Configuring access to semantic models in Power BI is essential for maintaining data security and ensuring appropriate users can interact with your data assets. Semantic models, formerly known as datasets, serve as the foundation for reports and dashboards, making their security configuration critic…Configuring access to semantic models in Power BI is essential for maintaining data security and ensuring appropriate users can interact with your data assets. Semantic models, formerly known as datasets, serve as the foundation for reports and dashboards, making their security configuration critical for organizational data governance.
There are several layers of access control for semantic models. At the workspace level, you can assign roles including Admin, Member, Contributor, and Viewer. Each role provides different permissions - Admins have full control, Members can publish and edit content, Contributors can create and edit items, while Viewers can only consume content.
For more granular control, you can configure Build permissions on individual semantic models. Build permission allows users to create new reports using the semantic model, access data through Analyze in Excel, or connect via XMLA endpoints. You can grant Build permission through the workspace, by sharing reports with Build access, or through Power BI apps.
Row-Level Security (RLS) provides data-level protection by filtering data based on user identity. You define roles with DAX filter expressions that restrict which rows users can see. After creating roles in Power BI Desktop, you manage membership in the Power BI service by adding users or security groups to specific roles.
Object-Level Security (OLS) allows you to hide specific tables or columns from certain users, providing additional protection for sensitive fields like salary information or personal identifiers.
Sharing semantic models through the data hub enables discovery across your organization while maintaining security boundaries. You can also certify or promote semantic models to indicate their reliability and encourage reuse.
For enterprise scenarios, sensitivity labels from Microsoft Purview Information Protection can be applied to semantic models, ensuring data classification travels with the content when exported. Additionally, you can manage semantic model access through Power BI apps, controlling which users can access specific content within published app experiences.
Configure Access to Semantic Models - Complete Guide for PL-300 Exam
Why is Configuring Semantic Model Access Important?
Configuring access to semantic models is a critical aspect of Power BI governance and security. Semantic models (formerly known as datasets) contain your organization's business data and logic. Proper access configuration ensures that:
• Data security is maintained by limiting who can view sensitive information • Compliance requirements are met for regulatory standards • Collaboration is enabled while protecting intellectual property • Row-level security (RLS) restricts data access at the row level based on user roles
What is Semantic Model Access Configuration?
Semantic model access configuration refers to the various methods and settings used to control who can connect to, use, and build upon your Power BI semantic models. This includes:
• Build Permission: Allows users to create new reports and content using the semantic model • Read Permission: Enables users to view reports built on the semantic model • Reshare Permission: Permits users to share the semantic model with others • Write Permission: Allows modifications to the semantic model itself
How Does Semantic Model Access Work?
Workspace Roles: • Admin: Full control including managing permissions and deleting content • Member: Can publish, edit content, and manage permissions for items they create • Contributor: Can publish and edit content but cannot manage permissions • Viewer: Can only view content, no editing capabilities
Sharing Methods: • Share semantic models through workspace access • Grant Build permission through the semantic model settings • Use Power BI apps to distribute content with controlled access • Configure per-item permissions for granular control
Row-Level Security (RLS): • Define roles in Power BI Desktop using DAX expressions • Assign users to roles in the Power BI service • Dynamic RLS uses USERNAME() or USERPRINCIPALNAME() functions • Static RLS uses predefined values in filter expressions
Configuring Access Step-by-Step:
1. Navigate to the workspace containing your semantic model 2. Select the semantic model and click on Manage permissions 3. Add users or groups and assign appropriate permissions 4. For RLS, go to Security settings and add members to defined roles 5. Test RLS using the 'View as' feature to verify filtering works correctly
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Configure Access to Semantic Models
Key Concepts to Master: • Understand the difference between workspace roles and item-level permissions • Know that Build permission is required for users to create reports using a shared semantic model • Remember that RLS must be configured in Power BI Desktop but roles are assigned in the service • Viewers in a workspace can see all semantic models but need Build permission to create new content
Common Question Scenarios: • Questions about minimum permissions needed for specific tasks • Scenarios involving external users and guest access • RLS implementation and testing procedures • Combining workspace roles with item-level permissions
Watch Out For: • Questions that test understanding of permission inheritance • Scenarios where multiple permission levels interact • The distinction between sharing a report versus sharing the underlying semantic model • Questions about Object-Level Security (OLS) for hiding specific tables or columns
Remember These Facts: • App users can be granted Build permission through app settings • RLS does not apply to users with Admin or Member workspace roles in edit mode • Object-Level Security requires Tabular Editor or SSMS to configure • The 'View as role' feature helps validate RLS rules before deployment
Practice Tip: When answering exam questions, identify what action the user needs to perform, then determine the minimum permission level required. Always consider whether RLS or OLS is involved in the scenario.