Power BI with Azure SQL db/ Azure server VM vs on premises

[GiangLe]

Hi everyone,

My company is considering to switch from on premises to Azure SQL database/ Azure server VM. We are investigating if embedding power bi with either azure database/ azure server VM would improve power BI performance comapred to running from our own server. Have anyone experienced this transation? please share your experience. Couldnt find it anywhere

I'm also testing it myself. hopefully will get the result soon

[v-yuezhe-msft · Accepted solution]

@GiangLe,

In my opinion, there is no difference between on-premises SQL Server and SQL Server in Azure VM. When you refresh on-premises SQL Server data and SQL Server data in Azure VM in Power BI Service, gateway is required. However, when you refresh Azure SQL database data in Power BI Service, it doesn’t require gateway, the performance may improve in terms of this point.

In addition, when you use different modes(DirectQuery and Import) to connect to SQL data source, the refresh frequency can be different. With DirectQuery option, the data in Power BI Service is up to date when you interacts with the report, if there is no interaction, the data will be refreshed every 15 minutes, and this refresh period can  be adjusted. But with import mode, Power BI Service has 1 GB limit for the PBIX file, and you are only able to refresh  the dataset 8 times a day.

Regards,
Lydia