Power BI is a powerful tool for creating and sharing data visualizations. But how do you license it for a small group of developers who want to share their reports with users who only need read-only access?
This was the challenge faced by one of our clients, who had the M365 E3 license and no plans to upgrade to the M365 E5 license, which includes the Power BI Pro license. The Power BI Pro license is required for both creating and viewing content created with Power BI Pro. Note: The Power BI Free license does not allow viewing content created with Power BI Pro.
We explored two alternative options for our client:
- SQL Server Enterprise with active Software Assurance (SA). This option gives access to the Power BI Report Server, which allows viewing and interacting with Power BI reports for unlimited users without them needing a Power BI Pro license. However, the developer still needs a Power BI Pro license to create the reports. SQL Server Enterprise with SA is a costly option, but it may be feasible if there is an existing license available or if the reports are based on a database that already uses SQL Server Enterprise. The number of users who need to view the reports is also a factor to consider. You can learn more about Power BI Report Server here.
- Power BI Premium. This option offers dedicated capacity and memory for Power BI workloads. The main options are P1, P2, P3, etc. The memory is the key consideration, as shown in yellow in the diagram below. We recommended starting with a P1, which can be upgraded later if needed. However, downgrading is not possible until the annual renewal. The cost for Power BI Premium P1 is about £3,250 per month, and it almost doubles for P2. This is likely to be the most expensive option. The developer still needs a Power BI Pro license to create the content, but the users do not to view and interact with it.
We helped our client compare the pros and cons of each option and choose the one that best suited their needs and budget. If you need help with Power BI licensing or any other Microsoft licensing issues, contact us today. At The SAM Club we are here to help you save money and optimize your software assets. Contact us at [email protected] if you would like more information about our service.
