Power BI Embedded on Microsoft Azure
Power BI Embedded is an Azure service that enables embedding of Power BI reports, dashboards, and visualizations into own web applications or SaaS products. Unlike Power BI Service, which is used standalone, Embedded is specifically designed for ISVs and developers who want to integrate BI functions into their applications.
The service enables white-label solutions where end users are not confronted with Power BI branding. Developers use Power BI REST APIs and JavaScript SDKs for integration. Licensing is capacity-based, not per user, which can be more cost-effective especially for applications with many users.
Power BI Embedded is available in all Azure regions and meets GDPR requirements.
Typical Use Cases
SaaS analytics: Integration of customer-facing analytics in multi-tenant SaaS platforms with isolated data per tenant and white-label branding.
ISV solutions: Embedding of industry-specific dashboards in software products (e.g., ERP, CRM, IoT platforms) without separate BI licensing.
Portals and intranets: Integration of HR dashboards, sales reports, or operations overviews in enterprise portals with single sign-on.
Custom B2B applications: Provision of customer-specific reports in B2B platforms with row-level security per customer.
Frequently Asked Questions about Power BI Embedded
What is the difference to Power BI Premium?
Power BI Premium is intended for internal use in organizations, Power BI Embedded for external-facing scenarios in applications. Embedded licenses by capacity (A SKUs), not by number of users, and offers extended APIs for programmatic control.
Do end users need Power BI licenses?
No, with Power BI Embedded, end users don’t need Power BI Pro licenses. Licensing is done via Azure capacity (A SKUs). Only developers need Power BI Pro for content creation.
How does Row-Level Security work in multi-tenant scenarios?
RLS can be dynamically applied based on the logged-in user. When embedding, embed tokens specify which data the user may see. This allows using one database for all tenants with secure data isolation.
Can users create reports themselves?
By default, embedded users only consume predefined reports. With Power BI Embedded Generation 2, self-service scenarios can also be activated where users can customize reports or create their own.
How is billing structured?
Power BI Embedded uses A SKUs (A1-A6) with hourly billing. A1 starts at approximately €0.70/hour. Capacity can be paused when not in use. Cost savings possible through Reserved Instances.
Can I switch between Embedded and Premium?
Yes, content can be moved between Power BI Embedded and Power BI Premium. The underlying PBIX files and datasets are compatible.
Which authentication methods are supported?
Embed tokens (for app-owns-data scenarios) or Azure AD tokens (for user-owns-data). Integration with own identity providers via Azure AD B2C possible.
Alternatives
alternatives:
- provider: “aws” product: “quicksight-embedding”
- provider: “gcp” product: “looker-embedding”
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you in integrating Power BI Embedded into SaaS applications and custom solutions. We help with architecture, implementation, security concepts, and cost optimization.
Contact us for a non-binding consultation on Power BI Embedded.
