources: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/service-gateway-data-sources

4. Create Workspaces: You can create workspaces in Power BI to organize your reports, dashboards, and other content. Here is a link to the official documentation that explains how to create workspaces: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/collaborate-share/service-create-workspaces

5. Share Reports and Dashboards: Once you have created your reports and dashboards, you can share them with others in your organization. Here is a link to the official documentation that explains how to share reports and dashboards: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/collaborate-share/service-share-dashboards

I hope this helps you get started with setting up Power BI in your organization. If you have any further questions or need more detailed assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards,
Community Support Team_ Scott Chang

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[mohitkumawat]

Hi @paulharperd ,

Establishing and configuring Power BI for your organization encompasses various crucial steps. As a preparatory measure, it is advisable to generate a backup of your Power BI content by exporting reports and datasets. To unlock additional features and benefits, consider acquiring a Premium P1 license.

Proceed by creating a new workspace within the Premium license tier and publish the Power BI content into this designated workspace. In terms of Gateway or Data Source Settings, there might be no need for extensive changes or reconfiguration.

Grant access to users with a Viewer role, ensuring a streamlined user experience. If you encounter any complexities during the process, especially if you possess a Pro license, don't hesitate to raise a support ticket with Microsoft. This can provide you with detailed assistance and guidance for configuring Power BI at the organizational level.
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