Question

How can I set up automated deployment of Power BI reports across multiple environments using CI/CD?
I need to automate the deployment of Power BI reports across different environments (development, test, production) using a CI/CD pipeline. What is the best approach to set up version control, manage deployment configurations, and ensure consistency across environments using tools like Azure DevOps or Power BI REST API?

Answer 1

Best practices for establishing CI/CD for automatic deployment of Power BI reports across different environments:

Version Control with Source Control Systems: Use Git repositories (Azure Repos, GitHub) to store Power BI (.pbix) files, JSON configurations, and deployment scripts and use a branching strategy (Dev → Test → Prod) to keep track of report versions.

Automate Deployment Using Power BI REST API & Azure DevOps:

• Utilize the Power BI REST API to automate publishing, refreshing datasets, and assigning workspaces.
• Create Azure DevOps Pipelines with tasks that will deploy reports, update connections, and assign permissions.
• Authenticate via Service Principals and provide permission to the needed APIs in Power BI Service.
• Manage Environment-Specific Configurations: Store parameterized settings (like workspace names and dataset connections) in Azure Key Vault or environment variables or JSON config files to ensure smooth transitions across environments.