A few weeks ago, together with the Power BI Barcelona & Fabric Community, we organized an event on Data in which our colleagues and Data & AI Manager Brian Estévez, along with our MVP and Cloud Solutions Team Lead Emiliano Montesdeoca, presented how to work with Real-Time Fabric for real-time data management and analysis.
In this session, we explored both the creation of an API in .NET and the analytical capabilities within Microsoft Fabric, offering a comprehensive view of its applications in various industries.
Microsoft Fabric for Real-Time Applications and Capabilities
Microsoft Fabric stands out for its robustness and flexibility when ingesting and analyzing data in real time. It allows developers not only to consume information but also to understand and manage the various security layers involved. This feature is especially relevant considering regulations such as the DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Regulation) law, which will require increasingly stringent audits.
One of the main applications of Microsoft Fabric is the use of microservices, essential in contexts such as e-commerce, where thousands of transactions are handled per second. For example, a payment microservice can interact with other microservices responsible for storing and processing information, ensuring the efficiency and security of the system. This modular approach facilitates scalability and enables a rapid response to any problems that may arise during data processing.
Benefits and Use Cases of Real-Time Analysis with Fabric
Real-time analysis offers a wide range of crucial benefits for a variety of industries. Some of the most prominent include:
- Real-Time Notifications and Alerts: Keeping customers and internal teams instantly informed is vital. By using Microsoft Fabric, you can set up automatic alerts that send emails, messages in Microsoft Teams, or even notifications via Telegram. For example, an alert can be set up that notifies the support team every time the number of failed payments exceeds a threshold, allowing for quick attention and resolution of the issue.
- Automatic Operation: It is not only about receiving alerts, but also about acting automatically. For example, using components such as Reflex and Activator, we can configure that when a threshold is exceeded, not only an alert is sent, but also notebooks or pipelines are executed automatically. This allows a smooth operation, minimizing human intervention and taking advantage of artificial intelligence to optimize processes.
- Operational Process Optimization: Companies in sectors such as banking, logistics and e-commerce can significantly improve their operational efficiency by monitoring in real time financial transactions, inventory status, or the operational integrity of their systems. For example, in industry, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems send large volumes of data every few seconds. Implementing real-time alerts allows you to react immediately to any anomaly, while batch processing of data allows for more detailed analysis later.
Practical Example: Using Reflex and Activator for Monitoring and Alerts
During the hands-on demonstration at the event, it was shown how to use Reflex and Activator to create and manage automatic alerts based on specific conditions. For example, when the number of transaction failures exceeds a certain threshold, Reflex can be configured to send a message to Microsoft Teams or via email.
To put this into practice, participants created a new item in Reflex that, upon detection of an exceeded threshold, sent an alert message to the preconfigured Teams channel. This enables rapid visibility and action on critical incidents. In addition, multiple types of notifications and triggers can be incorporated, such as sending Telegram messages, running notebooks or integration with other Fabric operating systems. For example, if a recurring issue is detected, specific notebooks or pipelines can be configured to automatically fix, mitigate the issue, or send Telegram messages.
Furthermore, in the context of organizations that manage large volumes of data, such as industrial applications with SCADA systems that output information every few seconds, the ability to configure alerts for not only good data, but also for malfunctions, is crucial. For example, it is possible to set up alerts that notify when a machine has failed repeatedly over a range of time, allowing operations and support teams to react quickly and minimize downtime.
Data Persistence and Real-Time with OneLake
A crucial topic addressed during the event was data persistence in the context of Microsoft Fabric. When we enable persistence in OneLake, there is no additional cost associated, as it is a one-time charge. However, the decision of how long to keep data should be carefully considered. For real-time analysis, keeping data for only a few days may be sufficient, as it is the immediacy of the information that is important. On the other hand, for historical analysis and batch processes, the data can be stored in a SQL or DataLake for later use.
During the tutorial, it was explained that in industrial environments, where quick decisions based on the latest information are needed, real-time data is essential. For example, in machine monitoring in a concrete block factory, real-time data allows operators to react quickly to failures, while for statistical analysis, stored historical data can be used.
Cybersecurity and Regulations with DORA
At the beginning of the event, the DORA law was mentioned which directly impacts how we secure real-time analytics systems. In terms of cybersecurity, Microsoft Fabric offers advanced capabilities, although implementing a fully secure and resilient environment may require additional configurations, such as the use of private networks and secure gateways.
As stricter regulations are introduced, such as DORA, companies must audit their systems and ensure that they comply with established security standards. While there are still many aspects to be defined, it is essential that any configuration done in Microsoft Fabric is subject to strict security controls. Financial firms, in particular, must prepare to comply with these regulations by the established deadline.
Implementing Microsoft Fabric for real-time data analytics not only leads to significant operational optimizations, but also prepares companies to face future challenges where instantaneous information will be even more critical. Understanding and securing this data is paramount, especially in an increasingly stringent regulatory environment.
Interested in implementing real-time intelligence solutions with Microsoft Fabric? Don't hesitate to contact us Explore more and take your data analysis to the next level!