Forum Discussion
Connecting Power BI to database management system (i.e SQL Server, Snowflake, MS Access)
Hi Anonymous
Yes, you're right that connecting your database directly to Power BI desktop is much more efficient than downloading excel files and loading them into Power BI.
Taking your questions in order:
1) The original data in the database is untouched. In Power Query what you are doing is building a filter, that transforms the data, changing it, filtering it etc, as it is imported into the Data Model, you then have a transformed copy of the data in the Data Model that Power BI reports on.
2)Yes in Power Query you get a navigator that shows you the Tables (and Views etc. ) in the Database, and you can select which ones to import.
3)Snowflake data looks like any other database, the same as Access, SQL databases etc. So once you've imported your Snowflake data into a Power BI data model, you use Power BI to create Reports and Dashboards based on that.
see : Maximizing Power BI with Snowflake - Snowflake BlogMaximizing Power BI with Snowflake - Snowflake Blog
Hope this helps
Stuart
Hi Anonymous
1) Yes, the data is stored in your tenant on the Microsoft Cloud. It is possible to run an on-premise version of Power BI, but the licencing and infrastructure costs mean this is not a common scenario.
2) the data is stored in the Microsoft cloud that is ISO 27001, ISO 27018, EU Model Clauses, HIPAA BAA, and UK G-Cloud. compliant. Some very large companies and governments trust the Microsoft cloud, you can read much more detail here :Security | Microsoft Power BI
Importantly, you can control where your data is hosted, who has access to it and what level of access.
No-one will be able to access any of your data, dashboards or reports without your permission.
Security is a big subject, read the documents and reach out to your Microsoft Dealer or Microsoft contact and I'm sure that'll help
Stuart
Hi Anonymous
Yes, you're right that connecting your database directly to Power BI desktop is much more efficient than downloading excel files and loading them into Power BI.
Taking your questions in order:
1) The original data in the database is untouched. In Power Query what you are doing is building a filter, that transforms the data, changing it, filtering it etc, as it is imported into the Data Model, you then have a transformed copy of the data in the Data Model that Power BI reports on.
2)Yes in Power Query you get a navigator that shows you the Tables (and Views etc. ) in the Database, and you can select which ones to import.
3)Snowflake data looks like any other database, the same as Access, SQL databases etc. So once you've imported your Snowflake data into a Power BI data model, you use Power BI to create Reports and Dashboards based on that.
see : Maximizing Power BI with Snowflake - Snowflake BlogMaximizing Power BI with Snowflake - Snowflake Blog
Hope this helps
Stuart
Hi Stuart,
Thank you very much for taking your precious time to answer my question!
May I ask some follow up questions please?
1. I learnt that Power BI has its own cloud and if I understand correctly, the transformed copy of the data in the data model is saved in Power BI's cloud? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to know where the data is stored by Power BI.
2. Regarding data privacy. Since the data is sensitive and confidential, is it safe to be stored in the place where Power BI store it? Will anyone outside my company be able to access the data, reports, dashboards without my permission? (I DON'T want anyone outside of my company access those info).
Thank you!
Hi Anonymous
1) Yes, the data is stored in your tenant on the Microsoft Cloud. It is possible to run an on-premise version of Power BI, but the licencing and infrastructure costs mean this is not a common scenario.
2) the data is stored in the Microsoft cloud that is ISO 27001, ISO 27018, EU Model Clauses, HIPAA BAA, and UK G-Cloud. compliant. Some very large companies and governments trust the Microsoft cloud, you can read much more detail here :Security | Microsoft Power BI
Importantly, you can control where your data is hosted, who has access to it and what level of access.
No-one will be able to access any of your data, dashboards or reports without your permission.
Security is a big subject, read the documents and reach out to your Microsoft Dealer or Microsoft contact and I'm sure that'll help
Stuart
Thank you Stuart for your quick reply and kind help! Really appreciate it!