Connect External Data Sources to Azure Synapse Analytics

Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting External Data Sources in Azure Synapse Analytics

Azure Synapse Analytics enables seamless data integration by allowing you to connect external data sources for unified analytics. This guide will walk you through the process of connecting external data sources to Azure Synapse Analytics.

Step 1: Log in to the Azure Portal

Go to portal.azure.com and log in with your credentials.

Make sure you have the necessary permissions to connect external data sources. Once logged in, you'll be taken to the Azure dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Synapse Workspace

Search for "Azure Synapse Analytics" and select your workspace.

In the Azure portal, use the search bar at the top to find "Azure Synapse Analytics". Select your existing Synapse workspace from the list of resources.

Step 3: Open Synapse Studio

Launch Synapse Studio by clicking "Open Synapse Studio".

From your Synapse workspace page, click on the "Open Synapse Studio" button. This will take you to the Synapse Studio interface where you can manage data, perform analytics, and connect external data sources.

Step 4: Go to the Data Tab

In Synapse Studio, go to the "Data" tab on the left sidebar.

The Data tab is where you can manage both your workspace's data and external data sources. From here, you can easily set up connections to external data sources.

Step 5: Add a New Linked Service

Click on "Linked" and then "New Linked Service".

Under the "Linked" section of the Data tab, click the "+ New" button to create a new linked service. This allows you to connect to an external data source.

Step 6: Choose the Data Source Type

Select the type of data source you want to connect.

From the list of available data sources, choose the one you need to connect to Azure Synapse. You can select from various options such as Azure Data Lake Storage, SQL databases, Cosmos DB, and more.

Step 7: Configure the Connection

Provide the required credentials and connection details.

For each type of data source, you will be prompted to provide connection details such as the data source’s URL, authentication methods, and credentials (like access keys or connection strings).

Step 8: Test and Complete the Connection

Test the connection and click "Create".

After filling in the connection details, you can test the connection to ensure it works correctly. Once the test is successful, click the "Create" button to finalize the linked service connection.

Step 9: Access and Query Your External Data

Use the "Data" tab to access your external data source.

Once your external data source is connected, you can access it through the Data tab and use Synapse SQL or Spark pools to query and analyze the data.

Conclusion

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ve successfully connected an external data source to Azure Synapse Analytics. You can now leverage the full power of Synapse for data integration, analysis, and insights across multiple data sources.