Databases and warehouses · data source guide
Azure SQL Database data in Power BI
Connector status
Connector in Microsoft's list
- Azure SQL database
The Azure SQL database connector is listed for Excel, Power BI (semantic models) and Power Query Online, with import and DirectQuery.
Checked against Microsoft Learn's Power Query connector list on 5 November 2026. Connectors change; check the list before you build.
How to get Azure SQL Database data into Power BI
In order of preference for a report that refreshes on its own.
- 1
Connect with Microsoft Entra ID
Get data → Azure SQL database, enter the server and database, and sign in with a Microsoft account (Entra ID) rather than a SQL login where your organisation allows it.
- 2
Allow Power BI through the firewall
The database firewall must allow connections from Azure services or the relevant IP ranges; private endpoints need a virtual network data gateway.
- 3
Keep query folding
Do filters, column selection and joins as early Power Query steps so they fold into SQL. Right-click a step and check View Native Query to confirm.
- 4
Read from views
Ask the database owner for reporting views. They give a stable contract when tables change underneath.
Typical Azure SQL Database KPIs
Table and column names in the DAX are illustrative: rename them to match your model.
Orders today
Rows in the orders table for today (DirectQuery for near-real-time).
Orders Today = CALCULATE ( COUNTROWS ( Orders ), Orders[OrderDate] = TODAY () )Revenue month to date
Standard time intelligence on a Date table.
Revenue MTD = TOTALMTD ( SUM ( Orders[Amount] ), 'Date'[Date] )Average processing time
Minutes between two status timestamps.
Avg Processing (min) = AVERAGEX ( Orders, DATEDIFF ( Orders[CreatedAt], Orders[ShippedAt], MINUTE ) )Error rate
Failed transactions divided by all transactions.
Error Rate = DIVIDE ( CALCULATE ( COUNTROWS ( Transactions ), Transactions[Status] = "Failed" ), COUNTROWS ( Transactions ) )Active customers
Distinct customers with an order in the last 90 days.
Active Customers = CALCULATE ( DISTINCTCOUNT ( Orders[CustomerId] ), DATESINPERIOD ( 'Date'[Date], MAX ( 'Date'[Date] ), -90, DAY ) )Modelling notes for Azure SQL Database
- DirectQuery on an operational database adds load; use a readable secondary or a reporting copy for heavy reports.
- Steps after a non-folding transformation run locally; keep folding steps first.
- datetimeoffset columns need explicit time-zone handling in Power Query.
Templates for Azure SQL Database data
Free page layouts with a background, theme JSON and PBIP project. Swap the sample tables for your own queries.
Sales template
Regional Sales PerformancePower BI regional sales dashboard template: a large sales map, four KPIs, revenue by region bars and a top-accounts table on one page.
Sales template
Sales PipelinePower BI sales pipeline dashboard template with pipeline value, win rate and cycle-time KPIs, a stage funnel, pipeline creation trend and closing deals.
Operations template
Customer SupportPower BI customer support dashboard template: CSAT gauge, response and resolution time KPIs, created vs solved trend, ticket categories and agent table.
Operations template
Call Centre OperationsDark Power BI call centre wallboard template: six live KPI tiles, calls offered vs answered by interval, service-level gauge and agent states.
Operations template
Energy ConsumptionPower BI energy and sustainability dashboard template: kWh, cost, carbon and intensity KPIs, hourly load, source mix, site vs baseline and load-profile heatmap.
Supply chain template
Supply Chain InventoryPower BI inventory dashboard template: inventory value, days of supply, stock-outs and fill rate KPIs, inventory vs demand, a category treemap and stock alerts.
Power BI visuals for Sales · Power BI visuals for Supply Chain · More by department: Operations templates · Sales templates · Supply chain templates
Visuals for Azure SQL Database KPIs
Chart types that suit these KPIs, with data shapes and example prompts.
Visual
Calendar HeatmapDaily sales or revenue intensity across the year; Website traffic patterns (day-of-week × week-of-year)
Visual
Box PlotOrder-value distributions by region; Ticket-resolution-time distributions by priority
Visual
SPC Control ChartManufacturing yield and defect-rate monitoring; Healthcare quality metrics (readmission rate, infection rate)
Visual
KPI CardExecutive dashboard KPI row (revenue, customers, NPS, churn); SaaS metrics card (MRR, ARR, logo growth)
Azure SQL Database and Power BI: questions
Can I use DirectQuery with Azure SQL Database?
Yes. The connector supports import and DirectQuery. DirectQuery runs queries on the database for every interaction, so check the load it adds.
Do I need a gateway?
Not for a database reachable from Azure services. Databases behind private endpoints need a virtual network data gateway or an on-premises data gateway in that network.
Related data sources
Other sources teams often combine with this one.
Connector in Microsoft's list
Snowflake in Power BISnowflake in Power BI with the Snowflake connector
Connector in Microsoft's list
Excel in Power BIExcel data in Power BI
Connector in Microsoft's list
Dynamics 365 in Power BIDynamics 365 data in Power BI via the Dataverse, Business Central and Customer Insights connectors
Azure SQL Database is a trademark of its owner. Product names are used only to describe compatibility; VizForge is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the owner or by Microsoft.
Design the Azure SQL Database report page first
Lay out KPI cards and visual slots in the free Design Studio, then export the background, theme JSON and a PBIP project to bind to your data.
The design studio for Power BI. Free, in your browser, no sign-up.