Summary
Microsoft Power BI is an interactive data visualization and business intelligence (BI) software developed by Microsoft. It enables users to connect to data sources, transform data, and create interactive dashboards and reports to support data-driven decision-making.
Note: PowerBI is only available for Windows based operating systems
Access
PowerBI is available to faculty, staff, and students with varying levels of access.
Non-Licensed (Free) Access
All students, faculty, and staff can download and use Power BI Desktop at no cost directly from Microsoft: Download Power BI | Microsoft Power Platform
The free version allows users to create reports and dashboards locally on their computer; however, it has important limitations:
- Reports cannot be shared with other users through the Power BI Service.
- Collaboration within shared workspaces is not available.
- Users cannot publish content for department-wide access.
- Viewing reports published by others requires a Pro license.
- Some enterprise data features and administrative controls are restricted.
Free access is best suited for individual use, coursework, personal data analysis, or report development that does not require sharing or collaboration.
Licensed (Power BI Pro) Access
A Power BI Pro license is required for:
- Sharing reports and dashboards with others
- Collaborating within the Power BI Service (cloud)
- Publishing content to shared workspaces
- Viewing content shared by other licensed users
Licenses are typically required for faculty or staff whose roles involve collaboration, departmental reporting, or enterprise-level data sharing.
To request a Power BI Pro license, please contact the TechHUB at 412-396-5645.
Requirements
Windows operating system is required to install and run PowerBI Desktop.
For complete requirements please check out Microsoft's site: Get Power BI Desktop - Power BI | Microsoft Learn
Support
University Support
For staff and faculty assistance with installation, please contact Technology Support at 412-396-4357, help@duq.edu, or duq.edu/chat.
Vendor Support
For technical documentation, tutorials, and troubleshooting resources, visit the official Microsoft Power BI support site: Support documentation - Power BI | Microsoft Learn