Integrate Azure Analysis Services
This section provides guidance on integrating Azure Analysis Services (AAS) with various data sources and client applications. Learn how to connect to AAS from popular BI tools, ingest data from diverse sources, and embed analysis capabilities into your own applications.
Connecting to Azure Analysis Services
Azure Analysis Services supports connections from a wide range of client tools and applications. Here are some common integration scenarios:
Connecting with Business Intelligence Tools
Utilize the rich visualization and reporting capabilities of BI tools to interact with your AAS models.
- Connecting with Power BI
- Connecting with Excel
- Connecting with Tableau
- Connecting with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
Connecting Programmatically
Embed analysis and data modeling capabilities directly into your custom applications using various SDKs and libraries.
- Analysis Services client libraries (TOM, ADOMD.NET)
- REST APIs
- Integration with Azure Functions and Logic Apps
Integrating Data Sources
Azure Analysis Services can connect to a variety of data sources to import and process data. The choice of data source and integration method depends on your data volume, frequency, and complexity.
Supported Data Sources
AAS supports a wide array of sources, including:
- Azure SQL Database
- Azure Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake Storage
- Azure Synapse Analytics
- On-premises SQL Server
- Other relational databases (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL)
- Data warehouses and data lakes
Data Ingestion and Transformation
Leverage Azure Data Factory or other ETL tools to extract, transform, and load data into your AAS models.
Consider using techniques like:
- Batch processing for large datasets.
- Incremental data loading to keep models up-to-date.
- Using PolyBase or COPY INTO for efficient data loading into Azure Synapse.
Embedding Analysis Services in Applications
Integrate the analytical power of Azure Analysis Services directly into your web or desktop applications. This allows users to perform interactive data analysis without leaving your application's interface.
Embedding with Power BI Embedded
Embed Power BI reports and dashboards that are connected to your AAS models within your own applications.
Learn more about embedding Power BI content.
Custom UI Development
Build custom user interfaces using client libraries to query AAS and display results. This offers maximum flexibility for unique user experiences.
Explore the capabilities of:
- Tabular Object Model (TOM) for model manipulation.
- ADOMD.NET for querying data.
Security Considerations for Integration
Implementing robust security measures is crucial when integrating with Azure Analysis Services. This includes managing authentication, authorization, and data access.
- Azure Active Directory integration for authentication.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) within AAS.
- Row-level security to filter data based on user identity.
- Network security with Virtual Networks and Private Endpoints.
Next Steps
Continue your integration journey by exploring the following resources: