SQL database in Fabric: The Fast Path to Modern, Scalable Analytics

Description

Learn how SQL databases deliver scalable, secure, and cost-effective analytics in Microsoft Fabric. Explore design patterns, migration strategies, and performance tuning to modernize your data platform while ensuring governance, AI readiness, and seamless Power BI integration.

Key Takeaways

• workloads, simplify platform architecture, and accelerate access to insights.
• key lenses: Cost, Speed, and Control—the factors most organizations balance when
• “The problem was never SQL.
• These patterns became common not because they were ideal, but because earlier
• Modernizing data platforms requires alignment across multiple roles within an
• platform sprawl, simplify infrastructure, and control overall technology spending.

My Notes

Action Items

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SQL Database in
Microsoft Fabric
The Fast Path MARCH
to Modern,16
Scalable
ATLANTA

• 20, 2026
  Analytics
  Chris Wagner
  Director AI &
  Data
  SQL Databases in
  Microsoft Fabric
  The Fast Path to Modern, Scalable
  Analytics
  Cost. Speed. Control.
  Chris Wagner
  Director AI & Data
  Microsoft MVP
  Baker Tilly
  SQL Databases in Microsoft Fabric introduce a new way to support operational
  workloads within a unified analytics platform. By combining familiar SQL capabilities
  with the broader Fabric ecosystem, organizations can modernize applications while
  keeping data closely integrated with analytics.
  This session explores how SQL Databases in Fabric help teams modernize relational
  workloads, simplify platform architecture, and accelerate access to insights.
  Throughout the session, the capabilities of the platform are evaluated through three
  key lenses: Cost, Speed, and Control—the factors most organizations balance when
  modernizing their data platforms.
  For most of my career… I built applications the old way.
  Pause.
  Then continue verbally:
  Separate app database
  Separate reporting database
  Separate analytics platform
  Endless ETL pipelines
  Copies of copies of copies
  “And I thought that was just how it had to be.”
  The Real Problem
  Applications
  Data
  Warehouse
  Business
  Intelligence
  OLTP
  OLAP
  BI
  App Devs
  DW Devs
  BI Devs
  The Real Problem
  Here’s the shift.
  “The problem was never SQL.
  The problem was separation.”
  Data duplicated
  Latency everywhere
  Governance fractured
  Developers and analysts disconnected
  We accepted architectural tax as normal.
  It isn’t.
  I believe that this is fundamentally flawed and a lie
  For many years, data architectures have separated operational systems from analytics
  platforms. Application databases handled transactions, while separate warehouses
  and reporting systems were used for analysis.
  This separation often required complex ETL pipelines, duplicated data, and additional
  governance layers to keep systems synchronized.
  These patterns became common not because they were ideal, but because earlier
  platforms required organizations to architect around technical limitations.
  Modern data platforms are beginning to challenge that assumption by bringing
  operational workloads and analytics closer together within a single ecosystem.
  This shift opens the door to architectures where application data, analytics, and
  governance are intentionally designed to work together rather than being separated by
  necessity.
  Unified Application Architecture
  Here’s your conviction moment:
  “This isn’t just another database option.
  This is the beginning of converged application architecture.”
  Application development where:
  Data lands once
  Operational + analytical workloads coexist intentionally
  Governance is native
  Scale is built-in
  Analytics is not an afterthought
  That’s the future.
  The architecture we’ve been trying to fake for 20 years.
  transition
  The Modernization Team
  CFO
  BI Director
  DBA
  Cost & Consolidation
  Speed & Delivery
  Control & Governance
  Modernizing data platforms requires alignment across multiple roles within an
  organization. Each stakeholder evaluates technology through a different lens.
  The CFO focuses on cost and consolidation, looking for opportunities to reduce
  platform sprawl, simplify infrastructure, and control overall technology spending.
  The BI Director prioritizes speed and delivery, ensuring teams can move data quickly,
  build reports faster, and provide insights to the business without unnecessary delays.
  The DBA is responsible for control and governance, maintaining security, operational
  stability, and reliable data management as workloads scale.
  Throughout the demos, these personas represent the perspectives many
  organizations balance when adopting new data technologies.
  Where Does SQL Database in Fabric Fit?
  Operational /
  Relational Workloads
  SQL Database in
  Fabric
  Analytics & AI
  Consumption
  • Transactions
  • Relational Engine
  • Power BI
  • Structured Data
  • Integrated in Fabric
  • Fabric Workloads
  • Familiar T-SQL
  • Governed & Scalable
  • AI Enablement
  SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric is not intended to replace every database platform.
  Instead, it introduces a relational database engine that operates natively within the
  Fabric ecosystem.
  It is designed to support structured, operational-style workloads while remaining
  closely integrated with the broader data platform.
  Because it lives inside Fabric, the data stored in SQL databases can connect directly
  to analytics, reporting, and AI capabilities without requiring complex data movement
  or duplication.
  In this architecture, the SQL database acts as a bridge between operational data and
  analytical workloads, enabling a more unified data platform.
  When Should You Use SQL Database in Fabric?
  Modernizing Existing SQL
  Workloads
  • Existing relational systems
  • Bring into Fabric
  • Minimal rewrite
  You Need Tight Fabric
  Integration
  • Unified governance
  • Shared security
  • Native Power BI access
  You Want Relational + Analytics
  in One Platform
  • Avoid platform sprawl
  • Reduce integration overhead
  • Keep data close to consumption
  SQL Database in Fabric is a strong fit when organizations want to bring operational
  workloads closer to analytics while simplifying their data platform.
  Modernizing existing SQL workloads is one of the most natural use cases. Existing
  relational applications can be brought into Fabric with minimal code changes while
  gaining access to the broader data platform.
  Tight Fabric integration allows operational data to immediately participate in
  governance, security, and analytics workflows. Data stored in SQL Database in Fabric
  can be easily accessed by Power BI and other Fabric services.
  Relational and analytical workloads in one platform reduces the need for multiple
  systems and complex data movement. By keeping operational data close to analytics
  and reporting tools, organizations can simplify architecture and reduce integration
  overhead.
  When Should You NOT Use SQL Database in Fabric?
  High-throughput transactional
  systems
  • Heavy OLTP workloads
  • Sub-10ms response needs
  • ERP / operational backends
  Large Scale Data Needs
  • API backends
  • High-concurrency services
  • Millisecond SLAs
  Mission-Critical System-ofRecord Platforms
  • Core financial systems
  • Strict uptime requirements
  • Guaranteed transactional
  integrity at scale
  SQL Database in Fabric is designed to support operational workloads within a unified
  analytics platform. However, it is not intended to replace every type of database
  system.
  High-throughput transactional systems with extremely high write volumes and sub10 millisecond response requirements are better suited for dedicated OLTP platforms.
  Large-scale API backends and high-concurrency services that require millisecond
  latency and massive parallel request handling may also exceed the intended
  operational profile.
  Mission-critical systems of record, such as core financial platforms with strict
  uptime and transactional guarantees, should continue to run on established
  enterprise database platforms.
  Fabric SQL is best used where operational workloads benefit from close integration
  with analytics, governance, and the broader Fabric ecosystem.
  Real-World Considerations - Cost
  Does this reduce total cost?
  CFO
  BI Director
  DBA
  Cost & Consolidation
  Speed & Delivery
  Control & Governance
  One of the first questions organizations ask when evaluating new capabilities is
  whether it introduces additional platform cost or complexity.
  SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric runs within an existing Fabric capacity, rather than
  requiring a separate Azure SQL subscription or independent infrastructure.
  By bringing relational workloads into the Fabric ecosystem, organizations can reduce
  platform sprawl and avoid maintaining separate systems for operational databases,
  analytics platforms, and reporting tools.
  This approach aligns relational workloads with the same governance, capacity
  model, and platform strategy already used for analytics in Fabric, helping simplify
  both cost management and architecture.
  Reduced Platform Sprawl
  What you say
  “When you reduce integration points,
  you reduce failure points.
  When you reduce platforms,
  you reduce cost — not just license cost,
  but operational cost.”
  Pause.
  “That’s the real ROI.”
  Forrester TEI Study on Microsoft Fabric:
  379% ROI over three years
  ~$9.8M Net present value (composite enterprise)
  ROI
  Value Drivers:
  • 25% improved data engineering productivity
  • 20% improved business analyst efficiency
  • Reduced integration & tooling costs
  Independent research highlights the potential economic impact of consolidating data
  workloads on Microsoft Fabric. A Total Economic Impact study conducted by Forrester
  reported a 379% return on investment over three years for a composite organization
  adopting the platform.
  The value is not driven solely by licensing efficiencies. Much of the impact comes from
  platform consolidation, reduced integration complexity, and improved
  engineering productivity.
  By reducing the number of tools required to manage operational data, analytics, and
  governance, organizations can streamline their data architecture while enabling
  analysts and engineers to deliver insights more quickly.
  These factors combine to create measurable operational value beyond traditional cost
  savings.
  Real-World Considerations - Speed
  Do I move reporting here?
  CFO
  BI Director
  DBA
  Cost & Consolidation
  Speed & Delivery
  Control & Governance
  A common question is whether SQL Database in Fabric should replace existing
  analytics systems used for reporting and large-scale analysis.
  The answer is no. SQL databases are designed for OLTP (Online Transaction
  Processing) workloads, which focus on inserts, updates, and operational data
  management.
  Analytics and reporting workloads are typically handled by OLAP (Online Analytical
  Processing) systems that are optimized for large-scale aggregations and analytical
  queries.
  Within Microsoft Fabric, these roles remain distinct. SQL Database in Fabric
  supports operational relational workloads, while warehouses and lakehouses
  support analytics and reporting.
  The key advantage is that these systems now operate within the same platform,
  governance model, and security boundary, reducing data movement and simplifying
  integration between operational and analytical workloads.
  Near Real Time Reporting
  Is that going to
  impact application
  performance?
  Enterprise-scale reporting and analytics typically remain best suited for dedicated
  analytical platforms such as warehouses or lakehouses.
  However, operational reporting can often be performed directly against transactional
  systems when insights are closely tied to current application activity. Examples
  include order status, fulfillment progress, service ticket resolution, or other real-time
  operational metrics.
  In these scenarios, reporting directly from the SQL Database in Fabric enables near
  real-time visibility because the data reflects the current transactional state without
  requiring a separate ETL pipeline.
  This approach complements—not replaces—analytical systems. Operational
  applications can write to SQL Database in Fabric, while downstream analytics,
  dashboards, and curated models can still be developed in Fabric warehouses or
  lakehouses as needed.
  OLTP & OLAP
  Logical Workload Separation
  This is exactly what I
  am looking for!
  A well-designed data platform separates transactional workloads (OLTP) from
  analytical workloads (OLAP) while still allowing them to work together efficiently.
  In this architecture, applications interact with the SQL Database endpoint to handle
  transactional operations such as inserts, updates, and operational queries.
  Analytical workloads access the data through analytical endpoints and Fabric
  services, allowing reporting, dashboards, and large-scale queries to run without
  impacting application performance.
  This separation maintains performance discipline by ensuring that analytical queries
  do not compete with transactional workloads, while still enabling both workloads to
  operate within the same unified Fabric platform.
  Real-World Considerations - Control
  Who owns security?
  CFO
  BI Director
  DBA
  Cost & Consolidation
  Speed & Delivery
  Control & Governance
  Security and governance remain central considerations when introducing new data
  workloads into an organization’s platform.
  SQL Database in Fabric operates within the existing Microsoft Fabric governance
  framework, using the same Microsoft Entra ID identity system and role-based
  access control (RBAC) model already used across the platform.
  Because the database runs inside the Fabric capacity and workspace boundary, it
  does not introduce a separate security environment or independent governance
  model.
  This approach allows organizations to maintain consistent control over identity,
  permissions, and data access while integrating operational relational workloads into
  the broader Fabric ecosystem.
  Security & Governance
  Identity & Access
  • Microsoft Entra ID
  • Role-based access control
  Data Layer Enforcement
  Now we are
  • SQL-level permissions cooking!
  • Workspace isolation
  Consumption Layer
  • Power BI RLS (if needed)
  Effective security in a modern data platform is implemented through layered
  governance, ensuring consistent control from identity to data access to consumption.
  Identity and access are managed through Microsoft Entra ID, with permissions
  granted using role-based access control (RBAC). This provides a consistent identity
  system across the Fabric platform without requiring separate authentication models
  for individual tools.
  At the data layer, SQL-level permissions control access directly within the database,
  while workspace boundaries provide isolation between projects, teams, or
  environments.
  At the consumption layer, additional controls such as Power BI Row-Level Security
  (RLS) can be applied to ensure users only see the data they are authorized to access.
  This layered approach ensures that analytics workloads inherit governance policies
  rather than bypassing them, maintaining consistent security across operational and
  analytical use cases.
  Cost. Speed. Control.
  Fabric SQL needs to prove itself in real-world scenarios.
  Throughout the demos we evaluate the platform using three criteria:
  Cost – Can workloads run efficiently without unnecessary infrastructure or duplicated
  systems?
  Speed – Can teams ingest, process, and query data quickly enough to support
  operational and analytical needs?
  Control – Can organizations maintain governance, security, and operational reliability
  as workloads scale?
  If a solution does not deliver on Cost, Speed, and Control, it does not get approved.
  DEMO
  What You’ll See
  • Creating a SQL Database in Fabric
  • Loading & Querying Relational Data
  • Native Power BI Integration
  • Governance & Security Controls
  • Platform Positioning
  What We’re Going to Demo
  • Data Ingestion
  Bringing data into Fabric and preparing it for use across the platform.
  • SQL Development
  Working with data using familiar SQL tools and patterns for operational workloads.
  • Analytics Integration
  Using the same data instantly in Power BI and Excel for reporting and analysis.
  • Governance & Management
  Monitoring, securing, and managing workloads across the Fabric environment.
  DEMO 1
  Provisioning a Fabric SQL Database
  So we’re not licensing
  another engine every time
  we need a new database?
  Great. How does
  data get here?
  After your architecture talk:
  “At this point, the only thing that matters… is whether this is easy.”
  Beat.
  “Let’s build one.”
  “We start by provisioning a SQL Database inside the workspace.”
  “Notice — this is native to the Fabric workspace. No separate portal. No separate
  environment.”
  DEMO 2
  Loading & Querying Relational Data
  Great, but how do my
  analysts use this?
  This demo focuses on how relational data can be loaded into and queried within SQL
  Database in Microsoft Fabric.
  Data engineers and developers can create tables, load relational datasets, and
  interact with the database using familiar SQL tools and interfaces available directly
  within the Fabric environment.
  Once the data is available in the SQL Database, it can support operational workloads
  while remaining accessible to downstream analytical tools within the Fabric
  ecosystem.
  This demonstration also sets up the next step in the workflow: enabling analysts and
  reporting tools to access the same relational data for analysis, dashboards, and
  insights without requiring complex data movement or additional platforms.
  DEMO 3
  Native Power BI Integration
  This
  Okay…
  keeps
  but our
  my team
  semantic
  still
  buildslayer
  in Power
  governed.
  BI Desktop
  This demo highlights how SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric integrates directly with
  Power BI, enabling analysts to work with relational data without changing their existing
  development workflows.
  Data stored in the SQL Database can be accessed from Power BI Desktop using
  standard SQL connectivity, allowing analysts to build reports, semantic models, and
  dashboards using the same tools they already use today.
  Because the database resides within the Fabric ecosystem, Power BI can connect to
  the data without complex data movement or separate infrastructure, keeping
  operational data closely aligned with reporting and analytics.
  This integration enables teams to continue building in Power BI while benefiting from a
  unified data platform that supports both operational workloads and analytical
  insights.
  DEMO 4
  Okay… but my team
  LIVES in Excel. Can we
  use this there?
  PowerBI Desktop Integration
  So, we’re NOT
  duplicating data in
  every report?
  This demo shows how Power BI Desktop can connect directly to SQL Database in
  Microsoft Fabric, allowing analysts to build reports using their existing tools and
  workflows.
  Because the database is part of the Fabric platform, reports can connect to the data
  without requiring separate extracts or duplicated datasets.
  Teams can develop reports, models, and dashboards in Power BI Desktop while
  maintaining a single relational data source, reducing data duplication across
  reports and simplifying data management.
  This approach supports both analyst productivity and architectural discipline,
  allowing Power BI development to continue while keeping operational data centralized
  within the Fabric platform.
  DEMO 5
  Native Excel Integration
  Wait. If Excel can
  connect, how do we
  control who sees
  what?
  Good, my team still
  needs to grab snapshots
  of data at a point in time.
  This demo demonstrates how Excel can connect directly to data stored in SQL
  Database within Microsoft Fabric, enabling business users to continue working in
  familiar tools while accessing centralized data.
  Excel users can query the database to analyze current data or capture point-in-time
  snapshots for ad hoc analysis, reporting, or operational review.
  By connecting Excel directly to the Fabric SQL database, teams avoid maintaining
  separate data extracts while still supporting the flexible workflows many business
  users rely on.
  Access and visibility remain controlled through the platform’s identity, permissions,
  and governance framework, ensuring that users only see the data they are authorized
  to access.
  DEMO 6
  Governance & Security Controls
  This demo highlights how governance and security controls extend across the
  analytics layer in Microsoft Fabric.
  As data from the SQL Database is exposed to reporting tools and semantic models,
  governance policies can continue to be enforced through role-based access, model
  permissions, and row-level security when required.
  Fabric enables organizations to manage governance consistently across operational
  data and analytical models without creating separate security frameworks for each
  tool.
  This ensures that as data flows from relational workloads into reporting and
  analytics, security policies remain intact and access remains controlled across the
  entire platform.
  transition
  Cost. Speed. Control.
  Sound off.
  The mic is all yours.
  Influence the product roadmap.
  Join the Fabric User Panel
  Join the SQL User Panel
  Share your feedback directly with our
  Fabric product group and researchers.
  Influence our SQL roadmap and ensure
  it meets your real-life needs
  https://aka.ms/JoinFabricUserPanel
  https://aka.ms/JoinSQLUserPanel
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