Overview
This one-day course equips IT professionals and Power BI administrators with the expertise to manage, secure, and optimise Power BI environments effectively. It introduces learners to the core responsibilities of Power BI administration, including workspace governance, data security, performance monitoring, and licensing strategies.
Participants will gain practical experience through hands-on labs, exploring how to implement row-level security (RLS), configure data gateways, manage semantic models, and automate alerts and subscriptions. The course also covers advanced topics such as deployment pipelines, Microsoft Purview integration, and auditing tools to ensure compliance at scale. By the end of the course, learners will be well-prepared to support enterprise-grade Power BI deployments.
Prerequisites
This course is designed for individuals responsible for the governance, compliance, and technical administration of Power BI environments. While prior completion of Power BI foundational training is recommended, it is not required.
Participants should ideally have:
- Experience using Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service
- Understanding of dashboards, reports, datasets, and data sources such as SQL or Excel
- Familiarity with IT concepts including user permissions and security governance
- Awareness of Power BI licensing models (Pro, Premium, Fabric)
Recommended but not required:
- Knowledge equivalent to Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Experience with DAX, semantic models, and Power BI deployments
Target audience
This course is ideal for:
- Power BI administrators managing enterprise-scale deployments
- IT professionals overseeing access, security, and governance in Power BI
- Business intelligence professionals responsible for monitoring and optimising Power BI usage
- Compliance officers and data stewards ensuring adherence to regulatory standards
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Describe the responsibilities and tools available for Power BI administration
- Implement governance policies, role assignments, and workspace permissions
- Configure and monitor Power BI gateways, semantic models, and deployment pipelines
- Enable auditing, activity tracking, and Microsoft Purview integration for compliance
- Manage alerts, subscriptions, and report sharing for internal and external users
- Assess licensing needs and assign administrative roles across the Power BI environment
- Troubleshoot performance, refresh failures, and access control issues
Course Outline
Introduction to Power BI administration
- Understanding Power BI architecture and deployment models
- Overview of administrative responsibilities in Power BI
- Comparing Pro, Premium, and Fabric licensing
Governance
- Defining governance strategies within Power BI
- Workspace creation and management policies
- Addressing data governance challenges
- Monitoring user activity and report access
Licensing
- Overview of Power BI licence types
- Planning for dedicated capacity
- Licensing considerations for enterprise-scale deployment
Managing administrator accounts
- Assigning Service Administrator and Global Administrator roles
- Role-based access control and user permissions
- Best practices for securing administrator credentials
Workspaces, apps and security
- Creating, configuring, and securing workspaces
- Role definitions: Admin, Member, Contributor, Viewer
- Importing content and testing access
- Implementing row-level security and dynamic access models
Sharing Power BI data objects
- Managing sharing options for visuals, dashboards, and reports
- Configuring external access and embedded experiences
- Ensuring secure distribution of content
Configuring semantic model settings
- Scheduling dataset refreshes and managing connections
- Using endorsement and certification to manage trust
- Monitoring data lineage and dependencies
Auditing and monitoring Power BI
- Accessing audit logs for workspace activity and user behaviour
- Troubleshooting issues related to refreshes and service availability
- Enabling Microsoft Purview for enhanced data governance
Alerts and subscriptions
- Setting up email- and Teams-based alert notifications
- Automating report subscriptions
- Managing user access to alerts and notifications
Deployment pipelines
- Creating development-to-production workflows
- Promoting datasets and reports across environments
- Reviewing, validating, and deploying updates
Power BI gateways
- Installing and configuring gateways for on-premises data
- Managing gateway connections and user access
- Troubleshooting gateway connectivity issues
Exams and assessments
This course does not include a formal exam. Instead, participants will complete:
- Guided lab exercises
- Scenario-based administrative tasks
- Knowledge checks at key intervals to reinforce learning
Hands-on learning
Participants will benefit from a practical, scenario-driven approach, including:
- Interactive labs for real-world administrative tasks
- Guided exercises on workspace setup, security implementation, and monitoring
- Instructor-led demonstrations on configuring alerts, subscriptions, and gateways
Frequently asked questions
How can I create an account on myQA.com?
There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.
If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".
If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.
Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.
How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?
Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.
We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.
How do QA’s online courses work?
QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.
All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.
When will I receive my joining instructions?
Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.
When will I receive my certificate?
Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.