How To Securely embed Power BI in other Applications or Websites

There are various ways when it comes to integrating Power BI dashboards into apps and websites.
We will discuss in this article the different ways for Power BI dashboards to be embedded in other applications and websites securely.

Because this process might be a little complicated, we recommend consulting with a Power BI Consultant to help you choose the ideal option for you.

1. Embedding in productivity tools

URL Embedding for Internal Websites and Portals (No-Code Embed)

This primary URL embedding method, sometimes known as no-code embed, does not necessitate developer knowledge.

A report in the Power BI service can create an embed code, which can show dashboards to authorized users in an iframe within a portal or website.

When to use it?

• An application or website that may be modified is the designated destination for consuming content.
• For a desktop application or website that does not have native Power BI integration, a no-code/low-code embedding solution is required.
• It is unnecessary to use JavaScript APIs (i.e., the entire stack of embedding capabilities is not available).
• The Power BI service should be in charge of content viewing security.
• Single sign-on is not required; prompting users to sign in is seen as a reasonable trade-off given the ease of implementing this solution.
• Every user has a Power BI license (Pro or Free + Premium capacity via an EM or P series SKU).

How to use it?

• Launch the Power BI service and select a report.
• Select Embed report > Website or from the File menu.

• Select the URL you may use to embed this information or the HTML you can put into your website or blog in an iframe in the Secure embed code window.

• Report access needs authentication whether a user views a report URL directly or one integrated into a web portal. The following page shows if a user has not logged in to Power BI during their browser session. If they click Sign In, a new browser window or tab may appear. If they are requested to sign in, have them check for pop-up blockers.

• The report opens once the user signs in, displaying the data and providing page navigation and filter choices. The report in Power BI can only be seen by people who have view permission. All row-level security (RLS) regulations are enforced as well. Finally, the user must be appropriately licensed – either a Power BI Pro or Premium Per User (PPU) license is required, or the report must be in a workspace with a Power BI Premium capacity. The user must sign in each time he opens a new browser window. Other reports, however, load it instantly as you log in.

• If you’re using an iFrame, you may need to adjust the height and width to accommodate it on your portal’s web page.

Embedding in Microsoft Teams

Power BI reports and paginated reports (published to the Power BI service) may be inserted as a tab within a Teams channel. Threaded discussions allow participants of a channel to debate the contents of a report in this basic embedding scenario.

When do you need to use embedding in Teams?

Use Teams embedding when: 

• A no-code solution for showing reports in Teams is desired.
• There is no requirement to utilize the JavaScript APIs (i.e., the whole stack of embedding capabilities is unavailable).
• The Power BI service should be in charge of content viewing security.
• All users have a Power BI license (Pro or Free + Premium capacity through an EM or P series SKU).
• Dashboards do not need to be embedded (reports only are supported in Teams).

How to use it

Follow these instructions to integrate your report in a Microsoft Teams channel or conversation.

• In Microsoft Teams, open a channel or conversation and click the + symbol.

• Choose the Power BI tab.

• Select a report from a Power BI app or workspace using the choices offered.

• The tab name automatically adjusts to reflect the report’s name, but you can modify it.
• Choose Save.

Embedding in Microsoft SharePoint

Power BI’s SharePoint Online web element may incorporate Power BI reports in a SharePoint Online current page.

When should you use SharePoint embedding?

• A no-code solution for showing reports in SharePoint Online via the web component is requested.
• Mention single sign-on (SSO).
• There is no requirement to utilize the JavaScript APIs (i.e., the entire stack of embedding capabilities is unavailable).
• The Power BI service should be in charge of content viewing security.
• All users have a Power BI license (Pro or Free + Premium capacity through an EM or P series SKU).

How to do that?

To embed your report in SharePoint Online, you have to obtain the report URL and use it with the Power BI web element.

Obtain a report URL

• In the Power BI service, open a report.
• Select Embed report > SharePoint Online from the File menu.

• Copy the report URL from the dialog.

Add the Power BI report to a page in SharePoint Online.

• Select Edit on the target page in SharePoint Online. To build a new modern site page in Sharepoint Online, go to Pages > Add New > Site Page.

• Choose the Power BI web portion from the + dropdown menu.

• Select the Add report option.

• Copy the previously copied report URL and paste it into the Power BI report link box. The report will automatically load.

• To make the modification visible to your SharePoint Online users, click Publish.

2. Embedding for Your Company

The “embedding for your company” scenario focuses on using APIs to extend the use of the Power BI service. This sort of embedding scenario allows customers the choice of seeing material via the Power BI service or a desktop application.

Because users authenticate into Power BI, this method is commonly referred to as “user owns data.”

This option is not limited to individuals in your organization. There are methods for incorporating external users (through B2B) into this situation.

When it comes to “Embedding for your company,” 

Use it when

An application or website that may be modified is the designated destination for consuming content.

• There is a developer with coding expertise accessible.
• The JavaScript and REST APIs must be used with complete freedom.
• The Power BI service should be in charge of content viewing security.
• Every user has a Power BI license (Pro or Free with Premium capacity).
• Singular sign-on is required.

3. Embedding Power BI For Your Clients

The “embedding for your clients” choice focuses on using Power BI Embedded, an Azure service primarily geared at independent software suppliers (ISVs) that want to incorporate Power BI information in their custom applications. 

Because users login into the application rather than Power BI, this method is commonly referred to as “app owns data.”

This option may also be used with internal users when the use case is appropriate. It is so named because users do not utilize their corporate credentials, primarily aimed at external users. Instead, the application handles this; thus, users do not require Power BI licenses to view the embedded material.

The Power BI Embedded service operates similarly to Power BI Premium in that capacity is purchased. Once workspaces have been granted this functionality, content may be accessed by embedding it in a custom-built application.

The pricing of Power BI Embedded is dependent on the purchase of scalable capacity rather than individual user licenses.

A how-to on this subject would necessitate its article. For the time being, we advise you to look at Microsoft’s “Power BI Developer in a Day” series: If you are interested in doing this, please see : Welcome and Course Introduction | Power BI Developer in a Day – YouTube

When do you need to embed something for your customers?

• An application or website that may be modified is the designated destination for consuming content.
• There is a developer with coding expertise accessible.
• The JavaScript and REST APIs must be used with complete freedom.
• The application will handle all user authentication for content consumers who do not have a Power BI license.
• Microsoft Power BI Azure embedded capacity has been acquired to accomplish the following goals:
• Scalability on-demand or on a timetable
• The ability to suspend compute services (and associated costs) on-demand or on a schedule 
• There is no payment obligation.

Aside from embedding situations, capacity may be acquired in Azure using the Power BI Embedded service for the following purposes:

Before purchasing Power BI Premium, perform preliminary testing. Because the Power BI Embedded computing service may be halted when not in use, it is an excellent method to try out Premium-only capabilities (such as paginated reports, the XMLA endpoint, or additional data flows functionality).

It should be noted that when capacity is acquired via an A-series SKU from Power BI Embedded, the usage of Power BI Free users to access material is not available.

Certain Premium services may be used, but not 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because the Power BI Embedded computing service may be suspended when not in use, it provides a highly cost-effective approach to employ capabilities that need dedicated capacity.

Sending paginated report subscriptions is one such scenario: An automated process could start the Power BI Embedded capacity, then paginated report subscriptions in the Power BI service could be sent out, and then the Power BI Embedded capacity could be stopped (keep in mind, however, that paginated reports may not be viewed interactively while the total is paused, and subscription delivery will fail if capacity remained during the scheduled time).

Not every Premium feature is available through ability purchased through Power BI Embedded, but most are.

It’s worth noting that an A4 SKU from Power BI Embedded costs around 20% more per hour than a P1 SKU from Power BI Premium.

As a result, if you want to operate the capacity 24 hours a day, seven days a week with little to no pause (which is only accessible with Power BI Embedded), Power BI Premium is a more cost-effective solution.

Clarifying Premium’s Role in Embedding Scenarios

As previously stated, Power BI allows content embedding in two ways. Organizational embedding is available to users who have Power BI licenses (Free or Pro) and signed in with their corporate account to access embedded material.

Unlike the Power BI Embedded Azure service, which allows users without Power BI licenses to see embedded material without requiring them to sign in with an organizational account, the application that includes the embedded content manages user authentication individually.

4. Publish to the Web (FREE Embedding)

With the “Publish To Web” tool, you may make a report publicly viewable to anybody, inside or outside the company.

Because this option is designed to be insecure, we recommend that the tenant settings severely restrict who is authorized to use it. The default configuration requires the Power BI administrator to permit the usage of Publish to the web.

When can you embed Power BI for free?

• Use When the dashboard is neither secret nor proprietary and can be viewed by anybody on a public-facing website, publish it to the web.
• You’re creating a public website, such as one for the government to tell residents about public data, a journalist posting data as part of a story, or a non-profit organization demonstrating the effect being made.

Warning

Your published report or graphic is readable by everyone who has access to the internet when you utilize Publish to the web. 

Viewing does not necessitate authentication. It includes seeing detail-level data aggregated by your reports.

Before you publish a report:

1. Make sure you have permission to share the data and visualizations publicly.
2. Don’t make the sensitive or proprietary information public.
3. Before posting, double-check your organization’s policies.

How to embed Power BI to the web?

The instructions below demonstrate how to utilize Publish to the web.

• Open a report in an editable workspace and choose File > Embed report > Publish to the web (public).

• If your Power BI administrator hasn’t given you permission to build embed codes, contact them.

• Check How to Find Your Power BI Administrator for assistance locating the individual in your company who can allow Publish to the web. administrator
• Examine the dialog content and then click Create embed code

• Examine the warning, as shown above, and validate that the data is suitable for inclusion on a public website. If so, click Publish.

• You may get a preview of the report in the Success dialog. Choose the Size and Default page options.

To make the web page load faster, you may also use a Placeholder picture. People viewing your report on the web will notice a view interactive content button that they may click to access the item itself if you use a placeholder picture.

Make those adjustments first. Then copy the link to send it as an email or the HTML to put into a website. You may embed it in code, such as an iFrame, or copy and paste it into a blog or a web page.

• If you previously produced an embed code for a report and chose Publish to the web, the dialogs in steps 2-4 will not appear. Instead, you’re familiar with the Embed code dialog.

Each report can only have one embed code.

References and learn more :
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/collaborate-share/service-embed-report-microsoft-teams https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/collaborate-share/service-publish-to-web
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/collaborate-share/service-embed-report-spo