Most business decisions today are based on data. As a result, it is important for organizations to choose the right platform for handling large amounts of data. It is the only way to make the most of their data.
When it comes to data and analytics, Microsoft offers two main platforms: Microsoft Fabric and Azure Synapse. Both have different features and architectures that cater to everything from data management to advanced analytics. Continue reading the blog where we will take a closer look at the differences between Microsoft Fabric and Azure Synapse.
Microsoft Fabric and Azure Synapse are both powerful platforms to manage and analyze data. However, they have distinct features and approaches. Azure Synapse operates as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and is well suited for handling large scale analytics tasks. It is great for organizations that need powerful tools for big data workloads.
However, if we talk about Microsoft Fabric, it is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that covers a wide range of needs, from data engineering and integration to building data lakes, analytics and business intelligence. Think of it as a complete toolkit for data terms in any company, which gives them everything they need to collect, store, process and analyze data to make important business decisions.
So, while Synapse is built for large, complex analytics, Fabric is a more integrated solution that can handle a variety of data needs in one platform. Here are some more key differences between these two platforms:
Microsoft Fabric offers a fully integrated solution with managed storage (OneLake) and serverless compute resources. This makes it easier for users to access and manage data. With Fabric, the scaling and management of workloads are simpler and it can be used as a standalone solution or alongside Azure.
On the other hand, Azure Synapse is deeply tied to Azure services like Azure ML and Azure Data Lake. However, the platform requires additional setup and permissions for accessing and modifying data. Synapse also uses dedicated SQL Pools for storage and more detailed configuration for scaling.
Also Read: Transform Your IT Landscape with Microsoft Azure-based Cloud Architecture
Both platforms benefit from Azure’s security features, including Active Directory integration, encryption and access control. However, Microsoft Fabric offers simpler security management compared to Synapse. This makes it easier to handle for users.
While there might be some minor gaps, like creating custom encryption keys, Fabric’s security is constantly evolving and improving. Since Synapse is more complex, it might require more effort to manage security settings across its various components.
Data sharing is more straightforward in Microsoft Fabric. That is because the concept of shortcuts allows users to share datasets between different tenants or users. The initial user pays for storage, while others pay for computation.
Since Synapse requires exporting data from SQL Pools and setting up permissions manually, it offers more limited collaboration within the same workspace, and sharing data externally can be complicated.
Synapse relies on dedicated SQL Pools for data storage. This means you need to run specific resources to access and manage the data. In contrast, Microsoft Fabric uses the open source Delta Lake format (Parquet), which provides more advanced features like cloning and time travel. You can query data directly without needing to run additional resources or engines.
Fabric offers a more flexible approach to scalability by allowing users to define memory and compute capacities based on specific workloads. This makes it easy to scale up or down, though it may lack some of the detailed control available in Synapse.
On the other hand, Synapse uses massive parallel processing and on-demand provisioning of resources. It allows for more fine-tuned control but requires deeper technical knowledge to manage and optimize performance effectively.
Microsoft Fabric uses a flexible and usage based pricing model that allows organizations to adjust costs based on their data needs, whether it is for large-scale data processing, advanced analytics or simple data storage. This pricing flexibility makes it easier to budget for different types of data projects.
On the other hand, Synapse has a more complex pricing structure based on SQL Pools, compute resources and data warehousing. This makes it harder to predict future costs and estimate spending for data needs.
Microsoft Fabric offers a user-friendly interface tailored to different types of workloads, such as data science, engineering and business intelligence (Power BI). It also includes tools like a Query Designer to simplify query creation.
In comparison, Synapse combines various tools into one workspace, which can be overwhelming for both new and experienced users. This mixture of experiences on a single screen might make it harder for some to navigate.
Microsoft Fabric offers most of the features available in Azure Synapse, and that too with added improvements and new capabilities. As a result, if you are already using Azure Synapse for data analytics and warehousing, you will still be covered if you transition to Fabric. If your company only needs big data analytics and warehousing, and you have already invested in Synapse, you can continue using it.
However, if you are looking for an all-in-one and scalable solution with advanced features like Microsoft 365 integration, easier collaboration and OneLake Storage, Microsoft could be a good upgrade. That is because Fabric also enhances scalability and reduces issues like data duplication.
It also offers external storage visualization to access data outside Fabric while using its resources. However, transitioning into Fabric may require getting used to its new interface and changes in features like mapping data flows (MDF), which are replaced by ADF data flows. Since some Synapse functions (like OPENROWSET) are not available in Fabric yet, this might cause minor disruptions in your workflow.
In addition, Fabric may not support non-Parquet data formats from Synapse, so you will need to ensure your data is in the right format. In a nutshell, migration depends on your needs, specific data goals and budget. You must consider discussing with experts to determine what platform will best suit your needs.
Both Azure Synapse and Microsoft Azure have their strengths and are suited for different types of organizations. Fabric shines with its flexibility, simplicity and ease of use, while Synapse offers more granular control and deeper integration with Azure services. Your choice between the two depends on your organization’s specific needs, expertise and resources.
At 4Seer, we help businesses navigate the complex world of data analytics and stay ahead in a fast changing environment. So, whether you are looking to improve your current Azure Synapse setup or move to Microsoft Fabric, our experts are here to assist you in creating a data system that is scalable and focused on delivering valuable insights. Contact us today to see how we can help transform your data strategy!
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