Introduction to SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)
SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is Microsoft’s online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining engine in the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack. It enables you to design, create, and deliver multidimensional and tabular data models that provide fast analytical insights for decision‑making.
On this page
Key Features
- Multidimensional cubes and tabular models
- Powerful MDX & DAX query languages
- Integrated security & role‑based access
- Scalable in‑memory analytics (VertiPaq)
- Data mining algorithms for predictive analytics
- Seamless integration with Power BI, Excel, and Reporting Services
Typical Use Cases
- Enterprise‑wide KPI dashboards
- Financial consolidation and reporting
- Sales and marketing performance analysis
- Customer segmentation & churn prediction
- Operational metrics monitoring
Core Components ▼
- Database Engine
- Stores and processes cubes, dimensions, and tabular models.
- Processing Service
- Handles data refresh, aggregations, and calculations.
- Query Processor
- Executes MDX/DAX queries and returns results to clients.
- Data Mining Designer
- Provides tools to build predictive models using built‑in algorithms.
Getting Started
- Install SQL Server with the Analysis Services feature.
- Launch SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) to create a new Analysis Services project.
- Define data sources, data source views, dimensions, and cubes (or tabular models).
- Deploy the project to the SSAS instance and process the model.
- Connect using client tools such as Excel, Power BI, or SQL Server Management Studio.
-- Example DAX measure
Total Sales :=
SUMX (
FILTER ( Sales, Sales[OrderDate] >= DATE(2023,1,1) ),
Sales[Quantity] * Sales[UnitPrice]
)