Guidelines for using Arctera Surveillance templates with Microsoft Power BI Desktop

Last published : Jun 07, 2026

Guidelines for using Insight Surveillance templates with Microsoft Power BI Desktop

Here are the guidelines you must follow when using Reporting API Templates in Microsoft Power BI:
  • Ensure that the correct credentials are used for Power BI template.
When loading Reporting API templates in Microsoft Power BI Desktop, select Basic Authentication when prompted, and enter the Username as ReportingApiUser and the Password as either a primary or secondary API Key that are generated after configuring the reporting endpoint
  • Ensure that the Power BI Desktop privacy levels are appropriate.
Some Insight Surveillance Power BI templates combine data from multiple Reporting API endpoints and visualize the data. To achieve this, multiple PowerQueries are created within the template and the resulting data from one reporting API endpoint is shared with reporting API endpoint.
In Microsoft Power BI Desktop application, the Privacy Level feature employs policies for sharing data of API across other API. For more details, refer to Power BI Desktop privacy levels.
Since the Reporting APIs of Insight Surveillance operate externally (outside the organization calling it), you must specify the Privacy Level as Public for each Data Source. Occasionally, you may need to globally ignore the Privacy Levels so that the Reporting API Templates function properly.
  • Ensure that the cached credentials are correct.
Microsoft Power BI Desktop caches credentials entered when connecting to the Reporting API. Upon reloading the Power BI template, it does not prompt for credentials again. If credentials change, such as due to an expired Access Key, you must clear the cached credentials.
To clear them, navigate to File > Options and settings > Data source settings, and clear the credentials for all data sources. This is one of the troubleshooting steps if the template cannot connect.