Forum Discussion

Anonymous's avatar
Anonymous
Not applicable
6 years ago

Power BI Server?

Hi, if you had a CRM like Salesforce, would connect it directly to Power BI and permission out sensitive informtion through Salesforce or would you purchase Power BI server and connect it through tha...
power bi
Neeljy's avatar
Neeljy
Regular Visitor
2 years ago

When integrating a CRM like Salesforce with Power BI, the choice between connecting directly to Power BI or using Power BI Server depends on various factors such as data sensitivity, compliance requirements, organizational policies, and budget considerations.

  1. Direct Connection to Power BI: This approach involves connecting Salesforce directly to Power BI Service, the cloud-based platform for Power BI. With this setup, you can securely access and visualize your Salesforce data in Power BI Service. You can control access and permissions within Power BI Service itself, ensuring sensitive information is appropriately restricted to authorized users. This approach is generally simpler and more cost-effective, especially for organizations that are already using or considering adopting cloud-based solutions.

  2. Power BI Server: Power BI Server (formerly known as Power BI Report Server) is an on-premises solution that allows organizations to host and manage Power BI reports and dashboards within their own infrastructure. If an organization has strict data governance requirements that mandate on-premises hosting or if there are regulatory constraints that necessitate keeping data within specific geographic boundaries, Power BI Server might be preferred. In this scenario, you would connect Salesforce data to Power BI reports hosted on the Power BI Server. Permissions and access control would be managed within the Power BI Server environment.

When it comes to sharing dashboards with others:

  • If you're using Power BI Service, you can share dashboards and reports securely with other users or groups within your organization. You have fine-grained control over who can view or interact with the shared content.
  • With Power BI Server, you can also share dashboards internally within your organization, but it's limited to users who have access to the Power BI Server instance hosted within your organization's network.

As for the cost of Power BI Server, it's typically licensed through the Power BI Premium or Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) offerings. The pricing varies based on factors such as the number of users, the capacity required, and any additional features or support services included in the subscription. You would need to consult with Microsoft or a licensed reseller for specific pricing details tailored to your organization's needs.