Azure Data Factory (ADF) is Microsoft’s cloud, Platform as a Service (PaaS), equivalent to SQL Server Integration Services. ADF allows developers to build Extract Transform and Load (ETL) functionality inside Azure.
I think ADF will be the future technology for developing integrations and migrations in Power Platform / Common Data Service applications as ADF has matured over the year and it has built-in connectors (linked service) to the Power Platform applications.
Because I believe ADF will be the future of power platform integrations and migrations I will be learning and blogging about it over the next 6 months.
Previously integrations and migrations would be implemented with applications that required a physical or virtual operating system such as Scribe, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and KingswaySoft. Each of these solutions required;
Managing a server usually on-premise, sometimes in the cloud.
Installing, managing, and updating the windows server operating system.
Installing and managing the integration application.
WHY IS ADF THE FUTURE?
(1) ADF is consumption-based, only pay for what you use.
(2) ADF is (Paas), there ADF does not require installation, configuration, and management of the operating system, as this is taken care off by Microsoft in the data centre. Additionally, no managing of SQL Server or Scribe on top of the operating system.
(3) ADF, has built-in connectors (linked services) to the Power Platform, meaning no third-party software is required.
(4) ADF provides built-in monitoring and logging, so admins can be immediately notified when errors occur.
(5) ADF is an azure offering meaning it will be a cloud service that most Power Platform clients already have.
The bottom line, ADF is cheaper and easier to manage than the traditional integration and migration technologies Additionally, ADF is a first-party Cloud Paas offering from Microsoft. Therefore I see ADF being the future technology of choice for building integration and migrations to Power Platform Applications.
