In today’s digital age, the need for fast and effective app development is more prominent than ever. Organizations worldwide are turning to Microsoft Power Platform, a suite of low-code applications, to address this challenge. Power Platform, consisting of Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents and Power Pages, allows users without deep programming knowledge to create apps, workflows and websites. But with this power also comes the need for sound governance.

Why Governance in Power Platform?

The accessibility of Power Platform to a broad audience of “citizen developers” presents unique challenges in terms of data security and regulatory compliance. A strong governance strategy is essential to protect sensitive data and ensure that tools are used responsibly.

The Role of Environments and Tenant Management

A core aspect of Microsoft Power Platform governance is managing “tenants” and environments. A tenant is the container for different environments, within which apps, flows and Dataverse resources reside. These environments can be used for various purposes, such as development, testing and production. Managing roles and permissions within these environments is critical to ensure that users have access only to the resources they need.

Six Best Practices for Effective Governance

1. Set up team structure for environments: Assign administrative roles and manage access to different environments.
2. Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies: Manage access to important business data through DLP policies, classifying connectors into categories such as “Business Data Only.
3. Use standard logs and analytics: Monitor the use of apps and flows to ensure security policies.
4. Building a Center of Excellence: Use the Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit for standardized best practices.
5. Automate audit processes: Use Power Automate to automate audit and alert processes.
6. Welcome new creators and identify champions: Encourage engagement and participation within your organization.

Security and Compliance

In addition to governance, security is another critical aspect. Power Platform is built on Microsoft’s security standards, including features from Microsoft Azure and Azure Active Directory. This includes comprehensive data exfiltration controls and advanced Data Loss Prevention capabilities.

Conclusion

Governance in Power Platform is a dynamic and essential part of modern business management. By adopting these practices, organizations can reap the benefits of low-code platforms without sacrificing security and compliance. With a strong focus on governance, companies can maximize the power of Power Platform while protecting their most valuable assets – their data. Contact us for an introductory discussion. With our expertise, you are assured of a secure and efficient digital workplace.