Case Study: Gonzaga University achieves better insight into IT operations with Microsoft Power BI

University gains better insight into IT operations

Gonzaga University, a large higher-education institution with 2,200 servers and desktop computers supporting 7,500 students and staff, needed an easier way to visualize and share System Center Configuration Manager (Configuration Manager) data across diverse IT teams and business stakeholders without creating customized reports or extensive training. To solve this, Gonzaga turned to Microsoft Power BI, using the Power BI solution template for System Center Configuration Manager to provide self-service, interactive access to IT metrics.

Using the Microsoft Power BI solution template, Gonzaga quickly built web- and mobile-friendly dashboards that surface client and server health, software updates, protection, and software inventory—allowing users to drill down (for example, to list every computer with a given application). The Power BI implementation gives Gonzaga an enterprise-wide inventory across its 2,200 devices, helps ensure licensing compliance, speeds identification and removal of unauthorized software, and reduced the need for custom reports and training while extending the value of Configuration Manager.

Gonzaga University

Lyle Spencer

Data Warehouse Administrator