Question

What’s the recommended way to handle external data connections that require high security in Power BI?

Our Power BI project involves connecting to external data sources containing sensitive information. I’m looking for best practices for ensuring secure connections, including encryption, credentials management, and minimizing security risks when working with external data in Power BI.

Comments

With external data connections in Power BI, utmost care must be exercised in securing sensitive data through encryption, secure authentication, and access control best practices.

Answer 1

When it comes to managing external data connectivity in Power BI, the following guidelines must be observed:

Utilize Power BI Gateway: For on-premises data sources, the Power BI On-Premises Data Gateway should be utilized to gain access to Power BI. Make sure the gateway is set to use HTTPS to encrypt the communication between the Power BI Service and the data source. The network gateway should be placed in a zone where external interference is minimized.

Safety and Security: Never use an unencrypted connection. Instead, it is recommended to connect using HTTPS and SSL or a secure sockets layer to protect the data. Ensure that the data is secured when it is being moved or even when it is not being moved. Instead of hard-coding passwords into queries, rely on OAuth2 or other secure means of authentication.

Safely Handle Credentials: Securely save all credentials by making use of the credential management Power BI service offers. For Azure-based data sources, try to refrain from using personal accounts as much as possible. Wearing out sensitive information by regularly changing passwords serves as an added advantage.

Restrict Access:

1. Only provide access to the data source or Power BI workspace to those who are part of the team.
2. In Power BI, use Role-Level Security (RLS) to enhance security based on user roles assigned.
3. For even better security, remember to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Monitor and Audit: Perform audits within Power BI to check how data and users are accessed. Systematic examination of records should be performed to eliminate or detect any security risks.

Keep Systems Updated: Apply all protective systems, such as gateways, Power BI, and interconnected systems, at the rate of their patching on a regular basis to fix any existing threats.

Following these measures will help you ensure that the external data connection is secure and that the risks are greatly minimized in the Power BI environment.

Comments

Ensure secure external data connectivity in Power BI by using encrypted gateways, secure authentication, role-based access, regular audits, and timely system updates.

Answer 2

Use Azure Key Vault for credentials; OAuth authentication; Row Level Security for a secured external data access; data encryption, and private networking connections such as VNet and On-Premises Data Gateway, ensuring that the data is secure wherever it is sourced.