Data Analysis with SQL Server Analysis Server – SSAS

Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modelling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.

SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is the technology from the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack, to develop Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) solutions. In simple terms, you can use SSAS to create cubes using data from data marts / data warehouse for deeper and faster data analysis.

Analysis Services is an analytical data engine  used in decision support and business analytics. It provides enterprise-grade semantic data model capabilities for business intelligence (BI), data analysis, and reporting applications such as Power BI, Excel, Reporting Services, and other data visualization tools. Analysis Services is available in different platforms.

Tabular models in Analysis Services are databases that run in-memory or in DirectQuery mode, connecting to data from back-end relational data sources. By using state-of-the-art compression algorithms and multi-threaded query processor, the Analysis Services VertiPaq analytics engine delivers fast access to tabular model objects and data by reporting client applications like Power BI and Excel.

Tabular models are created in Microsoft Visual Studio with the Analysis Services projects extension. The extension installs a tabular model designer, which provides a design surface for creating semantic model objects like tables, relationships, measures, and KPIs.

Tabular models can be deployed to Power BI Premium, Azure Analysis Services, or an instance of SQL Server Analysis Services configured for Tabular server mode. Deployed tabular models can be managed in SQL Server Management Studio or by using many different tools.