Azure Data Factory: A Contemporary Solution for Modern Data Integration Challenges
As more data is available, it becomes more challenging to handle. Investing in innovative services and tools lets you get more value from data. Modern businesses must embrace effective tools, technologies, and innovative methods to succeed. This is where the Azure Data Factory comes into play. ADF allows you to orchestrate data processes, analyze the data, and gain insights. This article will cover the following: Azure Data Factory is a Microsoft cloud service offering that provides data integration from various sources. It is part of the Azure platform. ADF is a great option for creating hybrid extract-transform-load (ETL), extract-load-transform (ELT), and data integration pipelines. In simple terms, an ETL tool collects data from various sources, transforms it into useful information, and transfers it to destinations such as data lakes, data warehouses, etc. Combine and connect: Gather and combine data from various sources. The data can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Centralize and store: Transfer and store data from on-premises storage to a centralized location, such as a cloud-based store. Transform and analyze: After storing data in centralized cloud storage, use computing services such as HDInsight Hadoop, Spark, Data Lake Analytics, and Machine Learning to process or transform the data collected. Publish: After refining the data and converting it into consumable form, publish it to cloud stores like Azure Data Lake, Azure Datawarehouse, and Azure Cosmos DB, whichever analytics engine your business users can point from to their BI apps. Visualize and Monitor: For further analysis, visualize the output data using third-party apps like Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, Sisense, etc. Source: Microsoft Every cloud project demands data migration activities across various data sources (such as on-premises or cloud), networks, and services. Azure Data Factory is a vital enabler for organizations looking to enter the universe of cloud technology. Below are some of the reasons why companies should adopt ADF to start their data journey: Data Factory is necessary for enterprises taking their initial steps toward the Cloud and thus attempting to integrate on-premise data with the Cloud. Azure Data Factory includes an Integration Runtime engine and a Gateway service that can be placed on-premises and ensures reliable and safe data transfer from and to the cloud. Source: Microsoft SSIS is an ETL tool for on-premises use that may also be used for ELT. ADF is a cloud-based solution for constructing ELT data pipelines. Implementing ETL use cases in ADF is also feasible using the data flow features. The table below compares Azure Data Factory to SSIS, taking processes and technologies into account. Experts recommend using Azure Data Factory as your preferred choice for a data movement orchestration tool. If you’re happy with your present SQL Server Integration Services workloads, remember that you can still run them with Azure Data Factory. Your developers should be aware of the following best practices to make Data Factory usage even more efficient. 1.Set up a code repository: To achieve end-to-end development, you must create a code repository for your big data. Azure Data Factory allows you to create a Git repository using either GitHub or Azure Repos to manage your data-related activities and save all your modifications. However, utilizing the ‘Switch’ activity, Azure Data Factory allows you to manage many environment setups from a single data platform. Each environment is configured with a different job cluster linked to central variable control to move between multiple activity paths. 2. Toggle between different environment set-ups: It is vital to recognize the significance of effective naming conventions for any resource. When using naming conventions, you must know which characters are acceptable. Microsoft has established certain naming conventions for the Azure Data Factory. Refer to the below picture. Source: Microsoft 3. Consider standard naming conventions: It is vital to recognize the significance of effective naming conventions for any resource. When using naming conventions, you must know which characters are acceptable. Microsoft has established certain naming conventions for the Azure Data Factory. Refer to the below picture. Source: Microsoft 4. Connect Azure Key Vault for security: To provide an extra level of safety, connect Azure Key Vault to Azure Data Factory. Azure Key Vault enables you to securely store the credentials required to perform data storage/computing operations. The Azure Key Vault can be linked to access secrets using the key vault’s own Managed Service Identity (MSI). It’s also a smart option to key vaults differently for different environments. 5. Implement automated deployments (CI/CD): Implementing automated deployments for CI/CD is a critical part of Azure Data Factory. However, before you execute Azure Data Factory deployments, you must first answer the following questions: 6. Consider automated testing: The Azure Data Factory implementation is incomplete without testing. Automated testing is a critical component of CI/CD deployment strategies. In Azure Data Factory, you must consider implementing automated end-to-end testing on all associated repositories and pipelines. Testing will aid in monitoring and validating each activity in the pipeline. Data Factory makes it simple to combine cloud and on-premises data. It’s one-of-a-kind in terms of ease of use and modifying and enhancing complex data. It allows for scalable, accessible, and low-cost data integration. This service is now an integral part of all data platforms and machine learning projects. Anblicks has extensive expertise in data and cloud and is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. To ensure the highest security for your sensitive data, the organization adheres to ISO 27001 and GDPR requirements. Our certified data professionals and Azure Data Factory developers can assist you with implementing the Azure cloud platform and transforming, ingesting, and replicating your big data to the cloud.
What is Azure Data Factory?
How does ADF work?
Case study: How a leading entertainment company build an end-to-end data platform for faster insights & timely decision making
Why do companies need Azure Data Factory?
Which is better, Azure Data Factory or SSIS?
FEATURES
ADF
SSIS
Big Data & Real-Time Data
Yes
No
Ability for customers to add new data sources
No
Yes
Compliance, governance, and security certifications
Yes
No
Hybrid On-Prem & Azure Solution
Yes
No
Future proof
Yes
No
Integrated with Azure Databricks
Yes
No
Integrated with Big Data and ML workloads
Yes
No
Platform fully managed by Microsoft
Yes
No
What are the best Azure Data Factory implementation practices?
Toggle between different environment set-ups: A data platform connects development, production, and testing environments. The quantity of computing varies depending on the environment. As a result, various data factories are required to keep up with the workloads of different environments.
Summary
Saikiran Bellamkonda is Marketing Manager at Anblicks, responsible for overseeing GTM strategies, growth marketing, corporate marketing, strategic alliances, and marketing operations globally. He is deeply passionate about leveraging data-driven insights and exploring the transformative impact of AI on traditional business processes. Saikiran actively experiments with marketing technologies to drive added value and efficiencies. He holds an MBA degree with a focus in Marketing. Outside of work, Saikiran is an avid traveler and fitness enthusiast.
