Turn Your Data into Actionable Insights with Microsoft Power BI

This FAQ answers the most common questions about Power BI analytics, reporting, and governance so you can confidently move from data to decision.

What Is Power BI?

Power BI is Microsoft’s data analytics and visualization platform. It allows organizations to:

• Connect to multiple data sources
• Model and transform data
• Create interactive dashboards and reports
• Share insights securely across teams

As a result, business users gain visibility without relying on static spreadsheets or manual reporting.

Why Do Organizations Use Power BI?

Organizations adopt Power BI because it:

• Replaces manual Excel-based reporting
• Provides real-time and near-real-time insights
• Enables self-service analytics
• Integrates tightly with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint
• Scales from small teams to enterprise environments

However, without a clear strategy, Power BI environments can quickly become fragmented and unreliable.

Learn how we align analytics to business goals on our Microsoft 365 Consulting & Strategy

What Data Sources Can Power BI Connect To?

Power BI connects to a wide range of data sources, including:

• SharePoint lists and document libraries
• Excel and CSV files
• Microsoft Dataverse
• SQL Server and Azure SQL
• Dynamics 365
• Third-party systems (ERP, CRM, HRIS)
• APIs and cloud platforms

Because of this flexibility, Power BI often becomes the central reporting layer for the organization.

How Does Power BI Work with SharePoint?

Power BI integrates seamlessly with SharePoint by:

• Using SharePoint lists as data sources
• Storing reports and dashboards within SharePoint sites
• Embedding reports directly into intranet pages
• Leveraging SharePoint permissions for access control

As a result, users consume insights in the same place they work every day.

Learn more on our SharePoint Intranet & Portal Design

What Types of Reports Can Be Built in Power BI?

Power BI supports a wide range of reporting use cases, including:

• Executive dashboards and KPIs
• Operational and performance reporting
• Financial and budget analysis
• Project and portfolio reporting
• Compliance and audit dashboards
• HR and workforce analytics

Most importantly, reports remain interactive, filterable, and role-aware.

How Do You Ensure Data Accuracy and Trust?

Data trust is critical.

We ensure accuracy by:

• Designing clean data models
• Establishing a single source of truth
• Applying data validation and transformation logic
• Defining ownership and refresh schedules

Therefore, stakeholders rely on reports instead of questioning them.

What Is Power BI Governance and Why Does It Matter?

Power BI governance defines how analytics are created, shared, and managed.

Without governance, organizations face:

• Duplicate datasets
• Conflicting metrics
• Security risks
• Uncontrolled report sprawl

We help establish:

• Workspace and dataset standards
• Certified and promoted datasets
• Security and sharing rules
• Usage and lifecycle management

Learn more on our Information Architecture & Metadata and SharePoint Governance Framework

How Is Security Handled in Power BI?

Power BI security aligns with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID.

Security features include:

• Role-based access control (RLS)
• Workspace permissions
• Sensitivity labels
• Secure sharing and publishing controls

As a result, the right people see the right data—nothing more.

Explore our Security & Compliance 

Can Power BI Replace Excel Reporting?

In many cases, yes.

Power BI:

• Reduces manual data manipulation
• Automates refreshes
• Improves consistency
• Enables interactive exploration

However, Excel still plays a role for ad-hoc analysis. Therefore, we design Power BI and Excel to work together—not compete.

How Does Power BI Support Self-Service Analytics?

Power BI empowers business users by:

• Allowing report creation without code
• Providing reusable datasets
• Enabling controlled self-service models

At the same time, governance ensures analytics remain accurate and secure.

Can Power BI Be Automated?

Yes—and automation is often where the biggest efficiency gains appear.

Power BI integrates with:

• Power Automate for alerts and workflows
• Scheduled data refreshes
• Automated report distribution
• Business process triggers

Learn more on our Power Platform Platform Consulting

How Long Does a Power BI Implementation Take?

Timelines vary based on scope and data complexity.

Typical engagements include:

• Initial dashboards: 2–4 weeks
• Departmental reporting: 1–2 months
• Enterprise analytics platforms: phased delivery over several months

However, a clear roadmap significantly accelerates delivery.

What Happens After Reports Go Live?

Analytics environments evolve.

After launch, we help organizations:

• Optimize performance and data models
• Expand dashboards and use cases
• Improve adoption and usability
• Monitor usage and governance compliance

Learn more about our Support Services

How Does Power BI Fit into a SharePoint or Microsoft 365 Modernization?

Power BI often complements:

• SharePoint migrations
• Intranet redesigns
• Process automation initiatives
• Data cleanup and standardization

Because of this, analytics should be planned alongside broader platform modernization.

Learn more on our SharePoint Migration Services

Why Choose dataBridge for Power BI Analytics?

Organizations choose dataBridge because we offer:

• Deep Microsoft 365 and SharePoint expertise
• Business-driven analytics design
• Strong governance and security foundations
• Clear communication and documentation
• Long-term partnership and support

Most importantly, we help organizations use data with confidence.

Ready to Unlock the Value of Your Data?

Whether you’re just getting started with Power BI or trying to scale analytics across the organization, dataBridge can help you build trusted, actionable reporting.

Contact us to schedule a Power BI Analytics & Reporting Assessment.