Power Query privacy level

Question

Hello,

Due to the fact that the query in Power Query that I am using pulls sensitive data (Excel files from several folders), I set the private level for both the workbook to which the data is downloaded and the location of the folders where the files are source with sensitive data is stored (settings in the file at the file level where the query is). Unfortunately, this combination prevents me from running the query (the data does not refresh), similar to selecting the "organizational" level. I am asking for support and for an indication of the implications of the "organizational" and "private" privacy level settings in Power Query. If the data I want to retrieve by query is only located on the same drive and I do not include internet sources in the query, is there a risk of data leakage at the "public" level or when ignoring the privacy level?

Answer 1

The privacy features are there to prevent you accidentally writing a query that sends sensitive data somewhere you don’t intend. If you are not querying a data source that places your data at risk, then there is nothing to worry about. If you are simply loading data from 2 different files on your own file server, then there is no more disk to turning this off than there is copying and pasting from the sources. But be aware that once you turn off the privacy check for the workbook, you won’t be warned (say in 2 years’ time when you forget you did it) if you adjust the query and connect to the internet (for example).

I turn off privacy for most of my queries.