Fastest Solution for Data Refresh

Hi Anonymous 

My approach in this situation would be to ask "Why do some users need real-time or near real-time data updates?"  What will be their action on this data, will they act immediately they see it, or does it really matter if the data is up to 30 minutes old ? In my experience only commodity trading, currency dealing or machine operating need real-time data, and they are often served by solutions other than Power BI! Do your users want this just because they can get it ? 

You are restricted from connecting directly to the SQL database, and that is good practice, as any Direct real-time connection will slow the Database down appreciably. Direct access on Power BI generates at least one SQL Select per visualisation and is constantly updating them as users click and page through a report, so that can really slow down the SQL server, especially if the Report is shared with several people. If the SQL server is doing other important line-of-business stuff it will not be good to slow it down just to get some reporting out of it.

Every solution you propose, apart from import mode, will give a bigger hit on your SQL database than it currently has. You need to find out if those users really really need real-time updates then, if they must, have them support you in an approach to your IT department to get Direct Access and a faster SQL server.

Hope this helps

Stuart