Microsoft Fabric Blog explains how Synapse users can seamlessly migrate to Microsoft Fabric, highlighting real-world examples and detailing the AI-powered features and cost savings enabled by Fabric’s unified analytics architecture.

Modernizing Azure Synapse Analytics with Microsoft Fabric

Overview

Microsoft Fabric has matured into a unified, enterprise-ready analytics platform, offering Azure Synapse users a clear modernization path. While Synapse continues to be supported, the article recommends transitioning to Fabric for scalable analytics, faster insights, lower costs, and AI-native capabilities.

Key Benefits of Migrating to Fabric

  • Unified Platform: Combines data engineering, integration, business intelligence, and analytics for all departments.
  • Enterprise Features: Built-in security, governance, CI/CD, and centralized data in OneLake, protected by customer-managed keys.
  • Multi-Cloud Integrations: Microsoft OneLake supports shortcuts and mirroring across Azure, AWS, GCP, Snowflake, Databricks, and on-premises sources for simplified access and management.
  • AI-Native Architecture: Embedded Copilot features enable conversational analytics and automated reasoning; Copilot for Data Factory provides AI-powered authoring and monitoring of pipelines.
  • Cost and Performance Improvements: Native Spark engine and elastic data warehouse architecture reduce operational costs and accelerate workloads. Real cases show Fabric’s Spark engine is up to 3.5x faster than Synapse Spark.

Migration Pathways

1. Data Integration and Pipelines

  • Migrate Azure Data Factory and Synapse pipelines directly to Fabric Data Factory.
  • Benefits include streamlined message routing, OneLake integration, and robust semantic model refreshes.
  • Tools and documentation: ADF/Synapse to Fabric Data Factory migration.

2. Spark Workloads

  • Leverage Fabric’s native Spark engine for cost savings and high concurrency.
  • Notebook migration tools support shifting workloads from any Spark flavor.
  • Case study: Obos transitioned 600+ notebooks and pipelines, improving efficiency and cutting costs by 3.2x.

3. Data Warehousing

  • Migrate business logic (tables, views, stored procedures) to Fabric Data Warehouse using the built-in, AI-assisted Migration Assistant.
  • Ability to run T-SQL queries without modification; post-migration teams saw smoother adoption and 50% cost reduction.

4. Architecture Patterns and Strategy

  • Microsoft provides detailed recommendations for adapting Synapse architectures for Fabric, with a focus on simplicity, cost-efficiency, and scalability.
  • Reference: Synapse to Fabric Architecture Patterns

Enterprise Security and Governance

  • Fabric supports enterprise-grade security (Private Link, Outbound Access Protection), compliance, and governance.
  • Data resides in OneLake with centralized access controls and protection.

AI Integration and Conversational Analytics

  • Fabric features Copilot for Power BI, Data Factory, and integration with Azure AI Foundry.
  • Users interact with data through natural language, enabling automated reasoning and insights.

Action Steps for Synapse Users

  1. Identify architecture patterns matching your environment: Reference guide.
  2. Plan migration using Microsoft’s documented tools and strategies: Migration Documentation.
  3. Attend Microsoft Ignite sessions for hands-on insights: BRK225 session.

Real-world Results

  • Customers like Obos and Kantar report streamlined migration, significant cost savings (up to 4x), and enhanced analytics environments.

Conclusion

Microsoft Fabric is positioned as the future of analytics for Synapse users, enabling modernization with AI-first features, enterprise security, and seamless migration paths. Synapse will remain supported, but the Fabric platform promises greater scale, performance, and ease of use for evolving analytics needs.

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