Azure Updates - Latest from Azure Charts

Azure VNet Data Gateway for Secure Power BI & Power Platform Access in Enterprises

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:30:00 Z

What Is a VNet data gateway? The VNet data gateway is a Microsoft‑managed gateway service that runs inside a delegated subnet of an Azure Virtual Network. It allows supported Microsoft cloud servi...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Virtual Network, Categories:

Enrich Power BI reports with machine learning in Microsoft Fabric

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 Z

Many organizations want to go beyond descriptive Power BI reports and start answering forward‑looking questions with machine learning—identifying emerging trends, at-risk accounts, and where to focus effort to maximize impact. In practice, this is hard. Adding machine learning to Power BI often means moving data out of semantic models, rebuilding logic, managing separate storage and … Continue reading “Enrich Power BI reports with machine learning in Microsoft Fabric”
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Machine Learning, Power BI Embedded, Microsoft Fabric, Categories:

Tableau to Power BI: Semantic Layer-First Approach for Cloud Architects

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:58:00 Z

In this guide, we provide practical guidance for migrating from Tableau to Power BI, with a focus on technical best practices and architecture. Unifying business intelligence on the Microsoft Fabric ...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Microsoft Fabric, Categories:

Tableau to Power BI Migration: Semantic Layer-First Approach for Cloud Architects

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:58:00 Z

Closing the loop: Interactive write-back from Power BI to Azure Databricks

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 Z

This is a collaborative post from Microsoft and Databricks. We thank Toussaint Webb, Product Manager at Databricks, for his contributions. We're excited to announce that the Azure Databricks conne...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Azure Database for PostgreSQL Entra authentication for Power BI Desktop

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:00:44 Z

You can now use Microsoft Entra ID authentication to connect to Azure Database for PostgreSQL from Power BI Desktop. This update simplifies access management, enhances security, and helps you support your organization’s broader Entra-based authentication
Update Type: GA, Services: Power BI Embedded, Database for PostgreSQL, Microsoft Entra ID, Categories: Features

EA to MCA: Reporting on cost in Power BI

Thu, 22 May 2025 10:00:00 Z

Learn how to report on your cost and usage data in Power BI using Cost Management exports and the FinOps toolkit.
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Cost Management, Categories: Management

Extracting deeper insights with Fabric Data Agents in Copilot in Power BI

Mon, 19 May 2025 16:30:00 Z

Co-author: Joanne Wong We’re excited to announce the upcoming integration of Fabric data agent with Copilot in Power BI, enhancing your ability to extract insights seamlessly. What’s new? A new chat with your data experience is launching soon in Power BI– a full-screen Copilot for users to ask natural language questions and receive accurate, relevant … Continue reading “Extracting deeper insights with Fabric Data Agents in Copilot in Power BI”
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Fabric SQL Database Integration: Unlocking New Possibilities with Power BI desktop

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 Z

Introducing Seamless Connectivity for Enhanced Data Analytics and Reporting. We are thrilled to announce a new SQL database integration with Power BI Desktop! This innovative feature is designed to empower users with streamlined access to their SQL databases, providing greater flexibility and precision for building insightful reports and dashboards. With this integration, users can now … Continue reading “Fabric SQL Database Integration: Unlocking New Possibilities with Power BI desktop”
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, SQL Database, Categories:

Power BI Connector for vCore-based Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:45:39 Z

The new Power BI connector for vCore-based Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB simplifies integration. You can now connect Power BI and vCore-based Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB using DirectQuery mode, allowing you to query your live data. Learn more.
Update Type: Preview, Services: Power BI Embedded, Cosmos DB, Categories: Features

Unlock Real-Time Insights: Power BI Integration with Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB vCore Now in Public Preview!

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 14:54:31 Z

We are excited to introduce Power BI integration for Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB vCore. This certified solution brings your operational data to life through real-time dashboards, directly in the Power BI interface that your analytics teams already love. You can now connect Power BI Desktop directly to your Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB vCore […] The post Unlock Real-Time Insights: Power BI Integration with Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB vCore Now in Public Preview! appeared first on Azure Cosmos DB Blog.
Update Type: Preview, Services: Power BI Embedded, Cosmos DB, Categories:

How to publish Power BI reports with a privately configured hub instance

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:00:00 Z

This document provides a comprehensive guide on how to publish Power BI reports with a privately configured hub instance. It covers essential prerequisites, licensing requirements, permissions, netwo...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Power BI & Azure Databricks: Smarter Refreshes, Less Hassle

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:02:00 Z

We are excited to extend the deep integration between Azure Databricks and Microsoft Power BI with the Public Preview of the Power BI task type in Azure Databricks Workflows. This new capability...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Part 1: Power BI Service Connections to Azure Databricks with Private Networking

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:50:00 Z

This blog was written in conjunction with Leo Furlong, Lead Solutions Architect at Databricks. Enhancing Security and Connectivity: Azure Databricks SQL, Unity Catalog, and Power BI Integration T...
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Power BI Embedded, Categories: Security

Introducing Power BI Embedded with Direct Lake Mode (Preview)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:30:00 Z

As we step into 2025, we’re excited to announce the preview of Power BI Embedded with Direct Lake Mode, a new feature designed to enhance how developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) provide embedded analytics in their applications. This capability, available in preview starting Q1 2025, leverages the power of Direct Lake Mode to allow … Continue reading “Introducing Power BI Embedded with Direct Lake Mode (Preview)”
Update Type: Preview, Services: Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Microsoft Fabric Runtime 1.1 End of Support

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:00:13 Z

End of support for Microsoft Fabric Runtime 1.1 was announced July 12, 2024. We recommend that you upgrade your Fabric workspace and environments to use Runtime 1.3 (Apache Spark 3.5 and Delta Lake 3.2). This latest Fabric Runtime 1.3 also offers a Native
Update Type: Deprecation, Services: Synapse Analytics, Power BI Embedded, Microsoft Fabric, Data Factory, Categories: Retirements

Power BI vs. Real Time Dashboards (RTD)

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:00:00 Z

Why do we offer two different visualization and analytics tools? The comparison between Power BI and Real Time Dashboards is crucial for organizations looking to optimize their data visualization and reporting capabilities in Fabric. Both tools offer unique features and functionalities that cater to different business needs. Power BI is known for its rich feature … Continue reading “Power BI vs. Real Time Dashboards (RTD)”
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Categories: Features

Simplifying Migration to Fabric Real-Time Intelligence for Power BI Real Time Reports

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:29:35 Z

Simplifying Migration to Fabric Real-Time Intelligence for Power BI Real Time Reports Power BI with real-time streaming has been the preferred solution for users to visualize streaming data. Real-time streaming in Power BI is being retired. We recommend users to start planning the migration of their data processing pipeline to Fabric Real-Time Intelligence. Microsoft Fabric Real-Time Intelligence is a part of the Microsoft Fabric platform. It enables businesses to ingest, process, analyze, and gain insights from real-time data streams. It provides an end-to-end solution for integrating real-time data pipelines, offering advanced analytics and data visualization in one place. This document outlines the patterns and best practices as you explore Fabric Real-Time Intelligence and the Azure ecosystem. 1. Real-Time data flow architecture Figure 1.1 below is a general data flow pattern for a real time data analysis and visualization on Azure. Figure1.1 On the left side, we have common real time data ingestion service like Azure Event hub, IoTHub etc. Next, we have azure stream analytics which is a fully managed stream processing engine that is designed to analyze and process large volumes of streaming data with sub-millisecond latencies. You will also find some event driven applications using Power Automate or Logic Apps for simple event processing. The processed events are then sent to streaming datasets in Power BI and to some persistent storage layer. 2. Insights into Fabric Real-Time Intelligence Fabric Real-Time intelligence is a powerful service that empowers everyone in your organization to extract insights and visualize their data in motion. 2.1 Ingestion & Processing Eventstream in the Microsoft Fabric Real-Time Intelligence lets you bring real-time events into Fabric, transform them, and then route them to various destinations without writing any code. Event streams provide you with multiple source connectors to fet
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Logic Apps, Power BI Embedded, Microsoft Fabric, Categories: Services

Introducing the Data-Bound Reference Layer in Azure Maps Visual for Power BI

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:03:27 Z

Imagine managing a nationwide sales team and needing to understand how your sales align with factors like population density, competitor locations, or even regional weather patterns. Visualizing this data on a map offers powerful insights—not only showing where your team is excelling but also uncovering new market opportunities. Now, with the Data-Bound Reference Layer feature in the Azure Maps visual for Power BI, you can achieve this level of insight, blending geographic and business data for enriched decision-making. What is the Data-Bound Reference Layer? The Data-Bound Reference Layer is an advanced capability that enables users to bind their data directly to custom reference layers in the Azure Maps visual. Think of it as adding a multi-dimensional view to your Power BI maps. With support for data from multiple sources, such as Shapefiles, GeoJSON, and many more datasets, users can create a fully customizable, data-driven map that renders polygons based on live data. This reference layer acts as a “contextual overlay” on your map. Standard data points in Power BI visuals highlight locations, but the Data-Bound Reference Layer goes further, allowing you to visualize additional insights, such as demographic boundaries, sales territories, or high-priority zones. What used to be a static, single-dimension map can now become an interactive, fully adaptable visualization that changes as your data does, providing real-time insights as conditions evolve. Conditional Formatting: Making Data Pop The power of the Data-Bound Reference Layer extends with conditional formatting, which allows you to style maps dynamically based on your data values. Colors, shapes, and sizes can be tailored to specific data thresholds, making it easier to spot trends, outliers, and areas needing immediate attention. For instance, in disaster response, a map showing hospital densities can use conditional formatting to highlight regions with lower hospital coverage in a distinct color, or
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Azure Maps, Categories: Regions & Datacenters

Retirement: Azure Stream Analytics PowerBI output connector

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 00:00:00 Z

Azure Stream Analytics PowerBI output connector will be retired on Oct 31, 2027.
Update Type: Deprecation, Services: Stream Analytics, Power BI Embedded, Categories: Retirements

Boosting Power BI Performance with Azure Databricks through Automatic Aggregations

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:22:14 Z

This post is authored in conjunction with Yatish Anand, Senior Solutions Architect at Databricks, and Andrey Mirskiy, Senior Specialist Solutions Architect at Databricks. Figure 1. Power BI automatic aggregations overview, source. Introduction In today’s fast-paced data landscape, timely insights can make all the difference. Power BI’s Automatic Aggregations feature is a breakthrough, designed to push performance boundaries by delivering low-latency query results on large datasets. It harnesses AI-powered caching to streamline DirectQuery models, combining the best-in-class performance of Power BI on Azure Databricks with low-latency BI for modern reporting needs. Used with DirectQuery mode, Automatic Aggregations do not face data volume limitations and allow you to scale regardless of data size without compromising on BI performance. This innovation makes it easy for Power BI users of all skill levels to tap into advanced performance without worrying about backend strain or complex data modeling. Imagine your reports updating in real-time, even with billions of records in play. With this approach, you can deliver actionable insights faster than ever, freeing up time to focus on your business, not your data infrastructure. In this blog, we will showcase the integration of Power BI Automatic Aggregation with Azure Databricks and how this integration will help improve the performance of your Power BI reports. What Are Automatic Aggregations? Automatic aggregations streamline the process of improving BI query performance by maintaining an in-memory cache of aggregated data. This means that a substantial portion of report queries can be served directly from this in-memory cache instead of relying on the backend data sources. Power BI automatically builds these aggregations using AI based on your query patterns and then intelligently decides which queries can be served from the in-memory cache and which are routed to the data source through DirectQuery, resulti
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Power BI Embedded, Categories:

Part 2: Migrate Azure Analysis Services to Power BI Premium using Azure Databricks - How-To

Wed, 29 May 2024 23:02:30 Z

This post is authored in conjunction with Leo Furlong, Senior Solutions Architect, at Databricks. Many customers choose to migrate their Azure Analysis Services semantic models to Power BI Premium due to the benefits and enhanced functionality described in the Power BI documentation. As customers migrate their semantic models to Power BI, native connections to Azure Databricks SQL become available due to the built-in Databricks SQL connector in Power BI. Databricks SQL Serverless combined with Power BI semantic models can provide customers with a number of benefits including a separation of compute and storage; instant, elastic compute; data refreshes charged by the second; and enterprise Data Warehouse functionality, query performance, and concurrency at any scale. The remainder of this article will focus on the in-and-outs of how to accomplish this migration. Requirements You must use Power BI Premium Capacities. This means that P, A4+, or F SKUs are required. The XMLA endpoint for your Power BI workspace must be configured for Read/Write. You will need Tabular Editor 2 or Tabular Editor 3 to migrate your semantic model to Databricks SQL. Tabular Editor is a 3rd party tool featured by Microsoft. Migrating an existing semantic model to use Databricks SQL requires that your existing data source is a structured data source (PowerQuery based connection). Limitations AAS models migrated to Power BI Premium can’t be edited using web authoring per the documented limits, but as of writing this post, it does appear to allow web authoring on migrated models without issues/errors AAS models migrated to Power BI can’t be downloaded to Power BI Desktop Parallel connection configuration is only available in model Compatibility Level 1600+ Assumptions Your data model in Databricks SQL is in the same structure as your current Azure Analysis Services model in terms of table/column names and column data types. You are using the same Power BI s
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Analysis Services, Power BI Embedded, Categories: Services

Part 1: Migrate Azure Analysis Services to Power BI Premium using Azure Databricks - Why

Wed, 29 May 2024 23:02:10 Z

This post is authored in conjunction with Leo Furlong, Senior Solutions Architect, at Databricks. In the world of data analytics and business intelligence, the tools and platforms you use can significantly impact the efficiency and capabilities of your data operations. Two major shifts in the landscape are the migration from Azure Analysis Services to Power BI Premium and the move to Azure Databricks SQL as the underlying data source for Power BI. Let's dive into why these changes are worth considering. Migrating from Azure Analysis Services to Power BI Premium Azure Analysis Services has been a staple in the enterprise semantic layer toolset, providing robust semantic layer capabilities. It's the same engine that powers Power BI under the hood, which means there's a shared lineage and compatibility between the two services. However, Power BI has evolved rapidly and now offers a superset of functionalities that were once exclusive to Azure Analysis Services. Here are some compelling reasons to migrate: Enhanced Functionality: Power BI Premium has grown to encompass all the capabilities of Azure Analysis Services and then some. A feature comparison matrix is provided here. Tool Consolidation: By migrating to Power BI Premium, organizations can consolidate their semantic layer and BI tools into a single platform. This not only simplifies the architecture but also reduces the overhead associated with maintaining multiple systems. Microsoft's Direction: Microsoft itself recommends that customers transition their Azure Analysis Services models to Power BI Premium. This is a strong indicator of the strategic direction Microsoft is taking, with Power BI Premium positioned as the go-to enterprise semantic layer solution. For more details on this migration, you can refer to Microsoft's official documentation here. Moving to Azure Databricks SQL for Power BI Azure Databricks SQL offers a modern and optimized approach to handling present and future data analytics cha
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Databricks, Analysis Services, Power BI Embedded, Categories: Services

Unleash the Power of Insights: Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector Now Generally Available

Thu, 09 May 2024 15:57:47 Z

We are thrilled to announce the general availability release of the Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector, a tool that empowers Azure users to unlock deeper insights into their Azure resources like never before. This powerful integration combines the robust querying capabilities of Azure Resource Graph with the intuitive visualization features of Power BI, enabling users to effortlessly explore, analyze, and visualize their inventory of Azure resources. With the Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector, cloud administrators, IT professionals, and data analysts can seamlessly connect to their Azure subscriptions and access a wealth of resources metadata. This allows users to gain a comprehensive understanding of their Azure environment, identify trends, anomalies, and optimization opportunities, and make data-driven decisions with confidence. From building custom dashboards and reports to performing ad-hoc queries and analysis, the possibilities are endless. We believe that the general availability release of the Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector marks a significant milestone in our journey to empower Azure users with actionable insights and intelligence. Whether you're looking to optimize costs, enhance security, or drive innovation, this tool is your gateway to unlocking the full potential of your Azure Resource Graph. Refer here for sample queries that you can use with the new Azure Resource Graph Power BI connector and create visualizations with. To learn more about the Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector and how it can transform your Azure experience, review our official documentation and check out our brand new Youtube tutorial that offers step-by-step guidance on how to use the Azure Resource Graph Power BI Data Connector. Harness the power of insights with Azure Resource Graph and Power BI – the possibilities are limitless! Reach Us & Stay Updated For questions and direct feedback with this feature
Update Type: GA, Services: Power BI Embedded, Categories: Features, Security

Filled Map is now available in Power BI Azure Maps Visual

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:31:56 Z

With the latest update of Power BI, the Azure Maps visual now also supports the filled map layer. The filled map layer uses varying degrees of shading, tinting, or different patterns to provide a visual display that quickly shows differences in values across geography or region. Showing these relative differences with shading that ranges from light (less-frequent/lower) to dark (more-frequent/more) is a helpful way to quickly convey information to viewers. The filled map layer helps to answer these questions: Visualize sales or revenue results by country or state. Visualize election results where the color represents the party that won, and the shading represents the margin of victory. Visualize unemployment rates by region, state, or county. Color scheme selection is critical as it may decide or influence how users perceive the message conveyed by the visualization. Color represents the values of the numeric variable in each region of the Map. Colors can be a blending or a single and comparable color, so the target audience can quickly tell the differences. Below is an example of how to design the color scheme to visualize revenue data across the states. The image below uses the color scheme we created and shows an example of a filled map. The Map of America shows each state with a different shade representing sales by state. For example, a viewer can immediately see that California has the most sales, followed by Texas, then Florida. The filled map layer works with categorical data as well; In this example, it is used to visualize the performance of each business unit in different states. When using the filled map layer, you must remember that larger states or areas naturally attract more attention over color. This effect can result in misinterpreted and wrong conclusions. See for more details our documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-maps/power-bi-visual-filled-map
Update Type: Announcement, Services: Power BI Embedded, Azure Maps, Categories: