What is Power BI Cloud?
Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is this Power BI in the cloud that everyone’s talking about?
Power BI Cloud (more precisely known as Power BI Service) is the cloud version of Power BI, operating as a SaaS (Software as a Service). In practice, this means you don’t have to install anything locally, configure servers, or worry about updates – everything runs right in your browser, through your Microsoft account.
If you’ve only worked with Power BI Desktop so far, you probably know the routine: you pull data, build reports, save .pbix files on your hard drive. Sound familiar? In the cloud, it’s different. Power BI Cloud lets you not only publish and share reports but also automatically refresh them, manage access, add comments, and analyze data from your phone, tablet, or browser at work. No more email attachments or files named “final_v2_copy_last.pbix”.
But there’s more. It’s worth knowing that this tool can be part of a bigger ecosystem called Microsoft Fabric. What does that mean in practice? You can use just Power BI if you mainly need reporting. But if your company has bigger needs – like data engineering, data warehousing, or advanced automation – you can easily add other Fabric components such as Data Factory, Lakehouse, Data Science, or Notebooks.
Do you have to use them? No. But it’s good to know that option exists – analytics is not just about pretty charts.
Main benefits of Power BI Cloud for companies
Wondering what Power BI in cloud actually brings to your business? Is it more than just reports “in the cloud”? Let’s explore, with real examples.
24/7 access to data
Remember the days when you had to start a VPN just to access last week’s report? Or when your boss asked for a quick summary and you were on the road with only your phone? With Power BI Cloud, that’s history. Your data is always at hand – on your computer, tablet, or phone. No copying or emailing files needed. You log in, click, and you’re good to go.
Automatic data refresh
No need to remember to “update Excel in the morning.” Power BI Cloud does it for you. You set up a refresh schedule – and your data updates automatically. Plus, Power BI Cloud easily connects to other Microsoft services, like Azure SQL or SharePoint. In short: less manual work, more automation.
Security – compliant with IT policies
The question “Is the cloud secure?” keeps coming back. But Power BI Cloud is an enterprise-grade service with compliance certifications, access control, encryption, and integration with Azure Active Directory. You have full control over who sees what—and when.
Scalability – grow without limits
Need to add a new user? Or maybe your company is opening a new branch and you want to connect data from another ERP system? This tool supports multiple data sources. No need to invest in infrastructure or plan migrations months ahead. Everything grows with you.
Collaboration – teamwork in real time
Can several people work on the same report? Yes. Can they comment on data and discuss it in one place? Absolutely. This tool enables real-time collaboration, so analysts, managers, and executives can act faster and make decisions on the fly—not “after next Tuesday’s meeting.”
When is it worth choosing Power BI in cloud?
Wondering if Power BI in cloud is the right choice for your company? Let’s look at some concrete examples.
- Do you have a distributed team working remotely or in a hybrid model? Sounds familiar? In today’s world, where work happens from anywhere, access to reports can’t be limited to just one office. Power BI Cloud allows your team to view, analyze, and share data from any device and location — no VPNs or logging into company servers required. It’s a huge time saver—and a stress reducer.
- Do you need fast access to data from multiple sources? If your data is scattered across ERP systems, CRM, Excel, and online marketing tools, local solutions might not cut it. This tool enables connecting and modeling data from various sources in real time. This way, you get a full picture—without manually merging everything in Excel.
- Don’t want to invest in costly IT infrastructure? Building your own servers, setting up analytics environments, security, backups… sounds like a big budget and an even bigger project. With Power BI Cloud, you can skip all that. Microsoft provides infrastructure, security, and updates, and you pay only for what you actually use.
- Want to combine on-premises data with the cloud? It doesn’t have to be an either-or choice: local data or cloud. Many companies use hybrid Power BI deployments, combining on-premises databases with Microsoft’s cloud analytics power. This way, you can leverage what you already have while gaining new capabilities—like advanced data analysis or AI in Power BI.
What does Power BI Cloud implementation look like?
Implementing Power BI Cloud doesn’t have to be complicated. But—as with most data projects—it’s good to have someone who knows how to get started. Think of the whole process as moving into a new digital office. Before you start working on the new platform, it’s wise to organize, secure, and make the environment user-friendly.
We begin with data preparation. This step determines where your data comes from—local ERP systems, cloud, Excel, SQL—you name it. The key is making sure data is well-structured and ready for its “new life” in Power BI Cloud.
Next comes environment setup, which usually includes:
- Creating workspaces
- Scheduling data refreshes
- Assigning roles and access levels
- Setting security policies compliant with your company’s IT rules
On Microsoft’s side, everything runs at top level—you decide who can see what and when.
Finally, the most enjoyable part: publishing reports and dashboards. That’s when users gain access to interactive cloud reports—no installation required, accessible from anywhere in the world. This tool offers full flexibility.
And one more thing: training. Because even the best tool won’t help if people don’t know how to use it.
This is where an implementation partner like EBIS plays a huge role. They help you:
- Analyze business needs
- Design the entire data architecture and environment
- Ensure compliance with GDPR, ISO, and internal procedures
- Train your team and prepare documentation
- Support users even after deployment is complete
In short: a good partner is not just “the IT guy for Power BI,” but someone who understands both data and your business.
Summary
Today, Power BI is more than just a reporting tool. It’s a way to build a data-driven culture that’s accessible, secure, and flexible.
If you want to move beyond Excel, automate reporting, and have 24/7 access to your data, now is the time to seriously consider implementing Power BI in the cloud.
And you don’t have to do it alone—get support from an implementation partner who knows how to connect data, people, and technology into one cohesive whole.
