22-25 April 2026 Browse the 2026 agenda
Data Transformation and Integration
Adapting to Fabric: A SQL Server Practitioner’s Path Forward
Description
This workshop is for SQL Server practitioners who know their way around administration, query plans, and access control, and who want to step into the world of Microsoft Fabric without starting from zero.
In one day, we’ll cover both Fabric Lakehouses and Warehouses, and show how your existing skills are still relevant in:
Understanding the engines and what’s really happening under the hood
* Reading query plans, statistics, and performance signals
* Working with Delta Lake storage and its impact on
* performance
The takeaway: the approach may look different, but the fundamentals and your knowledge carry straight across.
In one day, we’ll cover both Fabric Lakehouses and Warehouses, and show how your existing skills are still relevant in:
Understanding the engines and what’s really happening under the hood
* Reading query plans, statistics, and performance signals
* Working with Delta Lake storage and its impact on
* performance
The takeaway: the approach may look different, but the fundamentals and your knowledge carry straight across.
Learning Objectives
* Understand the core components of Microsoft Fabric and 'where Lakehouses vs. Warehouses fit.
* Map familiar SQL Server concepts (security, performance, admin mindset) to Fabric’s model.
* Explain what engine you’re using in Fabric and what that means for performance and behavior.
* Read and interpret query plans and key statistics/performance signals in Fabric.
* Understand Delta Lake fundamentals (storage layout, files, transactions) and how it impacts query performance.
* Map familiar SQL Server concepts (security, performance, admin mindset) to Fabric’s model.
* Explain what engine you’re using in Fabric and what that means for performance and behavior.
* Read and interpret query plans and key statistics/performance signals in Fabric.
* Understand Delta Lake fundamentals (storage layout, files, transactions) and how it impacts query performance.
Things I will need
* Basic SQL skills (SELECT, JOIN, GROUP BY) and comfort reading query results
* Familiarity with the idea of performance tuning (even if you haven’t done much of it)
* General understanding of tables, files, and “what a data platform does”
* No prior Microsoft Fabric experience required
* Optional (for hands-on): access to a Fabric-capable tenant/workspace and a laptop with a modern browser
* Familiarity with the idea of performance tuning (even if you haven’t done much of it)
* General understanding of tables, files, and “what a data platform does”
* No prior Microsoft Fabric experience required
* Optional (for hands-on): access to a Fabric-capable tenant/workspace and a laptop with a modern browser
Tech Covered
Azure SQL Database, Modelling, Fabric, Data Transformation and Integration, Databases, Development, SQL Server, Fabric – How to Succeed, Workshop, 2 years +