Microsoft Introduces Protection Policies for Power BI

Microsoft has introduced Protection Policies for Power BI, providing organizations with a more consistent way to safeguard sensitive data across reports and analytics workflows. The new capability aims to simplify governance by applying protection rules that travel with data wherever it is used in Power BI.

Here's what you need to know:

• Why isn't traditional security always enough?

  Power BI already offers workspace roles, row-level security, and item permissions to control access. But what if you need protection based on how sensitive the data is, not just where it's stored?

• What are Protection Policies?

  Protection Policies, powered by Microsoft Purview Information Protection, let you control access based on sensitivity labels. For example, if a dataset is labeled "Highly Confidential," only the users and groups defined in the policy can access it. Everyone else is automatically blocked—even if they have access to the workspace. Think of it as: label it once, protect it everywhere.

• Why do semantic models matter?

  Semantic models sit at the heart of Power BI's data layer, making them the perfect place to enforce protection. Since one semantic model can power multiple reports, applying a sensitivity label to the model (or upstream Fabric assets such as a Lakehouse or Warehouse) helps ensure protection follows the data wherever it's used.

• How do you get started?

  Simply configure Protection Policies in Microsoft Purview, apply sensitivity labels to your semantic models, and let Power BI handle the enforcement automatically.

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Microsoft Brings Entra ID Single Sign-On to Starburst Connector in Power BI

Microsoft has announced the preview of Microsoft Entra ID single sign-on (SSO) for the Starburst connector in Power BI, enabling report viewers to access Starburst using their own identities. This enhancement allows security policies to be evaluated against the actual end user rather than a shared connection account, improving governance and access control. The feature is designed for DirectQuery scenarios and strengthens security for organizations using Starburst as a data source in Power BI.

Here's what you need to know:

• What does it mean?

  Users querying semantic models in DirectQuery mode can authenticate to Starburst using their own Entra ID identity. This allows Starburst to enforce row-level and column-level security based on the individual user.

• Which connector should you use?

  Two Starburst connectors appear in Power BI's Get Data experience. The original connector remains available for existing reports, while the new Starburst secured by Entra ID connector enables the end-to-end SSO experience and should be used for new implementations.

• How does it work?

  When a user opens a DirectQuery report, their Entra ID token is passed through the on-premises data gateway to Starburst. Starburst validates the identity and applies its own authorisation policies based on the authenticated user.

• How do you enable it?

  Administrators need to enable Starburst SSO and Microsoft Entra single sign-on for data gateway in the Power BI admin portal. Once configured, DirectQuery semantic models can pass each user's Entra ID identity directly to Starburst.

• When should you use it?

  Use Entra ID SSO when you want Starburst security policies to be enforced per user, improve auditing capabilities, or meet compliance requirements that prohibit shared connection credentials.

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Microsoft Expands Copilot Cowork with Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service Plugins

Microsoft has announced the general availability of new Dynamics 365 Sales and Dynamics 365 Customer Service plugins for Copilot Cowork. The integrations enable Copilot Cowork to access and work with business data from these applications, helping users complete more complex tasks across sales and service workflows.

Here's what you need to know:

• What is Copilot Cowork?

  Now generally available, Copilot Cowork helps users delegate multi-step tasks across records, knowledge articles, emails, and meetings. It works within Microsoft 365, keeps users in control, and ensures every action is grounded in your business data and governed by existing permissions.

• What can the plugins do?

  For Sales, the plugins support account and opportunity preparation, deal risk analysis, expansion insights, and pipeline visibility. For Customer Service, they assist with case triage, resolution drafting, escalation handoffs, and queue management.

• How can you use them?

  Simply ask Copilot questions in natural language to get insights, summaries, recommendations, and next steps from your Dynamics 365 data. Whether you're preparing for a customer meeting or resolving a support case, the plugins help surface the information you need faster.

• How are the plugins governed?

  Copilot Cowork does not access your database directly. Instead, it uses Microsoft-managed Model Context Protocol (MCP) plugins that respect your existing identity, security, and permission model on every interaction.

• What does this mean for IT?

• Human approval remains in place for actions and updates, responses are grounded in source data, existing security controls are enforced, and administrators maintain control over deployment and access.

• Getting started

  Copilot Cowork is now generally available for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers worldwide. Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service plugins can be managed through the Microsoft 365 admin center, where admins can deploy and configure access for users.

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Strengthen Data Governance in Power BI with Workspace Outbound Access Protection

Microsoft has introduced Workspace Outbound Access Protection (OAP) for Power BI reports, expanding workspace-level security controls in Microsoft Fabric. The feature helps organizations manage how report data can connect to external resources, supporting stronger governance and reducing the risk of unintended data exposure.

Here's what you need to know:

• What is OAP?

  Workspace Outbound Access Protection (OAP) is a workspace-level control in Microosft Fabric that allows administrators to restrict outbound data access helping enforce stricter data boundaries.

• Why does it matter?

  Power BI reports are tied directly to semantic models, and those models can reside in different workspaces. This can create unintended data flows across workspace boundaries. OAP closes that gap by ensuring reports in protected workspaces can only access semantic models within the same workspace.

• How does it work?

  OAP enforces a simple rule: reports in a protected workspace can only connect to semantic models within the same workspace, preventing cross-workspace bindings. Semantic models continue to enforce OAP policies for their underlying data sources, extending protection across the data ecosystem.

• Publishing and authoring

  Publishing reports to an OAP-enabled workspace works as normal, provided the report connects to a semantic model in the same workspace. Reports that reference models in another workspace can be published but won't be able to render data.

• Getting started

  Assign the workspace to a Fabric Capacity (F SKU), enable workspace-level outbound network rules, and turn on OAP for the workspace. Then configure semantic model connection rules and ensure reports and semantic models are located within the same workspace.

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Power BI Simplifies Oracle Connectivity with New Preview Features

Microsoft is making it easier for organizations to connect Power BI to Oracle data sources with new preview capabilities designed to simplify setup and administration. The update introduces a bundled Oracle Managed ODP.NET provider in Power BI Desktop and enables direct cloud connections from the Power BI service to supported Oracle databases, reducing reliance on traditional configuration steps. Together, these enhancements aim to streamline Oracle connectivity and accelerate access to business data.

Here's what you need to know:

• Simplified Oracle connections in Power BI Desktop

  Enable the new Oracle preview features under File > Options and settings > Options > Preview features, restart Power BI Desktop, and connect using the existing Oracle database connector.

• Direct cloud connectivity in Power BI Service

  You can now connect to Oracle cloud databases directly from the Power BI service by creating a cloud connection in Manage connections and gateways, eliminating the need for a data gateway in supported scenarios.

• Changes for personal gateways

  The updated Oracle connector no longer supports personal gateways. Organisations using Oracle data sources should plan a transition to an enterprise on-premises data gateway or VNET gateway to maintain support and future compatibility.

• Gateway configuration updates

  Administrators can enable the bundled Oracle Managed ODP.NET provider on enterprise gateways through a simple configuration change, helping standardise Oracle connectivity across environments.

• Single Sign-On support

  Microsoft Entra ID Single Sign-On is available for supported Oracle databases when using an enterprise gateway, making authentication more secure and seamless for users.

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Visual Studio Introduces New Theme Color Customisation Experience

Microsoft is expanding Visual Studio's customisation capabilities with a new Theme Colors options page that enables live editing of Fluent color tokens. The feature gives developers a more flexible way to tailor the IDE's appearance, helping create a workspace that better matches individual preferences and workflows.

Here's what you need to know:

• Where to find it

  Navigate to Tools > Options > Environment > Visual Experience > Theme Colors. You'll see all Fluent color tokens for your active theme in a searchable grid. Simply select a token, choose a new colour, and see the change applied instantly.

• Customisations stay with each theme

  Your changes are saved per theme rather than globally. Create a unique version of Dark Mode, customise Light Mode differently, or experiment with tinted themes. Switching themes automatically brings your customisations with it. Made a change you don't like? Individual color tokens can be reset without affecting the rest of your setup.

• More granular control with new tokens

  Microsoft has also added new color tokens that provide greater control over Visual Studio's appearance. One standout improvement is the ability to customise tab and window headers independently from the rest of the interface, opening the door to more personalised and even retro-inspired designs.

• Share your custom themes

  Customisations are stored as JSON files, making them easy to share with teammates or the wider community. Simply place the file in the appropriate Visual Studio ColorThemes folder, restart Visual Studio, and your customisations will be applied.

• Why this matters

  Until now, changing a Visual Studio theme often meant installing an extension or replacing an entire theme just to tweak a few colours. With the new Theme Colors page, developers can make quick, targeted adjustments in seconds, creating a workspace that's more comfortable and productive without the extra overhead.

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Microsoft Brings Full Pull Request Reviews Directly into Visual Studio

Microsoft has introduced a new pull request review experience in Visual Studio, allowing developers to review, comment on, approve, and merge pull requests without leaving the IDE. The update supports both GitHub and Azure DevOps repositories, helping teams streamline code reviews and reduce context switching. Available in Visual Studio 18.7, the feature marks a significant step forward in Microsoft's ongoing efforts to improve developer productivity and collaboration.

Here's what you need to know:

• Find and open pull requests faster

  Access pull requests from the Git Repository window, Git Changes window, or Git menu. If your current branch already has an active PR, you can open it directly and view the overview, changes, commits, and reviewers all in one place.

• Review code your way

  Inspect pull requests without checking out the branch to preserve your current work, or check out the branch for a deeper review using Visual Studio’s navigation, build, and debugging tools. You can also switch between active pull requests with ease.

• Browse changes efficiently

  View code differences inline or side-by-side, use the multi-file summary view for a high-level overview, and review changes commit by commit to better understand how the code evolved.

• Collaborate without context switching

  Leave comments, reply to discussions, and resolve conversations directly within Visual Studio. Everything stays synced with GitHub and Azure DevOps. Plus, Copilot can help generate fixes based on review comments, helping you move from feedback to implementation faster.

• Approve and merge in one place

  Review status checks, approvals, and merge conflicts, then approve, complete, merge, convert to draft, or close pull requests—all from within the IDE.

• Available now in Visual Studio 18.7

  This release marks a significant step forward in streamlining code reviews and reducing context switching for developers. Microsoft is also working on additional enhancements, including comment filtering, PR activity timelines, and an improved checkout experience.

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.NET Day on Agentic Modernization: Learn How to Modernise Applications with AI

Organisations looking to modernise their .NET applications can gain valuable insights at Microsoft's upcoming .NET Day on Agentic Modernization livestream. The event will explore real-world approaches to cloud migration, AI integration, and application modernisation using the latest Microsoft technologies.

Here's what you need to know:

• What is the event all about?

  .NET Day on Agentic Modernization is a dedicated livestream for engineering teams looking to reduce legacy maintenance, accelerate cloud migration, and unlock AI-powered capabilities within their existing applications.

• Why attend?

  Learn how to modernise .NET applications using GitHub Copilot-assisted workflows, build intelligent agentic experiences with Microsoft Agent Framework and Microsoft Foundry, and streamline migration and deployment processes with GitHub Copilot for Azure (Azure MCP).

• Session highlights

  Discover practical approaches to modernising .NET applications with GitHub Copilot, Aspire, and real-world migration strategies. You'll also learn how to add agentic functionality and AI-powered experiences to applications after migration.

• When is the event?

  The livestream takes place on June 16, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM UTC. Register now and learn how to modernise existing applications while preparing for the next generation of AI-powered development.

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Power BI June 2026 Updates: Key Features You Need to Know

Microsoft has released the Power BI June 2026 Feature Summary, introducing a new wave of enhancements designed to improve reporting, analytics, and user productivity. This month's update continues Microsoft's focus on AI-powered experiences while delivering new capabilities across the Power BI ecosystem.

Here are some of the June 2026 Power BI updates you shouldn't miss:

• Power BI Dataviz World Championship Returns

  Showcase your creativity, learn from the community, and compete for a chance to present your visualization live at FabCon / SQLCon Barcelona this September.

• Fabric Apps for Semantic Models (Preview)

  Build enterprise-grade data applications faster with AI. Developers and coding agents can now create custom apps directly from semantic models using just a few prompts while maintaining governance and business logic.

• Shape Map (Generally Available)

  Enjoy greater flexibility with built-in maps, custom TopoJSON and GeoJSON files, downloadable map files for easier editing, and a more intuitive formatting experience.

• DAX Query View Filtering and Sorting (Generally Available)

  Explore and validate query results faster with interactive sorting, filtering, and search capabilities—without having to modify your DAX queries.

• Power BI Tabs in Private and Shared Teams Channels

  Bring reports closer to your conversations by embedding Power BI directly into private and shared Microsoft Teams channels for better collaboration and decision-making.

Read the comprehensive list of Power BI’s new features this June 2026.

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Microsoft Introduces End-to-End AI-Powered Power BI Reporting

Microsoft is introducing AI-powered reporting capabilities for Power BI that can automate key stages of report development, from design and authoring through to deployment. The new agent-driven approach aims to help developers and analysts create reporting solutions faster while reducing manual effort.

Here's what you need to know:

• Get started with the Power BI Authoring plugin

  Install the Power BI Authoring plugin from the Skills for Fabric marketplace to unlock AI-assisted report creation and management.

• Create reports from scratch

  Describe the report you want in plain language, and AI can generate report pages, visuals, KPIs, filters, and layouts based on your requirements.

• Modify existing reports

  Need updates to a report? Simply provide instructions—or even a reference image—and AI can apply formatting, branding, and layout changes for you.

• Modernise report design

  Transform outdated reports with improved layouts, navigation, visual consistency, and user experience based on modern reporting best practices.

• Power an end-to-end reporting workflow

  Combined with semantic model authoring and the Modeling MCP Server, these skills support a complete AI-driven Power BI development experience—from data modeling to report delivery.

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