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SQL in the Fabric Era: Practical Techniques for Modern Data Integration

#fabcon2026 #session #learning #microsoft #fabcon2026-session

Description

SQL pros, meet Fabric! This session shares hands-on examples of SQL database in Fabric in action with analytics, governance, and Power BI integration included. Discover how to extend your SQL skills into a modern data ecosystem without leaving your comfort zone.

Key Takeaways

My Notes

Action Items

Slides

SQL in the Fabric Era
Practical Techniques for Modern Data Integration
Kevin Pereira
Solutions Architect - SHI
About Me
 Two decades of experience working with SQL
 Fifteen years of ETL and Data Engineering experience
 Have poken at multiple SQL Saturday Events
 Spoke at FabCon and FabConEU in 2025
 Co-leader of the DFW Power BI & Fabric User Group
Agenda
 SQL DB in Fabric overview
 Mirroring/Replication in SQL DB in Fabric
 SQL Analytics Endpoint overview
 Querying across endpoints (SQLDB, Warehouse,
Lakehouse)
 Fabric Lineage View and Impact Analysis
 SQL-based data protection across DB and Endpoints
Dynamic Data Masking
RLS, CLS, and OLS
How these impact downstream objects
What is SQL DB in Fabric?
It is a developer-friendly transactional database that allows you to create
operational databases in Fabric and uses the same Database Engine as Azure SQL
Database.
Data
Integration
Real-Time
Intelligence
Databases
Analytics
Power BI
Copilot in Fabric
OneLake
Microsoft Purview
Unified
architecture
Unified
experience
Unified
governance
Unified
business model
SQL DB in Fabric Architecture
Microsoft Fabric
Live database
SQL analytics
endpoint
Fabric SQL DB
Delta Parquet in OneLake
Near real-time
Incremental replication
inserts/updates/deletes
Data
Warehouse
OneLake
Fabric
Lakehouse
Power BI
Fabric Spark
Mirroring/Replication
 Replicates transactional data into OneLake in near realtime
 Data is stored in delta parquet files (ACID compliant)
 Compute to replicate is free
 Storage in OneLake is free (1TB/CU limit)
 Enabled by default and cannot be disabled
 Tables cannot be added/removed as desired
 Some data types are not compatible
Monitor Replication
Demo time!
Explore Fabric SQL DB
What is the SQL Analytics Endpoint?
 A read-only T-SQL compatible interface automatically created for SQL DB
 Provides T-SQL access to query the Delta tables in OneLake
 Allows the definition of objects (views, functions, procedures) and SQL
Security
 Uses a different connection string than the SQL DB
 SQL Endpoint - .datawarehouse.fabric.microsoft.com
 SQL DB - .database.fabric.microsoft.com
 Provides ability to perform cross-database queries within the workspace
Access the SQL Analytics Endpoint
Recognize the SQL Analytics Endpoint
Demo time!
Let’s explore the SQL Endpoint in SQL, DW, and LH and
how they interact together
Governance
Lineage View
 Intended to display the lineage relationships between all
the items in a workspace
 Displays data sources external to the workspace onestep upstream
 Shows downstream items that depend on an item via
the “Impact Analysis” pane
 Does NOT identify SQL 3-part-notation dependencies
Lineage View
Impact Analysis View
Demo Time!
Let’s explore the Lineage and Impact Analysis
views!
SQL Dynamic Data Masking
 Can be applied at table definition in the SQL Database
 Can only be applied with an ALTER statement in the SQL
Analytics Endpoint
 Does NOT automatically propagate from the Database
to the Analytics Endpoint
 Column-level granularity is available in both
 Honored in Power BI reports in DirectLake on SQL*
DirectLake on SQL – https://learn.microsoft.com/enus/fabric/fundamentals/direct-lake-overview#comparison-of-storage-modes
SQL-Based CLS, OLS, and RLS
 Can be applied to the Database as well as the SQL
Analytics Endpoint
 Does not automatically propagate from one to the
other
 Must be applied at the consumption layer. Be mindful!
 Honored in Power BI reports in DirectLake on SQL*
 It only works in Delegated Identity Mode (SQL Analytics
Endpoint)
Access modes - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/onelake/security/sqlanalytics-endpoint-onelake-security#access-modes-in-sql-analytics-endpoint
Demo Time!
• Let’s explore DDM, RLS, and CLS in the DB and the Endpoint
• Let’s see the downstream impact of each!
Key Takeaways
 SQL skills are valuable in multiple areas of Fabric on Day 1!!!
 SQL DB in Fabric is one more option in the SQL family
Great for citizen dev apps
Great for metadata-driven ETL pipelines and centralized
logging
A great option for “Reverse ETL” patterns
Key Takeaways
 SQL DB has the following limitations
4 TB size limit
1000 tables replication limit
 The SQL Endpoint is the secret sauce for Data Integration
Allows to query across DB, Warehouse, and
Lakehouse
Difficult to source control
What we covered today
 Quick overview of SQL Database in Fabric
 Zero ETL replication with Mirroring
 SQL Analytics Endpoint is the superpower for the SQL Pro
 Lineage View and Impact Analysis view in Fabric
 Dynamic Data Masking support in SQL DB and SQL
Endpoint
 SQL-Based OLS and RLS in SQL DB and SQL Endpoint
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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