Grafana

Duration 5 days – 35 hrs

 

Overview

 

Grafana is a powerful open-source data visualization and monitoring tool that enables teams to create interactive dashboards, connect to multiple data sources, and automate reporting. This training course provides participants with hands-on experience in using Grafana for business intelligence, monitoring, and analytics. By the end of this course, participants will be able to design, implement, and manage Grafana dashboards efficiently, leveraging automation and best practices for data visualization.

 

Objectives

• Understand Grafana Fundamentals – Learn the core concepts, architecture, and functionalities of Grafana as a data visualization tool.
• Navigate the Grafana Interface – Familiarize themselves with the UI, dashboards, panels, and settings.
• Connect to Various Data Sources – Integrate Grafana with different data sources such as SQL databases, APIs, JIRA, ServiceNow, SharePoint, and qTest.
• Develop Interactive Dashboards – Build user-friendly dashboards with real-time updates, filters, and drilldowns for better decision-making.
• Apply Data Visualization Best Practices – Create effective, insightful, and visually appealing dashboards based on user needs.
• Automate Dashboard Updates – Implement automation for real-time data updates and notifications using APIs and Python.
• Set Up Alerts & Notifications – Configure alerts for key metrics and integrate them with email, Slack, or other communication tools.
• Administer & Secure Grafana – Manage user access, security settings, and optimize dashboard performance for large-scale usage.
• Gain Basic SQL & Python Skills – Learn essential SQL queries and Python scripting to extract, transform, and integrate data into Grafana.
• Develop an End-to-End Dashboard Solution – Apply all learned concepts to create a fully functional and insightful dashboard aligned with business requirements.

 

Audience

 

• Reports and Dashboard Developers
• Project Management Office (PMO) Professionals
•  Data Analysts & Business Intelligence (BI) Teams
• Process Compliance & Quality Audit (PCQA) Members
• Business Reporting & Insights (BRI) Specialists

 

Pre-requisites

• Basic understanding of data visualization concepts (Tableau or Power BI experience is a plus)

• Familiarity with working with structured data in Excel

• Some experience in querying databases (SQL knowledge is helpful but not mandatory)

• Basic understanding of APIs and data integration concepts

Course Content

 

Module 1: Introduction to Grafana (Day 1)

Objective: Understand Grafana’s purpose, UI, and functionalities.

• What is Grafana?
  • Overview of Data Visualization & Monitoring Tools
  • Why use Grafana? (Benefits & Use Cases)
• Grafana Architecture & Key Components
  • Data Sources
  • Panels & Visualizations
  • Dashboards & Alerts
  • Grafana Query Language (GQL) Overview
• Navigating the Grafana UI
  • Exploring the Home Dashboard
  • Creating and Managing Dashboards
• Hands-on Exercise: Setting Up a Basic Dashboard
  • Adding sample data
  • Creating a simple visualization

 

Module 2: Connecting Data Sources to Grafana (Day 2)

Objective: Learn how to integrate different data sources into Grafana.

• Understanding Data Sources in Grafana
  • SQL Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
  • APIs
  • JIRA, ServiceNow, SharePoint, qTest
  • Cloud-based Data Sources (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Hands-on Exercise: Connecting Grafana to Different Data Sources
  • Configuring a SQL database as a source
  • API-based integration example
  • Pulling data from JIRA or ServiceNow (as applicable)

 

Module 3: Dashboard Design & Development (Day 3)

Objective: Build effective dashboards for Customer Experience & Business Insights.

• Best Practices for Dashboard Development
  • Understanding User Needs & KPIs
  • Design Principles for Data Visualization
  • Effective Use of Panels & Layouts
• Creating Interactive Dashboards
  • Using Variables & Filters
  • Implementing Drilldowns & Links
  • Customizing Time Ranges
• Hands-on Exercise: Building a Customer Journey Dashboard
  • Creating a multi-panel dashboard
  • Adding real-time insights & dynamic filters

 

Module 4: Advanced Visualization & Automation (Day 4)

Objective: Explore advanced features to maximize Grafana’s capabilities.

• Advanced Grafana Features
  • Customizing Panels with JSON
  • Using Transformations for Data Processing
  • Setting up Alerting & Notifications (Email, Slack, etc.)
• Automation & Real-Time Data Updates
  • Connecting to live data streams
  • Refreshing dashboards dynamically
  • Automating dashboard updates with APIs & Python
• Hands-on Exercise: Developing an Automated Dashboard
  • Setting up real-time data integration
  • Creating an alerting system

 

Module 5: Security, Administration & Optimization (Day 5)

Objective: Ensure efficient and secure dashboard management.

• Grafana Administration Basics
  • User Roles & Permissions
  • Securing Dashboards & Data Access
  • Setting Up Authentication & Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Optimizing Performance
  • Dashboard Performance Tuning
  • Managing Large Data Sets Efficiently
• Final Project: End-to-End Dashboard Development
  • Participants will create a complete dashboard based on their team’s requirements
  • Present and receive feedback