Azure Synapse Analytics

Azure Synapse Analytics: Limitless Analytics Service Guide

Azure Synapse Analytics is Microsoft's unified analytics platform. It combines data warehousing, big data processing, and data integration.

Key features include:

• Serverless SQL pools (pay-per-query)
• Dedicated SQL pools (formerly SQL Data Warehouse)
• Apache Spark pools

In 2026, Microsoft Fabric will replace Synapse for new implementations. EPC Group helps enterprises manage their existing Synapse workloads and plan migrations to Microsoft Fabric.

We have experience since 1997 with Microsoft technologies.

Key facts

• Azure Synapse Analytics combines data warehousing, Spark big data, and data integration in one service.
• Three compute options: serverless SQL pool (pay-per-TB scanned), dedicated SQL pool (DWU-based), Apache Spark pool.
• Microsoft Fabric supersedes Synapse for new projects — Synapse is the migration path, not the destination.
• Integrates natively with Power BI, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, Azure Machine Learning, and Microsoft Purview.
• EPC Group: Microsoft consulting since 1997. Former Microsoft Gold Partner (2000 to program retirement, oldest in North America). Core Microsoft Solutions Partner designations.
• Fixed-fee Synapse and Fabric implementations available at 30–40% below Big 4 rates.

What is Azure Synapse Analytics?

Azure Synapse Analytics is a unified analytics platform. It combines four capabilities in one service:

• Data warehousing — Dedicated SQL pools (formerly SQL Data Warehouse) for structured data at petabyte scale.
• Serverless SQL — Query data in Azure Data Lake Storage without a dedicated cluster. Pay per TB scanned.
• Apache Spark — Managed Spark clusters for big data ETL, machine learning, and streaming.
• Data integration — Synapse Pipelines (built on Azure Data Factory) for data movement and transformation.

Synapse Studio provides a unified development environment for all four workload types in one browser-based IDE.

Azure Synapse vs. Microsoft Fabric (2026)

Microsoft Fabric launched in 2023 as the next-generation unified analytics platform. It incorporates Synapse capabilities plus Power BI, Data Factory, and more into a single SaaS offering.

For 2026 planning:

• Existing Synapse workloads — Continue running. Synapse remains fully supported. Microsoft has not announced a deprecation date.
• New analytics projects — Start with Microsoft Fabric. OneLake, Lakehouse, and Fabric Data Warehouse provide the same capabilities in a more unified, SaaS-managed model.
• Migration — EPC Group helps organizations migrate Synapse dedicated SQL pools and Spark workloads to Microsoft Fabric at planned timelines.

Azure Synapse Compute Options

Serverless SQL Pool

Serverless SQL pool queries data in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using T-SQL without a dedicated compute cluster. Pricing:

• Pay per TB of data scanned — $5/TB scanned (approximately).
• No cluster provisioning or management required.
• Best for ad-hoc exploration and infrequent queries over large data lake files.

Dedicated SQL Pool

Dedicated SQL pools provide a provisioned MPP data warehouse. Pricing:

• Priced in Data Warehouse Units (DWUs). Scale from 100 DWU to 30,000 DWU.
• Pause/resume to stop billing when not in use.
• Best for consistent, high-volume query workloads requiring predictable performance.

Apache Spark Pool

Managed Spark clusters with auto-scaling and auto-pause. Pricing:

• Priced per vCore hour. Auto-pause after idle period stops billing automatically.
• Supports Python, Scala, R, and Spark SQL.
• Best for ETL pipelines, machine learning training, and streaming analytics.

Security and Compliance

Azure Synapse Analytics supports compliance-first deployments. Key security controls:

• Managed virtual networks — Run Synapse compute in a managed VNet with private endpoints for all data source connections.
• Azure Private Link — Data exfiltration protection. Prevent data from leaving the approved network path.
• Entra ID integration — Identity-based access control for all Synapse workspaces, SQL pools, and Spark jobs.
• Column-level security — Restrict access to sensitive columns (SSN, salary) by Entra ID group or user.
• Row-level security — Dynamic filter policies restrict which rows each user can see. Common for multi-tenant analytics.
• Dynamic Data Masking — Mask sensitive data fields for non-privileged users without changing the underlying data.
• Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) — All data at rest encrypted with AES-256.

Synapse Integrations

Azure Synapse integrates natively with the Microsoft analytics stack:

• Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 — Native storage for Synapse data lakes. Serverless SQL and Spark pools both read and write directly to ADLS Gen2.
• Power BI — Synapse Studio supports in-workspace Power BI report development. Direct Query from Power BI to Synapse dedicated SQL pools.
• Azure Machine Learning — Run ML experiments on Synapse Spark pools. Operationalize models trained on Synapse data.
• Microsoft Purview — Scan Synapse assets for data lineage, classification, and sensitivity labeling.
• Azure Cosmos DB via Synapse Link — Real-time operational analytics on Cosmos DB data without ETL.

EPC Group Synapse Consulting

EPC Group has provided Synapse Analytics implementations for Fortune 500 clients since the service began. We hold all six Microsoft Solutions Partner designations.

Additionally, we were the longest-serving Microsoft Gold Partner in North America from 2000 to 2022.

Our Synapse services include:

• Architecture design: data lake design, compute tier selection, and Purview governance.
• Migration: on-premises data warehouse to Synapse dedicated SQL pool or Microsoft Fabric.
• Optimization: DWU rightsizing, materialized view design, and result set caching.
• Compliance: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, and GDPR controls configured at deployment.
• Migration to Microsoft Fabric: planned migration path for clients ready to move from Synapse to Fabric.

Frequently asked questions

What is Azure Synapse Analytics?

Azure Synapse Analytics is Microsoft's all-in-one analytics platform. It includes:

• Data warehousing with a dedicated SQL pool
• Serverless SQL that charges per TB
• Apache Spark
• Data integration pipelines

All these features are available in a single service with a unified Studio IDE.

Is Azure Synapse still relevant in 2026?

Yes, Synapse is fully supported for existing deployments and is not deprecated. For new projects, Microsoft Fabric is the recommended platform.

EPC Group assists clients with:

• Running existing Synapse workloads
• Planning Fabric migrations at the right time

What is the difference between Synapse serverless SQL and dedicated SQL?

Serverless SQL queries access data in the data lake and charge per TB scanned. There is no need for cluster provisioning.

The dedicated SQL pool is a provisioned MPP data warehouse. It is priced in DWUs and is ideal for:

• Consistent, high-volume workloads
• Predictable performance
• Cache benefits

How does Synapse relate to Microsoft Fabric?

Microsoft Fabric launched in 2023. It combines Synapse capabilities and more into a single SaaS platform. In Fabric, Synapse dedicated SQL pools and Spark pools have equivalents:

• Fabric Data Warehouse
• Fabric Spark Notebook

EPC Group is planning migration timelines for all Synapse clients to Fabric.

Does Azure Synapse support HIPAA?

Yes. Azure Synapse supports HIPAA-compliant analytics architectures. It offers several key features:

• Managed VNet
• Private Link
• Column-level and row-level security
• Dynamic Data Masking
• TDE
• Entra ID integration

EPC Group has built HIPAA-compliant Synapse environments for healthcare clients.

Build your enterprise analytics platform

Talk to an EPC Group analytics architect about Azure Synapse implementation or Microsoft Fabric migration. Call (888) 381-9725 or request a 30-minute discovery call.