Database for a small business for Power BI reports

[niv_qrm]

Hi,

I am not sure if this question was asked before. 

So currently I have a bunch of Power BI reports that I create based on the data I download from our POS system and other inventory systems. 

Now its been a few months that I want to store this data maybe in Azure and create reports by connecting to this database. But I am clueless about the DBA side, what all software I would need to move the tables that are in csv format from a local machine to Azure (possible SQL based) database? Has anyone working in a small business tried doing something similar?

We have a Power BI Pro license and I am trying to figure out a cheaper way to do cloud storage as it won't more than 1 Tb to store 1 year data as of now.  Also I have signed up for Azure free version. 

Any suggestions and ideas will be much appreciated. 

Thanks and regards,

[bcdobbs]

Sounds like your data volumes are low so look at a basic azure sql database. You can connect to it with sql server management studio. To load data there is azure data factory.

Another option instead of going down the sql route is to drop the csv files into an azure data lake and use power bi data flows directly on them. (Less need for dba side of life)

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blobs/create-data-lake-storage-account

[Shahfaisal · Accepted solution]

This question is better suited for on Azure SQL database forums - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/topics/25398/azure-sql-database.html and on Azure Data Factory (ADF) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/topics/25405/azure-data-factory.html.

The short answer is that it is possible to move your CSV files to Azure SQL Database easily. I am not sure if you want to do this on a regular basis (schedule) or one-time. If it needs to be on a regular basis you can use ADF and schedule the process; if one-time, you can use Azure SQL Database's Import/Export wizard - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/import-export/overview-import-export?view=...

[niv_qrm]

Thanks for the reply. 

So the data is updated on a weekly basis. I would probably try for options to connect to the POS system so that I can have the live data ( this is all the future plans which is why I thought of Azure SQL) but as of now I want to do this on a weekly basis using the data I download every week.

I will check ADF ( isn't it Azure Data Factory? ) Pls forgive my ignorance, have been on the reporting side always. First time trying to understand the DBA side. 

Thanks and regards,

[Shahfaisal]

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@niv_qrm wrote:

So the data is updated on a weekly basis. I would probably try for options to connect to the POS system so that I can have the live data ( this is all the future plans which is why I thought of Azure SQL) but as of now I want to do this on a weekly basis using the data I download every week.

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I agree with you. It would be idea to connect with the POS system directly as the data will be more real-time and you can eliminate the CSV step altogether. 

Also, yes it is Azure Data Factory; I just had a type on my response.