Where Is Data Stored in Power BI?

Business intelligence works best when everyone is on the same page, which is why you need reporting solutions that facilitate clear communication. Microsoft created the Power BI system so that team members can all access the same reports with the same visuals. This way, your workflow is smoother, you eliminate a lot of frustration, and most importantly, you can use your data effectively for the health of your business.

 Because Power BI puts data at the front and center of your business communication, you may have asked yourself where exactly this data is stored. As a matter of fact, Power BI stores data in a few different locations. All the data stays secure through measures such as encryption and password protection.

What You Can Do With Power BI

Power BI is a collection of software services. These services bring together seemingly disconnected enterprise datasets so that you may notice patterns and make optimal business decisions.

Power BI can be used for all kinds of data. Commonly, businesses use Power BI to examine sales, customer connections, inventory, seasonal business factors, and much more. They create clear and dynamic reports that put every team member on the same page. Once you generate your visual reports, you can share those reports with your team members. From that, you and your team can use that data to monitor your KPIs, see cause and effect patterns, and make predictions and plans for your business’s future.

Where Does Power BI Store Your Data?

Now, on to the main question: With all the data that Power BI handles, where exactly is that data stored? It mostly depends on the channel that you used to import that data. As we stated above, that data is stored in a few places, but it all boils down to one of two main locations: the cloud and your desktop.

The Cloud

It’s important to note that Power BI includes both a desktop service and a cloud service, and both of these services store large amounts of data. Much of this data is stored within the cloud, as Microsoft used Azure to develop Power BI.

Virtually all the data that your end-users generate will be stored in the cloud to be accessed as needed. That’s because the desktop service is meant for the designer or team leader, while the cloud service is meant for the consumers. In other words, the end users are going to generate most of their information through the cloud, and since there are usually more end users than designers on any given project, it makes sense that the cloud would store the most Power BI data. This data includes any input that your team members add to your datasets and reports. It also includes login credential information.

On Premises

Then, of course, there’s the data that gets stored on premises. Obviously, this includes the information that you generate yourself through the Power BI desktop service. However, Power BI does use the cloud when you send that information along to your team members, which means that you’ll likely also generate cloud-stored information. What else gets stored on premises? Certain types of metadata do. For example, dashboards and visuals are cached in the desktop system.

Managing Data Storage in Your Workplaces

Now that you know some of the basics of Power BI data storage, you can manage your data and make the most of it. You do this primarily through your workspaces. In Power BI, workspaces serve as hubs for data storage and report generation. By accessing and monitoring your workspaces, you can manage, delete, and add pieces of data.

Data Security

When people ask where Power BI stores data, the follow-up question is often, “How do I know that this data is secure?” You can rest assured that your data will stay safe with Power BI. Microsoft has security measures in place to protect your company’s data. Generally, cloud-based information stays secure through encryption, which we briefly mentioned above. As long as your team members protect their login information and use strong passwords with Power BI, this data encryption will protect your company’s information from malice and accidents.

Then there’s desktop-generated data. For your desktop-generated data, Microsoft has added security measures in place, but your primary source of protection for this data is your machine’s own firewall. As long as you’re staying up to date with your technology’s security updates, then once again, your information is secure.

All of that said, you can add additional security measures to keep your Power BI data as safe as possible. For example, make sure that you’re using secure and trusted product solutions for your Power BI needs. Your best choice here is a trusted Microsoft Solutions Provider that maintains tight security measures.

Power BI with ChristianSteven Software

The right Power BI product solutions can help you tailor your power BI experience. With all the data that Power BI can store, it’s important that you glean everything that you can from that data so that you can make the healthiest decisions for your company. This is where ChristianSteven software solutions come in. At ChristianSteven Software, we’ve built several solutions that can help you select, format, schedule, and deliver your reports in the most efficient and user-friendly way. You can get the most from Power BI and other business intelligence tools, taking advantage of everything that business intelligence has to offer.

We’d love for you to take a closer look at our software solutions and see the difference that they can make for your Power BI experience. Trusted by tech giants such as IBM, Dell, and many more, ChristianSteven can help you make better connections with your data and implement effective strategies for moving forward. Let’s set up your live demo so that you can see how our software can impact your business. You can also contact us at any time if you have questions.

Get Features PDFStart Free Trial