Course Outline
Module 1: Modern Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence Fundamentals:
- The Evolving Landscape of Data Warehousing (DW) and Business Intelligence (BI)
- Cloud-Native Data Warehousing Solutions (Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL Data Warehouse)
- Modern Data Warehouse Architectures (Lambda Architecture, Kappa Architecture)
- Data Modeling Concepts (Star Schema, Snowflake Schema)
- Introduction to the Data Vault Methodology (brief overview)
- Key BI Concepts: ETL/ELT, OLAP, DWH, and Data Governance
- Overview of the Microsoft BI Stack: SQL Server (T-SQL, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS), Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Factory, Power BI
Module 2: Modern ETL/ELT with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
- Core Components of SSIS (Integration Services, Connection Managers, Data Flow, Control Flow)
- Modern Data Access Methods (ADO.NET, OLE DB, ODBC, Python Script Task)
- Cloud Integration Techniques (Loading/unloading data from/to Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database/DW, Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2)
- Data Transformation Techniques (Derived Column, Lookup Transformations, Aggregate Transformations, Conditional Split, Script Component)
- Handling Big Data in SSIS (Integration with Azure Databricks, PolyBase)
- Error Handling, Logging, and Debugging in SSIS
- Deployment and Scheduling Options (SQL Agent, Azure Automation Runbooks)
Module 3: Building Analytical Models with SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS - Tabular)
- Introduction to the Tabular Model (versus Multidimensional)
- Fundamentals of DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) Language (Context, Calculations, Aggregations)
- Model Design: Relationships, Hierarchies, Perspectives, Roles, and Security
- Using Time Intelligence Functions in DAX
- Managing and Deploying Tabular Models (BIML, SSDT)
- Performance Tuning for SSAS Tabular Models
Module 4: Cloud Analytics with Azure Analysis Services (AAS)
- Introduction to Azure Analysis Services (AAS)
- AAS Deployment Options (PaaS - Azure App Service Plan, Dedicated Compute Instance)
- Connecting to Azure Databases (Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL Database, Azure Analysis Services)
- Model Authoring in Azure (using Azure Purview or Azure Analysis Services Studio)
- Scaling and High Availability with AAS
- Security in AAS (Role-Based Security)
Module 5: Querying and Analyzing Data with T-SQL and DAX
- Advanced T-SQL for Data Analysis (CTEs, Window Functions, PIVOT/UNPIVOT, MERGE)
- In-Depth Exploration of DAX (Row Context vs Filter Context, Iterators, Time Intelligence, KPIs, Q&A)
- Combining T-SQL and DAX (PolyBase queries, linked servers)
- Utilizing AI-Enhanced Analytics (Azure Synapse Analytics Machine Learning Services)
Module 6: Data Discovery and Visualization
- Introduction to Power BI (Connecting to Data Sources, Query Editor)
- Creating Effective Visualizations (Charts, Graphs, Maps)
- DAX for Power BI (Calculated Columns, Measures)
- Report Design and Formatting in Power BI
- Introduction to Azure Synapse Studio for Business Intelligence
Module 7: Course Review, Advanced Concepts & Hands-on Labs
- Advanced Data Transformation Patterns (Slowly Changing Dimensions, Type 1/2)
- Integration of Data Quality Services (DQS) (overview)
- Performance Optimization and Troubleshooting (Query Store, Execution Plans)
- Extending BI Capabilities (Power Query, Power Automate)
- Hands-on Labs Covering End-to-End BI Scenarios (ETL, Model Building, Reporting)
Requirements
Familiarity with Windows operating systems and foundational knowledge of SQL and relational databases are essential for government personnel in this role.
Testimonials (1)
The adjustment made in the lecture/lessons by the trainer once he understood the current SSIS application that we are bound to maintain. The topics became more suitable/usable to us.