Data strategy & advisory

Power BI Audit

Know where you stand. Know what to do first.

A Power BI Audit by Den Otter Solutions provides an objective diagnosis of your Power BI environment — or your data approach in general. We assess your organisation across five dimensions: strategy, technology, governance, UX, and culture. The result is not a thick report, but a clear picture of where you stand, what the priorities are, and a concrete action plan. Choose a Quick Check for fast insights, or a full Audit & Strategy engagement with roadmap. Both formats are delivered fully remote, wherever you operate.

Do any of these sound familiar?

  • Your Power BI dashboards are no longer being used by management
  • Different departments are working with different numbers for the same KPI
  • You inherited a Power BI environment from a previous vendor or colleague
  • You want to invest in data but don't know where to start
Entry point

Is your Power BI environment performing as it should?

Quick Check

For organisations with an existing Power BI environment that want an independent assessment

The Quick Check by Den Otter Solutions is a focused assessment of an existing Power BI environment. In six to eight hours, we analyse the data model, DAX logic, visual design, and governance practices — remotely, via read-only access to your workspace. The result: a top-5 priority list with severity ratings and concrete improvement actions, delivered within one week. No disruption to your daily operations.

Data model & DAX

Structure, relationships, cardinality, performance, and adherence to best practices.

Visual design & UX

The "Squint Test" — is the core message visible without reading the details? Clarity and chart junk.

Governance & security

Workspace permissions, sharing practices, row-level security, and version control.

Strategic alignment

Do the dashboards actually answer the questions management is asking?

Deliverable Top-5 priority report with severity ratings (critical / important / recommended) and concrete actions per item
Turnaround 1 week after workspace access is granted
Scope 6-8 hours of analysis, fully remote, read-only workspace access

Prefer a full engagement?

Full engagement

Are you getting the maximum return on your data investment?

Audit & Data Strategy

For organisations that want to close the gap between having data and creating value

The Audit & Data Strategy by Den Otter Solutions is a full engagement that assesses your Power BI environment — or your broader data approach — across five dimensions. The result is a Master Service Plan: a Strategic Audit Report with risk analysis, a Quick Wins Action List with improvements that take less than a day, and a Strategic Roadmap for the next twelve months. Also suitable for organisations that do not yet use Power BI. The entire engagement is delivered fully remote, wherever you operate.

The 5 dimensions

Strategy

Do your dashboards answer the right business questions?

Interview with leadership on strategic priorities. Comparison with what the dashboards actually measure.

Technology

Is the data model sound and does it perform?

Data model, DAX complexity, refresh performance, security, and scalability.

Governance

Who owns the data?

Permissions, sharing practices, data ownership, GDPR compliance, and version control.

UX

Can your dashboard be understood in 5 seconds?

Assessment against IBCS standards. "Squint Test", chart junk, and visual hierarchy.

Culture

Does your team use the tools — or do they fall back to Excel?

Data literacy, resistance, trust in the numbers, and adoption rate.

Approach

The process

01

Intake & leadership interview

Map strategic priorities and expectations (video call).

02

Technical analysis

Assess data model, DAX, performance, and security (remote).

03

UX review

Test dashboards for readability, structure, and visual quality.

04

User interviews

Measure adoption, resistance, and data literacy (video call).

05

Master Service Plan

Translate findings into a prioritised action plan.

What you receive

Strategic Audit Report

Current maturity per dimension, risk analysis, and strategic recommendations.

Quick Wins Action List

Concrete improvements that take less than a day but deliver immediate speed or insight.

Strategic Roadmap

Phased plan: Stabilise → Professionalise → Innovate (12 months).

Turnaround 3-5 weeks
Delivery Fully remote — via video calls, screen sharing, and read-only workspace access. No on-site visits required.
Suitable for Organisations with and without an existing Power BI environment, worldwide

After the audit — three ways to work together

Coaching

We work side by side with your internal team. Ideal when a Power BI champion is present who needs guidance.

Managed support

Ongoing management through Analytics as a Service — as an external data department on a subscription basis.

Ad-hoc support

Help with error messages, KPI validation, or a quarterly governance check. No fixed monthly costs.

Read also: The 5 stages of data maturity for SMEs

Start with a Quick Check?

Which format fits your situation?

Quick CheckAudit & Data Strategy
Turnaround1 week3-5 weeks
Scope6-8 hoursFull engagement
FocusExisting Power BI environmentEntire data organisation
Dimensions5 dimensions at headline level5 dimensions in depth
DeliverableTop-5 priority listMaster Service Plan with roadmap
Requires Power BI?YesNo — also without an existing environment
DeliveryFully remoteFully remote
Best for"Is this working properly?""Where do we stand and what's the next step?"
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the audit

What is the difference between a Quick Check and a Full Audit?

The Quick Check is a focused assessment of an existing Power BI environment — data model, DAX, visual design, and governance — delivering a top-5 priority list. Turnaround: one week. The Full Audit & Strategy assesses the entire data organisation across five dimensions and delivers a Master Service Plan with roadmap. Turnaround: three to five weeks.

Do I need an existing Power BI environment for an audit?

For the Quick Check, yes — it assesses an existing Power BI implementation. The Full Audit & Strategy is also suitable for organisations that do not yet use Power BI. We then assess the broader data maturity and advise on the right approach.

Do I receive a concrete action plan?

Yes. Both formats deliver a prioritised action plan. The Quick Check delivers a top-5 with severity ratings. The Full Audit delivers a Master Service Plan with quick wins, structural improvements, and a twelve-month roadmap.

Can the audit be done remotely?

Yes. Both the Quick Check and the Full Audit & Strategy are designed for fully remote delivery. We work via read-only workspace access, video calls, and screen sharing — wherever your organisation is located. Den Otter Solutions serves clients worldwide.

What does a Power BI audit cost?

Costs depend on the chosen format and the complexity of the environment. Schedule a no-obligation call with Den Otter Solutions to discuss the scope and receive a tailored proposal.

Can Den Otter Solutions also implement the improvements?

Yes. After the audit, we can implement the recommended improvements — as a one-off project or through Analytics as a Service as an ongoing subscription. The audit report then serves as the basis for the implementation roadmap.

Get started

Not sure which format fits?

Schedule a short call — we will help you determine the right approach for your situation. Den Otter Solutions works fully remote and serves organisations worldwide.