There have been different announcements for new and upcoming features in the Microsoft Data Technology ecosystem. The one today I am hearing about is Data Migration Assistant (DMA) tool v2.0 GA and Tech Preview of DEA – Data Experimentation Assistant. James Serra blogged about it here - http://www.jamesserra.com/archive/2016/10/pass-summit-announcements-dmadea/. The DEA helps you with understanding the performance improvements by upgrading.

The next one the Tech Preview of building PowerBI reports in SQL Service Reporting Services. For more info go to the PowerBI Community Blog - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlrsteamblog/2016/10/28/create-power-bi-reports-in-the-sql-server-reporting-services-technical-preview/

The most exciting one for me is the Azure Analysis Services. It is only Tabular Models, right now, but OLAP is said to be in the works. This is interesting because it once was in the Cloud and then that cloud disappeared. It will be nice to see creating a DW in the Azure DWU, then connect to that data in Analysis Services and reporting in PowerBI, all in Azure. Never though I would say that

Go read about Azure SSAS here - http://sqlmag.com/sql-server/microsoft-announces-azure-analysis-services-preview-pass-summit-2016 and https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-azure-analysis-services-preview/

Chris Webb has already wrote his first thoughts about Azure Analysis Services - https://blog.crossjoin.co.uk/2016/10/25/first-thoughts-on-azure-analysis-services/

PASS New Logo

Devin Knight presenting Advanced PowerBI

Community Zone