Question

How do I set up ADAL authentication for Power BI, and what are the common challenges?

I need to implement Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) for Power BI to secure access and manage user authentication. How do I correctly set up ADAL authentication for Power BI? What are the common challenges developers face during implementation, and how can they be addressed? Are there alternative authentication methods that provide better security or ease of integration?

Answer 1

Setting Up ADAL Authentication for Power BI

1. Register an Azure AD App

   • Go to Azure Portal → App Registrations and create a new app.
   • Assign API permissions: Power BI Service → Delegated Permissions (Read & Embed).
   • Configure a Redirect URI for authentication callbacks.

2. Install ADAL Library

   • In a Node.js or React app, install ADAL:

          npm install adal-angular

       Use ADAL.js to authenticate:

import * as adal from 'adal-angular'; const authContext = new adal.AuthenticationContext({               
  clientId: 'your-client-id',
  tenant: 'your-tenant-id',
  redirectUri: 'your-redirect-uri',
});
authContext.login();

      3. Get an Access Token for Power BI API

authContext.acquireToken("https://graph.microsoft.com", (error, token) => {
  if (!error) console.log("Access Token:", token);
});

Common Challenges & Solutions

1. Token Expiry & Silent Authentication

   • ADAL does not support silent token refresh well; migrate to MSAL.js for better handling.

2. CORS & Redirect Issues

   • Ensure the redirect URI is allowed in Azure AD settings.

3. Deprecation of ADAL

   • ADAL is deprecated; use MSAL (Microsoft Authentication Library) for new implementations.

Alternative Authentication Methods

• MSAL.js (Recommended): Supports silent token refresh and modern authentication flows.
• Service Principal Authentication: Best for Power BI Embedded scenarios without user interaction.