SQL in Fabric - Isn't it confusing?

Proposed session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

SQL Server is designed as an operational database, while Microsoft Fabric is a SaaS platform built for analytics. They serve fundamentally different purposes, with distinct business and technical requirements. So why bring them together? The answer lies in unlocking new possibilities, combining transactional data with advanced analytics to deliver real-time insights, streamline data workflows, and enable AI-driven decision-making. In this session, we’ll explore the benefits and use cases of this integration, from simplifying data pipelines to empowering self-service analytics at scale.

Session Details

This session will showcase how Fabric’s SQL capabilities revolutionize data management by delivering simplicity, scalability, and intelligence, all in one unified platform. Learn how to break down silos, accelerate analytics, and empower your organization with real-time insights.

3 things you'll get out of this session

The objective of this session is to help attendees understand why integrating SQL Server with Microsoft Fabric creates new opportunities for modern analytics. Participants will learn the business and technical benefits of combining operational databases with a SaaS-based analytics platform, explore real-world use cases, and gain practical insights into how this integration simplifies data workflows, enables real-time insights, and supports AI-driven decision-making.

Manish Kumar's other proposed sessions for 2026

AI Fundamentals for SQL and Data Professionals: Your First Step to AI-900 Certification - 2026

Data Modernisation with Open Standards: Apache Iceberg in Fabric, Databricks and Snowflake - 2026

GenBI - A new world where AI meets BI - 2026

From Dashboards to Conversations: How Fabric Data Agents and Copilot Studio Transform Analytics - 2026

SQL Server 2025: AI, Vectors, and Beyond – What’s New and Why It Matters - 2026

AI and Your Data Platform: Preparing Data for Intelligent Decision-Making with Microsoft Cloud - 2026

From Metadata to Momentum: Accelerating Self-Service Analytics with Microsoft Fabric and Purview - 2026

From T-SQL to Lakehouse: A SQL Server Professional’s Guide to Microsoft Fabric - 2026

From Zero to Governed : Implementing Microsoft Purview with Fabric and Azure SQL - 2026

From Zero to Governed : Implementing Microsoft Purview with Fabric and Azure SQL - Part 2 - 2026

Open Source Databases for Azure SQL Database Professionals: What Transfers, What Changes - 2026

Manish Kumar's previous sessions

Empowering SQL: Mastering Intelligent Query Processing in 20 Minutes

Dive into the heart of database optimization with our 20-minute session on Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) in SQL Server and Azure SQL. In this power-packed talk, we will demystify IQP, the driving force behind accelerated query performance. We'll begin with a quick overview, highlighting the pivotal role of IQP in query optimization and database efficiency. Then, we'll dive into key IQP features focusing on their impacts in real-world.

Managed Instance Link - Seamless migration to Azure

We, the cloud solutions architects from Microsoft, will be talking around SQL migration journey from on-prem to Azure SQL in general, taking you through all available Microsoft's migration tools like DMA, DMS, Azure Migrate, ADS, etc, and then focus on migration to Managed Instance using SQL MI Link. You should take away with you the understanding of when to use which tool and how the newly available Azure SQL Managed Instance Link can help you to achieve a minimum downtime migration of on-prem SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance.

The Power of Polybase with SQL - True data Virtualisation

Customers would be able to understand what exactly Polybase is, why it's useful, what are the use cases and finally how to use this feature of SQL Server. Polybase have been around for quite some time, since SQL Server 2016, however, the awareness and the way it virtualises the data may not have been understood well for some customers.

Performance Tuning of Azure SQL DB

Manish Kumar from Microsoft will take you through various performance tuning measures you should take before increasing service tier of your database. The session will be packed with tons of information, steps and demos.

Haider Raza's other proposed sessions for 2026

AI Fundamentals for SQL and Data Professionals: Your First Step to AI-900 Certification - 2026

Data Modernisation with Open Standards: Apache Iceberg in Fabric, Databricks and Snowflake - 2026

GenBI - A new world where AI meets BI - 2026

From Dashboards to Conversations: How Fabric Data Agents and Copilot Studio Transform Analytics - 2026

SQL Server 2025: AI, Vectors, and Beyond – What’s New and Why It Matters - 2026

AI and Your Data Platform: Preparing Data for Intelligent Decision-Making with Microsoft Cloud - 2026

From Metadata to Momentum: Accelerating Self-Service Analytics with Microsoft Fabric and Purview - 2026

From T-SQL to Lakehouse: A SQL Server Professional’s Guide to Microsoft Fabric - 2026

From Zero to Governed : Implementing Microsoft Purview with Fabric and Azure SQL - 2026

From Zero to Governed : Implementing Microsoft Purview with Fabric and Azure SQL - Part 2 - 2026

Open Source Databases for Azure SQL Database Professionals: What Transfers, What Changes - 2026

Azure SQL PaaS service - Basic to advance - 2026

SQL Server 2025 vs Azure SQL PaaS: Modern Data Architecture Without the Confusion - 2026

Haider Raza's previous sessions

Empowering SQL: Mastering Intelligent Query Processing in 20 Minutes

Dive into the heart of database optimization with our 20-minute session on Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) in SQL Server and Azure SQL. In this power-packed talk, we will demystify IQP, the driving force behind accelerated query performance. We'll begin with a quick overview, highlighting the pivotal role of IQP in query optimization and database efficiency. Then, we'll dive into key IQP features focusing on their impacts in real-world.

Managed Instance Link - Seamless migration to Azure

We, the cloud solutions architects from Microsoft, will be talking around SQL migration journey from on-prem to Azure SQL in general, taking you through all available Microsoft's migration tools like DMA, DMS, Azure Migrate, ADS, etc, and then focus on migration to Managed Instance using SQL MI Link. You should take away with you the understanding of when to use which tool and how the newly available Azure SQL Managed Instance Link can help you to achieve a minimum downtime migration of on-prem SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance.

The Power of Polybase with SQL - True data Virtualisation

Customers would be able to understand what exactly Polybase is, why it's useful, what are the use cases and finally how to use this feature of SQL Server. Polybase have been around for quite some time, since SQL Server 2016, however, the awareness and the way it virtualises the data may not have been understood well for some customers.