Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence platform that lets organisations combine data from different sources, analyse it, and share the results as interactive reports and dashboards. It consists of three components: Power BI Desktop for building reports, the Power BI Service for publishing them in the cloud, and the mobile apps for access on the go. Power BI is part of Microsoft Fabric.

Microsoft Fabric is a modern, fully integrated data integration and storage platform based on open standards. It allows the creation of a cloud-based data platform using widely known technologies and methods. Power BI is a component of Fabric.

Informatec is a Swiss Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure) and Microsoft Solutions Partner for Digital and App Innovation (Azure) with offices in Muttenz (BL), Wallisellen (ZH), Freiburg im Breisgau (DE), and Lisbon (PT). We support Power BI projects from data architecture and the integration of source systems such as SAP, Abacus, abas, CSB, and company-specific ERP solutions through to production reporting and ongoing operations. Since 1998, we have completed 900+ projects for SMEs and large enterprises, including companies in the energy, healthcare, financial services, transport, and logistics sectors. Consulting, implementation, and training are provided in German and English by teams in Switzerland and Germany.

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Yes. Power BI provides encryption for data in transit and at rest, role-based access control down to row level (Row-Level Security), integration with Microsoft Entra ID, and certifications including ISO 27001, ISO 27018, and SOC 1/2/3.

For Swiss companies, the question of data residency is particularly important: Microsoft operates the Azure regions Switzerland North (Zurich) and Switzerland West (Geneva). Power BI tenants and Fabric capacities can be configured so that data remains within Switzerland – an important consideration for banks, insurance companies, healthcare organizations, and public-sector institutions subject to requirements under the revised Swiss Data Protection Act (revDSG), the GDPR, or regulatory obligations.

Correct configuration is crucial: changing a tenant’s home region at a later stage can require significant effort, and individual services may handle data residency differently. As a Swiss Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure), Informatec advises you on the right architecture.

Power BI seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products such as Excel, Azure, SharePoint, and Teams, enhancing data connectivity and collaboration.

To get started with Power BI, you can download the free Power BI Desktop application and familiarize yourself with the available tutorials and resources. Informatec also offers training and consulting to help you get started.

Yes, Power BI can connect to and integrate data from various sources such as Excel, SQL Server, cloud data sources, and many local and SaaS applications. It also supports non-Microsoft cloud services.

Microsoft sets the license costs, which depend on the licensing model: Power BI Desktop is free, Power BI Pro is billed per user per month, Power BI Premium Per User is also licensed per user, and Fabric Capacity is a capacity-based model for larger environments. You can find the current prices in our overview of Power BI licensing models. The project costs for an implementation depend on the number and complexity of the source systems, the state of the existing data architecture, and the scope of the reporting. 

As a Microsoft partner, we advise you on the most cost-effective licensing combination. In many cases, significant savings can be achieved with a mixed structure of Pro and Premium licenses. For a reliable estimate of the implementation effort, arrange a non-binding initial consultation.

Both platforms are mature, but they are suited to different starting points. 

Power BI is particularly strong if your organization already works extensively within the Microsoft ecosystem – Microsoft 365, Azure, Fabric – and you want to establish self-service BI broadly across business departments. 

Qlik Sense has an advantage when the focus is on complex associative data analysis, when heterogeneous source systems need to be combined, or when you want to remain platform-independent. 

Informatec has been working with both technologies for many years and is both a Microsoft Solutions Partner and a Qlik Channel Elite Partner. This allows us to provide technology-neutral recommendations rather than starting with a predetermined product choice.