Auto-Uploading Data

[Phil1]

Hi all.

Very quick question about the desktop version. Our IT department are saying that there is a delay in rolling out Power BI desktop to us because it automatically uploads data to a Microsoft Azure server. I didn't know this was the case with the desktop version, I assumed it wouldn't be. Would someone be able to confirm or deny this for me please, ideally with a source.

Thanks for your help.

[v-ljerr-msft]

Hi @Phil1,

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Very quick question about the desktop version. Our IT department are saying that there is a delay in rolling out Power BI desktop to us because it automatically uploads data to a Microsoft Azure server. I didn't know this was the case with the desktop version, I assumed it wouldn't be.

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You're right. Power BI Desktop won't automatically publish your data(reports, dataset) to the server. 

In order to publish a Power BI Desktop dataset and reports to the server, we must sign in Power BI Desktop with our Power BI account first, then go to Power BI Desktop > File > Publish > Publish to Power BI or click Publish on the ribbon.

Reference: Publish from Power BI Desktop

Regards

[Seth_C_Bauer]

@Phil1 When you import data, then publish the file to the Service, you are pushing your data into Azure. You can also use Direct Query against a supported data source or Live Connection against Analysis Services and in both those cases, the data is NOT pushed up into the the cloud. Check out the security white paper that is a download from here for all the details.