22-25 April 2026

It's Only a Model - Demystifying Row Level Security in Power BI

Proposed session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

A Monty Python-inspired quest through Row-Level Security! Learn to implement RLS start to finish in Desktop & Service, tackle common challenges, understand model impacts, and navigate governance with a special focus for gov cloud environments.

Session Details

Securing data in Power BI may not involve killer rabbits or holy hand grenades, but it is a quest worthy of the Round Table. This Monty-Python inspired workshop guides attendees through the mystical (and practical) world of Row-Level Security (RLS), with special attention to the perils and peculiarities of enterprise and government cloud environments.

This workshop is designed to provide Power BI developers, ranging from novices to experienced developers, with a solid foundation to implement RLS in Power BI.

Workshop attendees will learn how to set up RLS start to finish using two approaches, covering setup in both Power BI Desktop the Service. We will tackle some common challenges, discuss model considerations and how they impact RLS, and untangle the differences between access and security in Power BI. The workshop will also address governance considerations and some of the unique challenges present within government cloud infrastructures.

3 things you'll get out of this session

End to end understanding of how to build RLS in Power BI + tips for issues that arise in sovereign clouds