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Configurating Power BI Data Gateways
Install, configure, and manage Power BI Data Gateways with Justin Vogel. Learn Standard vs Personal modes, set up secure connections, use refresh or DirectQuery/Live, and keep them reliable with clusters and logs.
Bridge your on-premises data to the cloud with confidence. In Configurating Power BI Data Gateways, Justin Vogel shows you how gateways enable the Power BI Service to securely access data that lives behind your firewall or in private networks. You’ll learn when to use Standard vs. Personal mode, what prerequisites and permissions are required, and how to plan a clean installation—covering service accounts, regions, and basic network considerations like proxies and ports. Step by step, you’ll install a gateway, register it to your tenant, and connect common sources so reports refresh reliably.
Once you’re up and running, the course turns to day-to-day management and best practices. Justin walks through configuring data sources in the Power BI Service, mapping credentials, and choosing between scheduled refresh and DirectQuery/Live scenarios. You’ll explore high availability with gateway clusters, tips for performance, and practical troubleshooting using logs and diagnostics. The course wraps with governance and security guidance—least-privilege access, ownership models, and change management—so you can keep your organization’s gateways stable, secure, and easy to maintain.
Course Outline ( Free Preview)
Module 01 - Introduction
Meet Justin and get a clear roadmap for the course. You’ll learn what problems data gateways solve, how they fit between on-premises sources and the Power BI Service, and what you’ll set up by the end. We’ll also preview key decisions around gateway mode, security, and management so you know what to watch for as you follow along.
Module 02 - What are Data Gateways?
Understand the role of a gateway as a secure bridge that lets cloud services query data behind your firewall. Justin explains how refresh and DirectQuery/Live scenarios flow through a gateway, what’s encrypted, and where credentials live. You’ll see typical architectures and when a gateway is required versus optional.
Module 03 - Types of Data Gateways5 min.
Learn the differences between Standard (enterprise) and Personal gateways, including who should use each, supported scenarios, and limitations. Justin covers clustering for high availability, load distribution, and when multiple gateways—or regions—make sense. You’ll leave with a simple decision guide for choosing the right type.
Module 04 - Planning and Implementation4 min.
Set yourself up for a smooth deployment. We’ll review prerequisites (service accounts, permissions), region selection, networking (outbound ports, proxies, DNS), and least-privilege credential mapping. Justin shares a practical checklist for governance, ownership, and change control so your gateway estate stays secure and maintainable.
Module 05 - Setting Up an On-Premises Data Gateway9 min.
Walk through a clean, repeatable install. You’ll download and install the gateway service, register it to your tenant, set a recovery key, and decide whether to create or join a cluster. Justin demonstrates configuring the Windows service account, updating to the latest version, and validating connectivity before you move to the Service.
Module 06 - Power BI Demonstration12 min.
See it in action from the cloud side. In the Power BI Service, you’ll configure data sources on the gateway, map credentials (Windows, OAuth, or SSO where supported), and test connections. Justin shows how to bind datasets to the gateway, schedule refresh, and enable DirectQuery/Live for a governed, reliable pipeline.
Module 07 - Managing and Troubleshooting4 min.
Keep gateways healthy day-to-day. Learn how to monitor status, update versions safely, and manage clusters for resilience. Justin walks through common errors, using logs and diagnostics, tuning performance, and handling credential or firewall issues—plus tips to standardize fixes across environments.
Module 08 - Class Wrap Up1 min.
Finish with a concise playbook you can reuse. We’ll recap install and governance best practices, HA patterns, and refresh vs. DirectQuery choices. Justin shares next steps for documenting your gateway inventory, setting up alerts, and partnering with data owners to keep connections stable and secure.
Justin Vogel taught high school Advanced Placement® psychology and academic research for 15 years. He holds an MS in Psychology and spent several summers teaching psychology to educators new to the subject. He has also scored AP exams, reviewed textbooks for the Florida Department of Education, and written exam questions for test banks. He has presented at professional learning conferences at the local and national level and now puts his teaching and presentation skills to use on the Power BI team at Pragmatic Works.
