Migrating to Microsoft Fabric: Boost your data flows and performance

In December 2024, Microsoft announced it would be discontinuing Power BI Premium licenses per capacity in favour of Microsoft Fabric, to provide a unified platform for analytics and data integration. Fortunately, Microsoft is offering free tools to ensure a seamless transition to Microsoft Fabric.

This guide explains how to migrate to Microsoft Fabric and how to use Microsoft Fabric after the transition, while optimizing data flows and integrating with Snowflake, Azure Data Factory, and Databricks.

How to migrate to Microsoft Fabric with Microsoft’s free tools

Microsoft offers a suite of tools to automate and simplify your migration to Microsoft Fabric:

1. Fabric Capacity migration tool: Analyzes your existing workloads and migrates them to Microsoft Fabric, optimizing resource utilization in the process.
2. Power BI workspace upgrade tool: Facilitates the conversion of Power BI Premium workspaces into Fabric workspaces, while simplifying management.
3. Data Migration Assistant: Detects dataset dependencies and ensures compatibility with Fabric.
4. Azure Data Factory Migration Tool: Migrates data pipelines and adjusts them to Microsoft Fabric capabilities.
5. Validation and testing: Confirm that reports and datasets perform as expected after migration.
6. Performance optimization: Optimizes Fabric parameters to maximize performance and cost efficiency.

Licenses unaffected by the transition

Some Power BI licenses are unaffected and will continue to function after the integration of Microsoft Fabric:

• Power BI Pro: Remains available for individual users, unchanged.
• Power BI Premium Per User (PPU): Remains accessible with no immediate impact.
• Microsoft Fabric Capacity: Replaces Power BI Premium per capacity. This new option offers full use of Microsoft Fabric.

Microsoft has established a transition period till January 2025, giving companies time to adopt Fabric gradually before the old capacity options are phased out.

Why switch to Microsoft Fabric?

Integrating Microsoft Fabric into your data ecosystem offers several strategic benefits:

• Unified data services: Fabric combines Power BI, Data Factory, Synapse, and other tools in a single platform.
• Enhanced performance and scalability: Fabric offers unlimited storage and faster data management thanks to its OneLake-based architecture
• Cost reduction: Optimized resources and consolidated services reduce infrastructure costs.

Power BI Premium per capacity versus Microsoft Fabric

How to use Microsoft Fabric after migration

Once you’ve finished migrating, Microsoft Fabric offers new capacities for data integration and processing. Here’s how to optimize Microsoft Fabric:

1. Data flow management with Fabric

Microsoft Fabric introduces Dataflow Gen2, a new approach to data processing:

• Optimized data ingestion with real-time transformation.
• OneLake storage to facilitate data sharing and governance.
• Improved compatibility with Snowflake, Azure Synapse, and Databricks.

2. Data loading and integration with Microsoft Fabric

Here’s how to integrate Microsoft Fabric effectively with the main analytical tools:

With Snowflake

• Direct Lake mode: Query Snowflake in real time without data duplication.
• OneLake shortcuts: Shortcuts connect Snowflake directly to Microsoft Fabric to avoid unnecessary transfers.

With Azure Data Factory (ADF)

• Data pipelines: Fabric handles integration with ADF using low-code/no-code pipelines.
• Native connectors: These connectors simplify data transfer between Fabric and ADF.

With dbt (data build tool)

• Modular SQL transformation: Apply SQL models directly within Fabric.
• Integration with OneLake: This tool facilitates analytical transformation processes.

With Databricks

• Lakehouse architecture: Centralize your Fabric and Databricks data in OneLake.
• Advanced transformations: Use Spark and integrate the results directly into Fabric.

Start preparing for your migration to Microsoft Fabric!

Migration to Microsoft Fabric offers a strategic opportunity to modernize your data flows and enhance your information governance.
By taking advantage of the available migration tools and optimizing your use of Microsoft Fabric, you can maximize the performance of your analytics ecosystem.

Need support implementing Microsoft Fabric?

You don’t have to tackle this transition alone. We at agileDSS are your trusted partner for ensuring a smooth migration without disruptions to your operations. Contact us today to plan your transition to Microsoft Fabric and optimize your analytical performance!