As an alternative to an internally developed monitoring solution, a Power BI solution template is now available containing an end-to-end MS Azure architecture for analyzing Power BI usage. The Power BI Usage metrics solution template created by Neal Analytics (with collaboration from Microsoft) allows the organization to leverage prebuilt data flows and Power BI usage reports as well as further customize the monitoring solution to meet their needs. Specifically, the solution template utilizes Azure Logic Apps for a recurring ETL process and Azure SQL Database to store the audit log data. Additionally, a robust Power BI dataset (relationships, measures, formatting) and several well-designed report pages will be included as a Power BI Desktop file.
The following screenshot is from the Apps Summary report page of the Power BI Usage metrics solution template:
Several summary-level report pages similar to this example are included with the solution template, such as Views Summary and Dataset Summary. Additionally, the template contains multiple detail report pages (such as User Details and Scheduling Details) that expose all relevant attributes of specific user actions, or events in the Power BI service, such as editing a report or exporting a report. Between the dataset, the visualization layer, and the tested architecture in MS Azure, organizations can quickly derive value from the solution template and target their efforts to further improve monitoring visibility if necessary.
Links to Power BI solution templates in AppSource are available from PowerBI.com as well as Power BI Desktop. The following screenshot identifies the Solution Templates link under the Solutions menu in PowerBI.com:
In Power BI Desktop, a Solution Templates icon on the Help tab links to the solution templates in AppSource as well. The solution templates in AppSource include introductory videos, a Test Drive feature to interact with the Power BI report containing sample data, and a cost estimator document under the Learn More section.
Additionally, a Get it Now option provides further details on the architecture and the requirements of the template. In the following screenshot, the Free Trial option of the new Power BI Usage metrics solution template has been selected:
The preceding screenshot from the Getting Started tab is representative of the Get it Now option for other solution templates. Specifically, the templates connect to a specific source or service, process or transform that data, and load Azure SQL Database for analysis by a Power BI dataset and report. It's assumed that the current Free Trial option will be replaced with a Get it Now option later in 2018.
The natural trade-off for the solution template, of course, is the monthly cost of utilizing the underlying Azure resources. This cost will vary significantly based on the volume of users, and thus the volume of data to process and store. An estimate of this cost is not available as of this writing, but a cost estimator document is expected, similar to the documents available for other solution templates in Microsoft AppSource. For many organizations, this monthly cost (for example, $400) could be of great value relative to the development and operational costs associated with an internally developed monitoring solution.