Where is data stored on importing to power bi ?

[shreya_garg]

When using the power bi desktop or service to model data, if the data is imported from source to power bi, where is it stored ?

On-prem or on Microsoft Azure SQL database or somewhere else ?

For both desktop and service ?

[v-huizhn-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @shreya_garg,

1.When using the power bi desktop or service to model data, if the data is imported from source to power bi, where is it stored?

In Power Bi desktop, if you import data into desktop, data is stored locally within powerbi in pbix (powerbi file) file. For Power BI service, the data from the file is stored on Azure. The Power BI service is built on Azure, which is Microsoft’s cloud computing infrastructure and platform. More details, please review this blog.

2. On-prem or on Microsoft Azure SQL database or somewhere else ?

Both on-prem and on Microsoft Azure SQL database, it depands the type of you connect data. If you upload using import model in desktop, it still store the data in the .pbix file. 

In Power BI service, if you are referencing SQL Azure DB, then you don't need a gateway. If it is on-premises, then you do. In both these cases, if you change the connection type to "import" model- then the data will be stored in the Power BI Azure backend. If you get data using a live connection, no data is stored in the cloud, just some caching. 

Best Regards,
Angelia

[shreya_garg]

So do we need a seperate lisence for SQL DB when taking power Bi to be able to store the data when importing it to power bi service ?

[v-huizhn-msft]

Hi @shreya_garg,

When you import data from SQL DB, you publish it to Power BI service, you will stored in the Azure automatically, you don't need to seperate the lisence for database. But the capacity for Power BI free and pro account is different. More details, please review the following blog.

Power BI Free vs Pro

Best Regards,
Angelia