Designing Business Intelligence

Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server

2012
Course details
Fee 1935 exc. VAT
Days 5
Course code M20467
Special Notices
Please note: This course will be replaced by M20467C 'Designing Self-Service Business
Intelligence and Big Data Solutions' effective 22nd September 2014.
Overview
This five-day instructor-led course teaches students how to design and implement a BI
infrastructure. The course discusses design, installation, and maintenance of a BI
platform.
This course maps to skills and knowledge measured by Microsoft Exam 70-467, and in
conjunction with on-the-job experience, can help prepare you for the exam. Note: The
Beta version of this course (20467AB) utilizes pre-release software in the virtual machine
for the labs. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 CTP4, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
Preview, Microsoft Office 2013 Preview, and Microsoft Visio 2013 Preview are used in this
course.
Audience Profile This course is intended for BI professionals such as BI Architects or
database professionals who need to design BI solutions. BI Architects are responsible for
the overall design of the BI infrastructure, including how it relates to other data systems in
use. In addition, their responsibilities include Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube
design and integration with Microsoft SharePoint or line-of-business applications. Finally,
they may apply those skills in a Windows Azure SQL Server database environment.
Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have:
- A basic understanding of dimensional modeling (star schema) for data warehouses.
- The ability to create Integration Services packages that include control flows and data
flows.
- The ability to create a basic multidimensional cube with Analysis Services.
- The ability to create a basic tabular model with PowerPivot and Analysis Services.
- The ability to create Reporting Services reports with Report Designer.
- The ability to implement authentication and permissions in the SQL Server database
engine, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services.
- Familiarity with SharePoint Server and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Students who attend this training can meet the prerequisites by attending the following
courses, or obtaining equivalent knowledge and skills:
- M10777: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
- M10778: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Delegates will learn how to
- Plan the components of a BI solution.
- Plan a BI infrastructure.
- Design a data warehouse.
- Design an ETL solution.
- Plan analytical data models.
- Plan a BI delivery solution.
- Design a Reporting Services solution.
- Design an Excel reporting solution.
- Plan a SharePoint Server BI solution.
- Monitor and optimize a BI solution.
- Plan for BI operations.
Course Outline.
Module 1: Planning a BI Solution This modules discusses how to plan the components of
a BI solution.
Lessons
- Elements of a BI Solution
- Planning a BI Project
- The Microsoft BI Platform
Lab : Planning a BI Solution
- Exercise 1: Scoping a BI Solution.
- Exercise 2: Reviewing a Suggested Solution
Module 2: Planning a BI Infrastructure This modules explains how to plan an appropriate
BI infrastructure for a given set of BI services.
Lessons
- Planning a Data Warehouse Infrastructure
- Planning an ETL Infrastructure
- Planning Analysis Services Infrastructure
- Planning Reporting Services Infrastructure
Lab : Planning a BI Infrastructure
- Exercise 1: Determining Required Servers
- Exercise 2: Determining Data Warehouse Server Hardware Requirements
- Exercise 3: Reviewing a Suggested Solution
Module 3: Designing a Data Warehouse This module explain how to design a data
warehouse for a given set of user requirements.
Lessons
- Designing a Logical Schema
- Designing a Physical Schema
Lab : Designing a Data Warehouse Logical Schema
- Exercise 1: Identifying Required Dimensions
- Exercise 2: Identifying Measures and Hierarchies
- Exercise 3: Designing a Data Warehouse Schema
- Exercise 4: Reviewing a Suggested Solution
Module 4: Designing an ETL Solution This module explains how to design an ETL
solution for a data warehouse.
Lessons
- Planning for Data Extraction
- Planning for Data Transformation
- Planning for Data Loading
- Planning for SSIS Package Deployment
Lab : Designing an ETL Solution
- Exercise 1: Reviewing Data Sources
- Exercise 2: Creating Source-to-Target Maps
- Exercise 3: Planning ETL Processes
- Exercise 4: Reviewing a Suggested Solution
Module 5: Designing Analytical Data Models This module explains how to design
analytical data models for specific BI scenarios.
Lessons
- Options for Analytical Models
- Data Model Design Considerations
Lab : Comparing Analytical Data Models
- Exercise 1: Creating a Multidimensional Model
- Exercise 2: Creating a Tabular Model
Module 6: Planning a BI Delivery Solution This module explains how to choose an
appropriate delivery solution for a given scenario.
Lessons
- Considerations for BI Delivery
- Choosing a Delivery Approach
Lab : Planning a BI Delivery Solution
- Exercise 1: Assessing Reporting Requirements
Module 7: Designing a Reporting Services Solution This module explains how to design a
Reporting Services solution.
Lessons
- Designing Reports
- Considerations for Report Execution
- Planning a Reporting Solution
Lab : Designing a Reporting Services Solution
- Exercise 1: Planning a Reporting Services Solution
- Exercise 2: Planning a Report Delivery Environment
- Exercise 3: Configuring Report Execution
Module 8: Designing an Excel-Based Reporting Solution This module explains how to
design a reporting solution that uses Excel.
Lessons
- Using Excel for Data Reporting and Analysis
- PowerPivot in Excel
- Power View in Excel
Lab : Designing an Excel Reporting Solution
- Exercise 1: Planning Excel Features
- Exercise 2: Analyzing a Cube with Excel
- Exercise 3: Using PowerPivot
- Exercise 4: Using Power View
Module 9: Planning a SharePoint Server BI Solution This module explains how to design
a SharePoint BI solution.
Lessons
- Introduction to SharePoint Server as a BI Platform
- Planning Security for a SharePoint Server BI Solution
- Planning Reporting Services Configuration
- Planning PowerPivot Configuration
- Planning for PerformancePoint Services
Lab : Planning a SharePoint Server BI Solution
- Exercise 1: Planning SharePoint Server Security
- Exercise 2: Configuring Reporting Services in SharePoint Server
- Exercise 3: Managing PowerPivot Data Refresh
- Exercise 4: Reviewing PowerPivot Activity
- Exercise 5 (Optional) Creating a PerformancePoint Dashboard
Module 10: Monitoring and Optimizing a BI Solution This module explains how to monitor
and optimize a BI solution.
Lessons
- Overview of BI Monitoring
- Monitoring and Optimizing the Data Warehouse
- Monitoring and Optimizing Analysis Services
- Monitoring and Optimizing Reporting Services
Lab : Monitoring and Optimizing a BI Solution
- Exercise 1: Monitoring and Optimizing a Data Warehouse
- Exercise 2: Troubleshooting Analysis Services Queries
- Exercise 3: Monitoring and Optimizing Reporting Services
Module 11: Planning BI Operations This module explains how to plan management and
maintenance operations for a BI solution.
Lessons
- Overview of BI Operations
- Automating ETL Tasks
- Post ETL Tasks
- Planning a Backup Strategy for a BI Solution
Lab : Planning BI Operations
- Exercise 1: Planning ETL and Processing Tasks
- Exercise 2: Planning a Backup Strategy