Frequently Asked Questions

Power BI is Microsoft's business intelligence platform that transforms raw data into interactive visualizations and actionable insights. It connects to hundreds of data sources and enables organizations to make data-driven decisions through self-service analytics.

Power BI Desktop is a free Windows application for creating reports and data models locally. Power BI Service is the cloud-based platform (app.powerbi.com) for sharing, collaborating, scheduling refreshes, and consuming reports across your organization.

Power BI offers multiple licensing options: Power BI Desktop is free, Power BI Pro is $10/user/month, Power BI Premium Per User (PPU) is $20/user/month, and Power BI Premium capacity starts at $4,995/month. Contact us for enterprise pricing guidance.

Yes, Power BI supports over 200 data connectors including SQL Server, Oracle, Salesforce, Google Analytics, Excel, SharePoint, Azure services, SAP, and many more. We can help you set up secure connections to virtually any data source.

DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is the formula language used in Power BI for creating calculated columns, measures, and custom calculations. It enables advanced analytics like time intelligence, dynamic rankings, and complex business logic.

Import mode loads data into Power BI's in-memory engine for fast performance. DirectQuery sends queries directly to the source database for real-time data but with some feature limitations. Composite models allow combining both modes.

Microsoft Fabric is a unified SaaS analytics platform that brings together Data Engineering, Data Factory, Data Science, Real-Time Intelligence, Data Warehouse, and Power BI with OneLake as the central data storage. It provides end-to-end analytics capabilities in one integrated experience.

No, Power BI remains a core component of Microsoft Fabric. Fabric extends Power BI with additional data engineering, data science, and real-time analytics capabilities. Existing Power BI users can continue using Power BI while optionally adopting Fabric features.

Fabric is a SaaS offering that simplifies analytics with automatic integration between workloads, unified governance through OneLake, and a consistent user experience. It removes complex infrastructure management while providing enterprise-scale capabilities with consumption-based pricing.

OneLake is Fabric's unified data lake that automatically stores all organizational data in Delta Parquet format. Think of it as OneDrive for your data - it provides a single source of truth accessible across all Fabric workloads without data duplication.

A Lakehouse combines the best of data warehouses (schema enforcement, SQL queries) and data lakes (flexible storage, low cost). It stores data in OneLake using Delta format, enabling both SQL analytics and Spark-based data engineering.

Yes, existing Power BI reports work seamlessly with Microsoft Fabric. You can connect Power BI to Fabric Lakehouses and warehouses using DirectLake mode for optimal performance, and existing Premium workspaces can be upgraded to Fabric workspaces.

We handle projects ranging from single dashboard development to enterprise-wide Power BI and Fabric implementations. This includes data modeling, report development, migrations from other BI tools, performance optimization, training, and managed services.

Timelines vary based on scope. A basic dashboard can be delivered in 2-4 weeks, departmental rollouts typically take 1-3 months, while enterprise-wide deployments with governance frameworks take 3-6 months. We provide detailed project plans during our initial consultation.

Yes, we serve clients nationwide and globally. While headquartered in Texas, we deliver consulting services remotely via secure collaboration tools and can travel on-site for workshops, training, and critical project phases as needed.

We have deep expertise in healthcare (HIPAA), financial services (SOC 2), manufacturing, retail, government (FedRAMP), and education. Our consultants understand the unique compliance requirements, data structures, and KPIs of regulated industries.

Yes, we have extensive experience migrating from Tableau, Qlik, Cognos, BusinessObjects, SSRS, and other BI platforms to Power BI and Microsoft Fabric. We ensure data integrity, recreate key reports, and provide training to minimize business disruption.

Yes, we offer managed services including 24/7 monitoring, performance optimization, user support, report development, and continuous improvement. Support packages are customized based on your organization's needs and SLA requirements.

Row-Level Security restricts data access at the row level based on user identity. For example, sales managers only see their region's data. RLS is enforced at the engine level and cannot be bypassed through DAX, exports, or API access.

We follow security best practices including encrypted connections, Azure AD integration, role-based access control, sensitivity labels, and audit logging. For regulated industries, we implement HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, and FedRAMP compliance controls.

The On-Premises Data Gateway enables secure data transfer between on-premises data sources and Power BI Service. It's required when your data resides behind a firewall and you need scheduled refresh or live connections in the cloud.

Yes, Power BI supports real-time scenarios through DirectQuery, streaming datasets, and push datasets. Microsoft Fabric adds Real-Time Intelligence with Eventstreams for sub-second analytics on streaming data from IoT, applications, and event hubs.

For large datasets, we implement incremental refresh, aggregations, composite models, and proper data modeling practices. Premium capacity supports datasets up to 400GB with XMLA endpoints for advanced management.

We offer on-site instructor-led training, virtual live sessions, and self-paced online courses. Corporate training can be customized to your specific data, industry use cases, and skill levels from beginner to advanced.

Yes, our courses align with Microsoft certification requirements, particularly the PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) certification. We cover all exam objectives and provide practice assessments.

Absolutely. We offer fully customized corporate training programs tailored to your actual data, industry-specific KPIs, and specific learning objectives. Training can range from executive overviews to deep technical workshops.

We focus on change management including executive sponsorship, champion networks, documentation, office hours, and iterative feedback. Success comes from users finding real value, so we prioritize high-impact use cases first.

Basic report consumption can be learned in hours. Creating simple reports takes 1-2 weeks of practice. Becoming proficient in data modeling and DAX typically requires 2-3 months of hands-on experience with proper training.

We offer flexible pricing including fixed-price projects for defined scope, time-and-materials for evolving requirements, and retainer agreements for ongoing support. We provide detailed estimates during our free initial consultation.

Our free consultation includes understanding your business objectives, assessing your current data landscape, discussing potential solutions, and providing a preliminary roadmap. There's no obligation, and you'll leave with actionable insights.

No, we don't require long-term commitments for project work. We earn your continued business through results. For managed services, we offer flexible monthly agreements with reasonable notice periods.

We bring 25+ years of Microsoft ecosystem expertise, multiple Microsoft Press publications, and deep experience in compliance-heavy industries. We focus on sustainable, governed solutions - not just quick fixes that create technical debt.