Microsoft Fabric: Prepare Your Team
With technology offering new techniques every day, having everything in one place is what we all need. This is the “Wow” moment for many analytics professionals as they get the amount of data ready for them. This platform is changing how we understand data and giving everyone, not just data experts, the ability to use strong analytics.
Yes, we are talking about Microsoft Fabric – a new unified data analytics platform.
What is Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric presents a holistic analytics solution designed for enterprises, encompassing diverse aspects of data analytics, ranging from data movement and data science to real-time analytics and business intelligence. The platform provides an all-inclusive set of services, including data lake, data engineering, and data integration, conveniently accessible from a single location.
With its seamless integration and user-friendly interface, Microsoft Fabric empowers organizations to streamline their analytics and no longer rely on word excel.
How do you get a team ready for Fabric?
To get a team ready for Fabric, it’s important to consider the diverse skill sets required by this integrated platform. Look for individuals who are keen on learning new technologies like Notebook or Python in addition to their expertise in Power BI.
As Fabric combines different components, it’s essential to provide thorough supervised learning to team members, both through official Microsoft resources and internal efforts.
Consider individuals with experience in data engineering, Python, SQL, Synapse, Databricks, and strong TSQL skills. Additionally, keep in mind that Fabric offers a low-code, no-code approach, allowing power users or end users to work with lighter elements of the platform.
What are the first steps for businesses wanting to leverage the value of Fabric?
The first steps for businesses wanting to leverage the value of Fabric involve adopting one of two approaches. The first approach is a formal and top-down approach, where a team is set up to evaluate Fabric strategically. This team conducts a proof of concept to understand its potential benefits.
The second approach is more grassroots and involves enterprising Power BI users who take the initiative to explore Fabric independently. They might start with a trial capacity, experiment with different functionalities, and explore how Fabric can enhance their existing workflows in Power BI and other tools.
For businesses, it’s essential to encourage such exploration and not restrict users from trying out Fabric. Even if a formal task force cannot be set up immediately, allowing end users to play with Fabric can lead to valuable insights and potential adoption.
However, it’s advised not to use Fabric in production or critical workflows while in the preview stage, as frequent changes and updates are expected during this phase.
How do I sign up for a free Fabric trial?
To sign up for a free trial of Microsoft Fabric, follow these steps:
- Visit the Microsoft Fabric website and click "Start your free trial."
- Sign in with your Power BI account or create one if you don't have one.
- Access the Account Manager tool within the Fabric app.
- Choose the "Start Trial" option and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Explore Microsoft Fabric for data analytics during the 60-day trial period.
How do I sign up for a free Fabric trial as an existing Power BI customer?
To sign up for a free Fabric trial as an existing Power BI customer:
- Sign in to app.fabric.microsoft.com using your Power BI account information.
- Access the Fabric app within the Fabric portal after signing in.
- Start the trial by navigating the account manager tool and selecting "Start trial."
- Explore the features and capabilities of Microsoft Fabric for data analytics during the trial period.
How can I purchase Fabric?
To access Microsoft Fabric, simply purchase Fabric capacity, which includes all Fabric experiences in one transparent pricing model. This saves time and simplifies billing for your data tools, allowing you to focus on other business and technological priorities. While the Fabric Capacity SKU will be available soon with pay-as-you-go pricing, you can currently purchase Microsoft Fabric through Power BI Premium capacity.
What do I do with my existing investments in Microsoft’s analytics solutions?
Microsoft’s latest products, like Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Data Explorer, will remain as robust, enterprise-grade PaaS solutions for data analytics. Alongside these, Microsoft Fabric will offer a simplified SaaS solution that can seamlessly connect to these existing PaaS offerings. Migration paths will be provided to assist teams in transitioning to Microsoft Fabric when they are ready to make the switch.
I saw a demo of a feature at Build that I can’t find in Fabric. When will it be available?
At various events, Microsoft may showcase early glimpses of upcoming capabilities and features not yet available in the preview version of Microsoft Fabric. These sneak peeks offer a tantalizing preview of the exciting developments in store for the platform. However, as these features are still being refined, they may not be immediately accessible to users.
To stay informed about the latest updates and developments regarding Microsoft Fabric, you can sign up for updates from Microsoft or visit the Microsoft Fabric blog regularly.
Where can I find the list of planned features for Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft regularly publishes the planned updates and enhancements for Microsoft Fabric on the technical documentation page dedicated to the platform. This comprehensive resource provides users with detailed insights into the upcoming features, functionalities, and improvements that are in the pipeline.
Bottom Line
Human intelligence has reached the point where AI models are now working for us. Be it analytics or security and compliance, Microsoft 365 apps and other using AI is empowering businesses. Microsoft Fabric is doing the same. Microsoft Fabric is all you need to have all your team and data in one place.
