OneLake
One central storage layer for all Fabric components, comparable to a data lake for the whole organisation.
Guide · Microsoft Fabric
Microsoft Fabric explained. And when it fits.
Microsoft Fabric is Microsoft's SaaS analytics platform that brings central storage (OneLake), data integration, lakehouses, warehouses and Power BI together under one capacity. It mainly suits organisations that already run broadly on Microsoft and have their own data team. ENABLE has no direct Fabric integration; it embeds Power BI reports and otherwise works on a PostgreSQL data warehouse.
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Microsoft Fabric is an analytics platform from Microsoft, delivered as a SaaS service. It brings components that used to be separate, such as data integration, data engineering, data warehousing, data science and Power BI, together in one environment with one central storage layer: OneLake.
Whether Microsoft Fabric suits you depends mainly on your existing systems, your data team and the types of data you have. For organisations that already do a lot in the Microsoft cloud and have a team that can manage the platform, Fabric can replace many separate tools. If you mainly want reliable reporting and KPIs, your own data warehouse is often the simpler option.
Below you can read what Fabric is, when it fits and how it relates to ENABLE.
Key points
Microsoft Fabric at a glance
Data Factory
Pipelines and dataflows for loading and transforming data from source systems.
Lakehouse
Storage of raw and processed data as files and tables, which you can work with using Spark and notebooks, among other tools.
Warehouse
A SQL data warehouse within Fabric for structured, modelled data.
Power BI
Reports and semantic models. Power BI is one of the components (workloads) within Fabric.
Capacity (F SKUs)
You purchase computing power in the form of a capacity, which all Fabric components share.
What is Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric is intended as one platform for the entire data chain: loading, storing, processing, analysing and reporting on data. Where you used to combine separate Azure services with Power BI, Fabric brings those functions under one roof, with one management environment and one way of billing.
At its core is OneLake: all components read from and write to the same storage, so you do not need to copy data again for each component. On top of that sit components for data integration (Data Factory), data engineering (lakehouse and notebooks), data warehousing, data science, real-time analytics and Power BI. You do not have to use all of them.
Microsoft Fabric and Power BI
Power BI is part of Microsoft Fabric, but you can also use Power BI without the other Fabric components. Existing reports keep working; Fabric mainly adds components for loading, storing and processing data.
As for licensing: Fabric works with capacities (F SKUs), which you purchase pay-as-you-go or reserved. Which users also need a Power BI licence depends on the capacity and your set-up. Microsoft changes these terms regularly; check the current situation with Microsoft.
Microsoft Fabric or your own data warehouse?
The main choice is not Fabric or no Fabric, but how much platform you need. A complete Fabric data platform offers a lot, but also requires expertise and management. Your own data warehouse does less, but is easier to oversee.
| Microsoft Fabric | Own data warehouse (e.g. PostgreSQL) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Complete analytics platform as SaaS | Standalone database as central storage |
| Components | Loading, storage, processing, data science and Power BI in one environment | Storage and SQL; loading and reporting with separate tools |
| Type of data | Structured and unstructured, including large volumes | Mainly structured business data |
| Cost model | Capacity (F SKU) for all components together | Database hosting plus a loading tool if needed |
| Management | Requires knowledge of multiple Fabric components | Simpler; you choose the loading tool yourself |
| Vendor lock-in | Closely tied to Microsoft | Open standard, can be hosted by many providers |
| With ENABLE | No direct integration with OneLake or the Fabric warehouse | SQL Explorer, Data API, Dashboard Builder (pilot) and Power BI |
When does Microsoft Fabric fit?
Fabric makes the most sense if several of these points apply to you:
- You already work broadly with Microsoft 365, Azure and Power BI.
- You have large or varied data flows, including unstructured or real-time data.
- You have a data team or a regular partner that can handle data engineering and platform management.
- You want data science, notebooks and reporting on one platform.
Microsoft Fabric implementation or migration: what to look out for
Fabric makes less sense if you mainly want to combine a few sources for reliable dashboards. In that case, your own data warehouse with a loading tool is often easier to oversee and more predictable in cost.
Considering a Microsoft Fabric migration, for example from separate Azure services or an existing Power BI capacity? Then first map out which components you will actually use, who will manage the platform and what capacity goes with that. If you are looking for a Microsoft Fabric consultant for a full implementation, that is not the core of what ENABLE does; Data Analytics B.V. focuses on Power BI dashboards, the data warehouse underneath and the portal in which you share them.
How ENABLE relates to Microsoft Fabric
ENABLE is a secure portal in which you embed and share Power BI reports. That connection runs via the Power BI API and a Microsoft Entra service principal per organisation. If your reports are in a workspace on Fabric capacity, embedding still runs via that Power BI API; whether this works without changes in your situation is something we check during the intake.
The SQL Explorer with AI, the Data API and the Dashboard Builder (pilot) work on a PostgreSQL data warehouse. Data that only lives in OneLake, a Fabric lakehouse or a Fabric warehouse cannot be queried directly with them.
In ENABLE
How ENABLE works alongside or without Fabric
- 01
Assess the starting point
We look at which sources, reports and licences you already have, and whether your data lives in Fabric, in a database or in separate files.
- 02
Choose storage
For the SQL Explorer, the Data API and the Dashboard Builder, ENABLE needs a PostgreSQL data warehouse. Power BI reports can also run on other sources.
- 03
Connect Power BI
Via a Microsoft Entra service principal per organisation, ENABLE synchronises workspaces and reports and embeds them in the portal.
- 04
Set up access
Access profiles and optional row-level security determine who sees which reports and which rows.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Microsoft Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric is an analytics platform from Microsoft, delivered as a SaaS service. It combines data integration (Data Factory), central storage (OneLake), lakehouses, warehouses, data science and Power BI in one environment. You purchase capacity that all components share.
What is the difference between Microsoft Fabric and Power BI?
Power BI is the tool for reports and dashboards; Microsoft Fabric is the broader platform of which Power BI is a part. Fabric adds components for loading, storing and processing data. You can also use Power BI without the other Fabric components.
Do I need Microsoft Fabric for Power BI dashboards?
No. Power BI reports can also run on your own data warehouse, such as PostgreSQL, or on other sources. Fabric is mainly of interest if you also want to load, store and process data within the Microsoft environment.
Does ENABLE work with Microsoft Fabric?
Not directly. ENABLE has no integration with OneLake, a Fabric lakehouse or a Fabric warehouse; the SQL Explorer and the Data API work on a PostgreSQL data warehouse. ENABLE does embed Power BI reports via the Power BI API; whether that works without changes in your Fabric environment is something we look at during the intake.
When should you choose your own data warehouse instead of Microsoft Fabric?
If you mainly want to combine a limited number of sources for reliable dashboards and KPIs, your own data warehouse is often easier to manage and more predictable in cost. Fabric is a better fit for large, varied data flows and an in-house data team.
How much does Microsoft Fabric cost?
That depends on the capacity (F SKU) you purchase, whether you pay as you go or reserved, and which Power BI licences your users need. Microsoft changes prices and terms regularly; you can find current prices on Microsoft's website.
Further reading
- SolutionBuild a data platform: layers, choices and approachFrom sources to dashboards and AI: how a data platform is structured.Read more
- IntegrationPower BI embedded portal: share dashboards securelyPower BI reports embedded in your own portal, with access by role and RLS.Read more
- ResourcesWhat is Power BI Embedded? Scenarios and optionsPower BI Embedded is the way to show Power BI reports and dashboards in your own application, website or portal, instead of in Microsoft's Power BI service. There are two variants: embedding for your organisation, where users sign in with their own Microsoft account, and embedding for your customers, where the application handles access through a service principal and end users do not need a Power BI licence. For that second variant, you need capacity in production.Read more
- ResourcesWhat is a data warehouse? Explained and comparedA data warehouse is a central database in which you bring together data from different source systems, such as your ERP, CRM and webshop, clean it up and organise it so that you can report on it and analyse it effectively. A source system is built to process transactions; a data warehouse is built for reading, comparing and keeping history. A data lake stores raw data in any format, and a data lakehouse combines the storage of a lake with the structure of a warehouse.Read more
- SolutionPower BI dashboard portal: share dashboards securelyShare your Power BI dashboards securely in your own portal, with role-based access.Read more
- SolutionData integration: connect data sources for insightConnect data sources for reporting and AI, via one central data warehouse.Read more
Share securely, live fast, no headache
In an online demo we show you the portal: dashboards per role, row-level security, plain-language questions and how we set it up and manage it for you.