access data outside organization via VPN tunnel

[lchaplen]

I'm not sure where to start. 

We get extracts from a 3rd party site via a VPN tunnel. 
I would like to access the third party databases directly and report off them.  I don't know how to accomplish this but the third party has said this is doable.

To access the data I need use the existing VPN tunnell .

Do I need to download a VPN client to connect to the site and then to the database?  

Do I need to download a gateway on my pc?  or configure a new gateway connection on the Power BI online?

Any detailed steps would be appreciated.

[Shahfaisal]

I advise that you bring your IT infrastructure team into this discussion. But here are my thoughts:

1. The VPN tunnel can be installed on one of the machines on your network (your IT admin can help you with this)

2. You will need to setup a gateway on a machine from which you can access the databases. I don't suggest that you install the gateway on your PC especailly if you plan to distribute the reports to other users.

[lchaplen]

Thanks I setup the VPN on my desktop but my IT team said I should use AnyConnect... not sure if that substitues for the powerbi gateway but my hunch it does.
Could I setup the gateway in PowerBi online and use the gateway in the PowerBi desktop version?

[Shahfaisal]

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@lchaplen wrote:

Thanks I setup the VPN on my desktop but my IT team said I should use AnyConnect... not sure if that substitues for the powerbi gateway but my hunch it does.
Could I setup the gateway in PowerBi online and use the gateway in the PowerBi desktop version?

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You will need to install the gateway on your computer since the data is accessible from your computer. I strongly recommend that you install the gateway on a dedicated machine from where the data is accessible. 

Installing it on your computer means the gateway will go down when you shut down your computer.

[lchaplen]

thanks could I set it up on the online Power Bi and use it from there?

[Shahfaisal]

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@lchaplen wrote:

thanks could I set it up on the online Power Bi and use it from there?

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No. The purpose of a gateway is to get you connected to an on-prem data source that is sitting behind a firewall.

[lchaplen]

will the gateway need to be on the off site thirdparty machine or on my side?  Just confirming sounds like it needs to be setup behind the 3rd party firewall