CHEAT SHEET:

MICROSOFT POWER BI

COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

 MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Executive summary
3 What is Microsoft Power BI?
4 Why does Microsoft Power BI matter?
5 What are the primary competitors to
Microsoft Power BI?
5 Who does Microsoft Power BI affect?
5 When is Microsoft Power BI available?
6 How do I get Microsoft Power BI?

2
COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

BY MARK KAELIN

The big data revolution continues in earnest and enterprises continue to generate more and more data about
every business interaction they can track. Couple this with the volume of data now being generated by devices
and sensors connected via the Internet of Things, and you begin to appreciate the universal need for better
data visualization.

All of this generated data must be transformed into actionable information that decision makers can use. Data
visualizations in the form of dashboards and reports must be developed and shared throughout the enterprise,
crossing departmental and sometimes even international lines.

Microsoft’s Power BI suite of data visualization tools is designed to accomplish the transformation of data into
useful information. This cheat sheet explains everything you need to know about Microsoft’s data visualization
toolset, Power BI.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• What is Microsoft Power BI? Power BI is a set of data visualization tools that allows users to transform
collected data into actionable information for decision makers.
• Why does Microsoft Power BI matter? In a modern enterprise, the ability to transform data into
something useful is paramount to overall success.
• Who does Microsoft Power BI affect? Power BI is a vital tool for any enterprise employee trying to
communicate information to management, stakeholders, or other decision makers.
• When is Microsoft Power BI available? Microsoft Power BI is available now.
• How do I get Microsoft Power BI? A free trial version of Power BI is available for download from
Microsoft. Office 365 subscribers already have access to Power BI as part of the general suite of applications.

WHAT IS MICROSOFT POWER BI?

Power BI is Microsoft’s suite of data visualization tools. The suite allows users to transform data found within,
and even outside of, the enterprise. Power BI can tap into numerous data sources, including SQL Server, Excel,
Salesforce, and Google Analytics.

As of June 2019, Power BI can readily access more than 100 data sources, which are listed in the common
connector library on Microsoft’s website.

3
COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

IMAGE: MARK W. KAELIN

In an effort to simplify and democratize the application of data visualization at all levels of an organization,
Microsoft continues to add new features to Power BI, including a June 2019 update to the user interface,
accompanied by integrated Siri shortcuts for iOS, visual level filtering for data slices, and the addition of a
personalized visualization pane.

Beyond interface improvements, Microsoft has also added enhanced access to cloud-based computer features,
including artificial intelligence resources through Azure Cognitive Services and Machine Learning. To further
drive enterprise-wide data-driven decision making, Microsoft has improved its embedded analytics features.

WHY DOES MICROSOFT POWER BI MATTER?

The ability to transform the huge amount of data generated by business enterprises into some form of
actionable information that decision makers can use on a regular basis is critical to the success of the enter-
prise. Power BI provides tools for transforming raw data into information that can be presented in dashboards,
documents, and reports.

The addition of several new features in the Power BI June 2019 update continue to serve Microsoft’s mission
to democratize data visualization across all levels of an organization. Microsoft argues that more personalized
views, shared and certified datasets, and the development of simple, fast, intuitive user experiences in Power BI
opens access to the benefits of data visualization to more users within the enterprise and enhances the flow of
actionable information to more decision makers.

4
COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY COMPETITORS TO MICROSOFT

POWER BI?
As the need for informative data visualizations within enterprises has risen so has the level of competition.
The concept of tools that allow the democratization of data analysis and visualization has created a new niche
market that is nearly irresistible.

Prominent products in this market competing directly with Power BI include IBM Watson Analytics, Tableau
Desktop, and Google Analytics. There are also dozens of smaller companies offering specialized data visual-
ization products and all of them are vying to take share from the largest players and each other.

But they are not the only companies vying for this market. Enterprise-wide database software producers
like Oracle and SAP are also looking to move their large-scale analytic products down to departments and
individuals. These companies are attempting to move tools that once were the domain of a few highly-spe-
cialized individuals down the organization hierarchy, which should help keep customers within their sphere of
influence.

In 2019, there have been several high-profile and high-stakes mergers and acquisitions involving companies
specializing in data visualization systems and software. In June, enterprise CRM specialist Salesforce announced
it was purchasing Tableau Software for $15.7 billion in stock. This acquisition comes on the heels of an
announced purchase of BI and analytics firm Looker for $2.6 billion by Alphabet, presumably for its Google
Cloud Services.

The size of these acquisitions and mergers indicates just how valuable data visualization software and systems
have become to the modern business enterprise. Microsoft is not alone in its belief that the democratization of
data visualization software and services across all levels of an organization is a powerful, and lucrative, endeavor.

WHO DOES MICROSOFT POWER BI AFFECT?

Anyone in an enterprise who needs to communicate information to their department, managers, vendors, or
to the organization in general can use Power BI’s data visualization tools to make it happen. Power BI has a
number of templates to get even the most technology-challenged user started, and Microsoft provides many
free educational training videos that can help turn novice users into experts.

WHEN IS MICROSOFT POWER BI AVAILABLE?

Microsoft Power BI is available now, and new features are added to the suite of tools periodically.

5
COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 MICROSOFT POWER BI: A CHEAT SHEET

HOW DO I GET MICROSOFT POWER BI?

Power BI is available in several different ways. The most obvious is as a free web service users can access with
a standard web browser. The free service is limited to cloud data sources and simple dashboard sharing, and it’s
restricted to individual use. The free service is limited to 1GB of capacity per day.

The Power BI Pro service is subscription-based and costs $9.99 per user per month. The Pro version allows
users to access all supported data sources and is designed for business use. This version is limited to 10GB of
capacity per day.

A desktop version of Power BI is also available for download. And enterprises with large mobile workforces
can use the mobile version of Power BI, which is available on Windows 10, Apple iOS, and Android platforms.

For Office 365 subscribers, Power BI is available at no additional cost as part of the productivity suite. Users
with the appropriate Office 365 subscriptions and administrative credentials can also download a desktop
or mobile version of Power BI to use at their workstations or on their mobile devices. Power BI and its data
sources are administered at the enterprise level, so you may have to ask your IT department for access.

In June 2017, Microsoft released Power BI Premium, which is an enterprise version of the data visualization
product. The Premium version allows reports and dashboards to be distributed widely throughout an enter-
prise, and even externally, without requiring the audience to have individual licenses. This version of Power BI
is cloud-based with capacity that can adjust to usage as necessary. The base price is $625/month, but pricing
will likely vary for each enterprise.

6
COPYRIGHT ©2020 TECHREPUBLIC.COM, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
 CREDITS
Editor In Chief The information contained herein has been obtained from sources
Bill Detwiler believed to be reliable. TechRepublic.com, LLC disclaims all warranties
as to the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of such information.
TechRepublic.com, LLC shall have no liability for errors, omissions, or
Editor In Chief, UK
inadequacies in the information contained herein or for the interpretations
Steve Ranger thereof. The reader assumes sole responsibility for the selection of these
materials to achieve its intended results. The opinions expressed herein
Associate Managing are subject to change without notice.
Editors
Teena Maddox
Mary Weilage

Editor, Australia
Chris Duckett

Senior Writer
Veronica Combs

Editor
Melanie Wachsman

Chief Reporter
Nick Heath

Staff Writer
James Sanders

Associate Staff Writer

Macy Bayern

Multimedia Producer
Derek Poore

Staff Reporter
Karen Roby

Image: Microsoft