What is OneLake?

Microsoft Fabric is a comprehensive analytics platform designed to simplify data management within organizations. One of its key components is OneLake—a universal, open data lake that serves as a central repository for the entire organization. Its primary goal is to eliminate data silos and allow users to access analytical resources without the need for duplication.

The vision behind OneLake is that instead of multiple fragmented data repositories, every organization has a single, shared data lake that different teams and analytics tools within Microsoft Fabric can leverage.

One data lake for the entire organization

Traditional data management approaches often lead to the creation of multiple separate repositories. Companies build independent data lakes for different departments, leading to:

• data duplication,
• higher storage and processing costs,
• difficulties in integrating data across teams.

One data lake solves these challenges by providing a single, logical data lake accessible to the entire organization. This means that data is stored only once, while multiple analytical tools can access it without requiring separate copies.

Open data lake – flexibility across technologies

One of the biggest advantages of OneLake is its openness to different technologies and analytical engines. Microsoft has embraced the open data lake approach, ensuring that data stored in OneLake can be used across various tools and applications, regardless of the technology provider.

OneLake supports:

• SQL engines, such as T-SQL, for relational data analysis,
• Apache Spark, enabling the processing of large datasets,
• Power BI, where business users can analyze data directly in Direct Lake mode,
• External platforms, including Azure Databricks and Amazon S3, thanks to support for open data formats.

This flexibility allows organizations to use a variety of analytics tools without having to store multiple copies of the same data.

Built-in data management and security

Data in OneLake is centrally managed, allowing organizations to easily maintain compliance with regulations and security standards. Each user has access only to the data they are authorized to view.

Key security mechanisms in OneLake:

• user roles – administrators can assign different levels of access, such as read-only or full editing permissions,
• data encryption – all data stored in OneLake is automatically encrypted,
• integration with Microsoft Purview – enables comprehensive data governance and access auditing.

These security features ensure that OneLake not only enhances collaboration within an organization but also maintains strict control over data security.

One copy of data – no duplication needed

Traditionally, organizations have created multiple copies of the same dataset to allow different teams to access and analyze it. This approach increases storage costs and risks data inconsistencies.

OneLake eliminates this issue through the “one copy of data” concept—data is stored only once, but multiple tools and users can access it without requiring replication.

How does it work?

• Data is stored in the Delta Parquet format, allowing simultaneous access from different analytical engines.
• Shortcuts enable organizations to link data across different domains without physically copying it.
• Role-based access control ensures that users can only see the data they are authorized to use.

These features reduce storage costs while increasing data efficiency for analytics.

Integrating OneLake with the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem

OneLake is a core component of the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem, seamlessly integrating with various analytics tools and services.

This allows users to:

• build advanced reports in Power BI without duplicating data.
• process large datasets in Apache Spark without the need for data migration.
• combine data from multiple sources using OneLake Shortcuts.
• manage access and security centrally, thanks to Microsoft Purview integration.

This makes Microsoft Fabric and OneLake a complete solution for organizations seeking to optimize their data management and drive data-driven decision-making.

OneLake – OneDrive for data

Microsoft compares OneLake to OneDrive, but designed for analytical data.

Just like OneDrive, it provides:

• easy access to data across multiple applications,
• automated permissions and security management,
• seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, enhancing collaboration within organizations.

Additionally, OneLake File Explorer allows users to browse data directly from Windows, just as they would with regular files on their computers.

Why should you implement OneLake?

OneLake represents the future of enterprise data management.

Its key benefits include:

• a single, open data lake for the entire organization,
• elimination of data duplication through the one copy of data model,
• built-in governance and security mechanisms,
• seamless integration with the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem,
• support for various analytics engines, including SQL, Apache Spark, and Power BI.

With these features, OneLake eliminates data silos, reduces costs, and enhances business analytics efficiency.

Need help implementing Microsoft Fabric?

Want to learn how OneLake and the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem can improve your organization’s data management? – Contact the experts at EBIS!

We will help you implement Microsoft Fabric, optimize analytical processes, and customize the platform to meet your business needs. | CONTACT