Azure Data Factory vs Synapse Analytics: A Comprehensive Comparison

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Posted Nov 21, 2024

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Azure Data Factory and Synapse Analytics are two powerful tools in the Azure ecosystem, designed to help you manage and process large amounts of data.

Synapse Analytics is a unified analytics service that combines data integration, processing, and warehousing capabilities in one place.

Azure Data Factory, on the other hand, is a cloud-based data integration service that automates and orchestrates data movement and processing.

Synapse Analytics is designed to handle massive amounts of data, supporting up to 300 TB of storage.

Key Concepts

Azure Data Factory and Synapse are both powerful tools for data integration, but they have some key differences. Azure Data Factory is ideal for data engineers who want to streamline data collection processes with in-built processes.

Both Azure Data Factory and Synapse have built-in connectors that allow you to move data between different databases with UI-based workflows. This feature is useful for data professionals who want to simplify their data integration process.

Credit: youtube.com, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, or Azure Synapse Analytics? When to use what.

Azure Synapse Analytics is widely used among professionals looking for an end-to-end solution for analytics. It allows you to collect, transform, and analyze data from just one platform.

If you want to integrate data into your desired Database/destination, Hevo Data is a great choice. It will help simplify the ETL and management process of both the data sources and the data destinations.

Here are some key features to consider when choosing between Azure Data Factory and Synapse:

  • Azure Data Factory is suitable for data engineers who want to streamline data collection processes with in-built processes.
  • Azure Synapse Analytics is ideal for professionals looking for an end-to-end solution for analytics.
  • Hevo Data is a cloud-based, completely managed No Code Pipeline ETL tool offering built-in Azure Synapse Analytics support.

Azure Data Factory and Synapse have similarities in data integration and transformation practices. Both services have similar features for ETL or ELT, and offer linked services to extend data engineers' capabilities.

Key Differences

Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Data Factory are two powerful tools in the Azure ecosystem, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Azure Synapse Analytics is widely used for end-to-end analytics solutions, allowing you to collect, transform, and analyze data from one platform.

Credit: youtube.com, #2. Azure Synapse Analytics - ADF Vs. Synapse - Differences

Azure Data Factory, on the other hand, is designed for data engineers who want to streamline data collection processes with in-built processes. It's primarily used for building data pipelines using no-code features.

Here's a quick comparison of the two:

If you want more flexibility while working with data, Azure Synapse Analytics is the way to go. If you only want to connect and transform data without writing code, Azure Data Factory might be the better choice.

Key Takeaways

Azure Synapse Analytics is a popular choice among professionals who need an end-to-end solution for analytics. It allows you to collect, transform, and analyze data from one platform.

Azure Data Factory is more suitable for data engineers who want to streamline data collection processes with in-built processes. However, it doesn't allow for customization beyond its no-code capabilities.

Here's a quick comparison of the three tools:

If you only want to connect and transform data without writing code, Azure Data Factory is the way to go. However, it doesn't offer the flexibility that Azure Synapse Analytics provides.

Major Differences

Man in White Dress Shirt Analyzing Data Displayed on Screen
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Azure Synapse and Azure Data Factory are two powerful tools in the Azure ecosystem, but they serve different purposes and offer distinct features.

Azure Synapse is built with data transformation in mind, allowing you to create data pipelines with no-code features and even Python programming. On the other hand, Azure Data Factory primarily relies on no-code features for data pipeline creation.

If you're looking to build machine learning models, Azure Synapse gives you the flexibility to do so with or without code, whereas Azure Data Factory is mainly used for building data pipelines only.

Security and access control are also handled differently in these tools. Azure Synapse offers a wide range of access control for Azure roles, Synapse roles, SQL roles, and Git permissions, whereas users in Azure Data Factory are generally added with a contribution role.

Pricing for these tools varies as well. Azure Synapse is based on the resources you use for data warehousing, data exploration, and more, while Azure Data Factory is dependent on the status and usage of data pipelines.

An artist's illustration of artificial intelligence (AI). This image represents storage of collected data in AI. It was created by Wes Cockx as part of the Visualising AI project launched ...
Credit: pexels.com, An artist's illustration of artificial intelligence (AI). This image represents storage of collected data in AI. It was created by Wes Cockx as part of the Visualising AI project launched ...

Here's a comparison of the two tools in a table:

Katrina Sanford

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Katrina Sanford is a seasoned writer with a knack for crafting compelling content on a wide range of topics. Her expertise spans the realm of important issues, where she delves into thought-provoking subjects that resonate with readers. Her ability to distill complex concepts into engaging narratives has earned her a reputation as a versatile and reliable writer.

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