Dashboard βΊ Phase 2: Power BI
M2.7
Publishing, Sharing, Security, and Refresh
Phase 2 goal
Build governed, refreshable, interactive program dashboards. Get data in shape with Power Query M, model it as a star schema, calculate it with DAX, present it well, and publish it securely.
π― Learning objectives
Tick each one when you can actually do it.
π‘ Key concepts
- Workspaces and roles: Admin, Member, Contributor, Viewer. Keep a dev/practice workspace separate from production.
- Apps: The polished way to distribute reports to consumers (with audiences).
- Scheduled refresh: Credentials for cloud sources, gateway for on-premises sources, refresh failure notifications. Refresh frequency depends on license and capacity.
- Row-level security:
Test with "View as role" in Desktop and the Service. RLS restricts rows for viewers. It doesn't apply to workspace Admins/Members/Contributors.// Role "Portfolio Lead": table filter on dim_Program dim_Program[PortfolioLeadEmail] = USERPRINCIPALNAME () - Data alerts and subscriptions: Alerts on card/KPI/gauge tiles pinned to a dashboard. These trigger Power Automate in Phase 3. Subscriptions email snapshots on a schedule.
- Sensitivity labels (Microsoft Purview, if your tenant uses them) follow data into exports. Pick labels according to your organization's marking policy.
- Version control: Save
.pbixcopies with dates, or use the PBIP (Power BI Project) format, which stores the model and report as text files that work with Git. - Government clouds: GCC/GCC High/DoD Power BI have their own URLs and sometimes lag in features. Check what your tenant supports.
π Hands-on exercise: Publish and Secure
β¬ Practice data for this module
Data: your report from 2.6 + add PortfolioLeadEmail to dim_Program (map each portfolio to a test email: yours for one, fake for the others).
- Publish to your practice workspace.
- Set up the data source credentials and a daily scheduled refresh.
- Create the "Portfolio Lead" RLS role. Test it with "View as" in Desktop and in the Service.
- Pin the Portfolio CPI Cum card to a new dashboard and set a data alert (e.g., below 0.95). It'll be used in Phase 3.
- Package the workspace as an app (if your license allows) or share the report with one test viewer.
π¦ Mini-project: Deployment Runbook
A short runbook covering how to refresh, who owns what, what to do when refresh fails, how to add a new program, how RLS is maintained, and where the PBIP/PBIX source lives. Include screenshots.
π§ Self-check quiz
Answer in your own words, then check. Grade yourself honestly; your score is saved.
Q2.7.1
Does RLS restrict what a workspace Member sees?
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Model answer
How did you do?
Q2.7.2
When do you need an on-premises data gateway?
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Model answer
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Q2.7.3
Where must a tile be for a Power BI data alert to be set on it?
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Model answer
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Q2.7.4
What's the benefit of the PBIP format?
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Model answer
How did you do?