Capabilities of Power BI¶

Overview¶

This domain covers Power BI components, data analysis, visualization capabilities, and the Power BI Service features. It represents 25-30% of the exam and focuses on understanding how to connect to data, create reports, and share insights.

Key Topics¶

Power BI Components¶

Power BI Desktop (report authoring)
Power BI Service (cloud collaboration)
Power BI Mobile (mobile consumption)
Building blocks: datasets, reports, dashboards, workspaces
Power BI Report Server (on-premises)

Data Analysis and Visualization¶

Connecting to various data sources
Data transformation with Power Query
Creating and sharing reports and dashboards
Building visualizations (charts, tables, maps)
Natural language queries (Q&A feature)
Quick Insights for automatic pattern discovery

Power BI Service Features¶

Workspace creation and collaboration
Apps for packaged content distribution
Content packs for template solutions
Row-level security (RLS) implementation
Scheduled refresh configuration
On-premises data gateway setup
Sharing and permissions management

Services Reference¶

Core Components¶

Power BI Desktop
Power BI Service (app.powerbi.com)
Power BI Mobile Apps
Power BI Embedded
Power BI Report Server

Data Connectivity¶

Excel, CSV, JSON files
SQL Server and Azure SQL Database
Dynamics 365 and Common Data Service
SharePoint lists
Web APIs and OData feeds
100+ cloud and on-premises connectors

Best Practices¶

Report Design¶

Use clear, descriptive titles and labels
Choose appropriate visualizations for data types
Implement consistent color schemes
Create intuitive navigation with bookmarks
Optimize for mobile viewing when needed
Keep dashboards focused and uncluttered

Data Modeling¶

Build star schema for optimal performance
Create relationships between tables
Use calculated columns and measures appropriately
Implement hierarchies for drill-down analysis
Hide unnecessary columns from report view
Document data model with descriptions

Performance Optimization¶

Import vs DirectQuery mode selection
Reduce dataset size by filtering unnecessary data
Use aggregations for large datasets
Optimize DAX calculations
Schedule refresh during off-peak hours
Monitor and optimize query performance

Use workspaces to organize content by team or project
Create apps for distributing finalized content
Implement row-level security for data privacy
Set up appropriate sharing permissions
Use sensitivity labels for data classification
Configure email subscriptions for stakeholders

Common Scenarios¶

Business Intelligence Use Cases¶

Sales performance dashboard
Financial reporting and analysis
Customer behavior analytics
Operational KPI monitoring
Executive summary reports

Data Visualization¶

Trend analysis with line charts
Distribution analysis with histograms
Comparison analysis with bar charts
Geographic analysis with maps
Part-to-whole analysis with pie charts
Correlation analysis with scatter plots

Team workspace for departmental reports
App distribution to business users
Dashboard embedding in SharePoint
Mobile app for field workers
Scheduled report delivery via email

Self-Service Analytics¶

Business users creating ad-hoc reports
Q&A for natural language queries
Quick Insights for automated discovery
Excel integration for familiar interface
Dataflows for reusable data preparation

Study Tips¶

Practice connecting to different data sources
Understand import vs DirectQuery differences
Learn basic Power Query transformations
Know when to use reports vs dashboards
Understand workspace roles and permissions
Practice creating common visualization types
Learn how to use the Q&A feature
Understand row-level security configuration
Study data refresh options and limitations
Know the difference between sharing reports vs dashboards