The Clearly Podcast

Governance

Summary

This week we talk to special guest, Reza Rad, about governance.  If you have read any of the previous podcast descriptions, you will probably be familiar with Reza's work.  If you're not aware of Reza yet, you should fix that as he is one of the leading experts in the world in Power BI.

Today, we cover all aspects of data and BI governance, from data sources through to outputs via training and encouraging a data culture.

One of the key aspects of governance is getting the overall architecture right.  If at all possible, this should be in place from day one.  Often, though, with the increase in "citizen developer" tools we can end up in something similar to the old "Excel hell" and a lack of a single source of truth.

The more code that can be re-used, such as creating shared datasets, the easier your task will be.  We will talk a little more about this in a future episode on Application Lifecycle Management and how it applies (and doesn't apply) to BI projects.

Beyond the technological measures, we also need to think about the cultural and "soft" elements of making the architecture stick.  Key to this is creating suitably tailored training to the different audiences in an organisation, and providing the appropriate documentation.

One of the critical challenges thrown up by modern BI tools is an increased expectation that everything can be done quickly - bypassing the normal controls.  At the same time, you don't want to just kill everybody's enthusiasm.

In the wider Azure context, tools such as Data Loss Prevention policies and Azure Information Protection can help, but be wary of being too reliant on technology over policy and organisational culture.

Finally, the Centre of Excellence tool kit can provide a valuable accelerator to governance on the Power Platform more generally.

Reza's website Radacad is a treasure trove of information across all things Power BI, and also the place to go to download Power BI Helper.  Reza can also be found on Twitter and LinkedIn

In addition, Tabular Editor and DAX Studio are fantastic tools to help manage development.

The Power BI Summit takes place on line this April and tickets are available now.

You can download Power BI Desktop from here.

If you already use Power BI, or are considering it, we strongly recommend you join your local Power BI user group here.

Transcript

Host: Andy Hello everyone, and welcome to the Clearly Podcast Episode 16 on Data and Information Governance. Today, we discuss this critical subject with Shailan Chudasama, Tom Gough, myself, Andy Clark, and our special guest, Reza Rad.

Introductions:

  • Tom: Doing well, thanks.

  • Reza: Great to be here. I'm a Power BI consultant and trainer based in New Zealand, working at Radacad. We have a blog and YouTube channel with content about Power BI.

Andy: We're thrilled to have Reza with us. Today, we're discussing the importance of data governance, including architecture, training, data ownership, data culture, security, sharing, and tools.

Reza's View on Information Governance: When I started with Power BI, clients mainly asked about development. However, recently, inquiries have shifted to structure and architecture. Organizations often start using Power BI informally, leading to multiple inconsistent reports. Governance becomes crucial to maintain consistency, shared calculations, and reliable reports.

Tom: Without governance, Power BI projects can turn into a chaotic "Excel hell" with unreliable data.

Shailan: It's essential to establish a data governance office and custodians for data to ensure security and consistent use. Public sector and defense organizations often have robust governance structures in place.

Andy: How do you rein in an uncontrolled Power BI environment, Reza?

Reza: We focus on phases: development architecture, sharing strategy, and environment setup. Implementing shared datasets and data flows can standardize reports. Training is vital but should be ongoing, not just a one-time event.

Tom: Training should be seen as a continuous business process. Users need time to practice what they learn and have ongoing support.

Shailan: Tools like Azure Information Protection and Data Loss Prevention policies can help manage data security and sharing. The Power Platform's Center of Excellence toolkit also offers monitoring and auditing solutions.

Andy: It's crucial to view data as a valuable asset and ensure it's managed properly to enhance its value to the organization.

Top Tips for Data Governance:

  • Reza: Establish a strong development architecture, consider data culture, and provide ongoing training.

  • Tom: Treat data governance as a business process, not just a technical one.

  • Shailan: Use available tools and set up proactive governance to avoid breaches.

Conclusion: Thank you, Reza, for joining us. For more information, visit radacad.com. Our next episode will discuss the role of color in technology.

Contact Information:

  • Clearly Cloudy: clearlycloudy.co.uk (UK and Europe), clearlysolutions.net (North America)

  • Radacad: radacad.com

Stay safe and have a great week!