Azure Synapse vs Looker: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare the key differences between Azure Synapse and Looker in terms of their features and functionalities.

1. Data Integration and Processing: Azure Synapse is a cloud-based analytics service offered by Microsoft that combines enterprise data warehousing, big data integration, and data processing capabilities. It allows users to integrate and analyze data from various sources, including structured and unstructured data, in a single platform. On the other hand, Looker is a data platform that focuses on data exploration and visualization. It provides users with a user-friendly interface to explore data and create interactive dashboards and reports.

2. Scalability and Elasticity: Azure Synapse offers seamless scalability and elasticity, enabling users to scale their data warehouse resources up or down based on demand. It can handle large volumes of data and can process parallel queries for faster analytics. Looker, on the other hand, is a scalable platform that allows users to analyze and visualize data without worrying about infrastructure management. It leverages cloud computing resources to handle varying workloads and provide consistent performance.

3. Native Integration with Azure Services: Azure Synapse provides native integration with various Azure services, including Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Machine Learning. This allows users to leverage the power of these services to enhance their data analytics capabilities. Looker, on the other hand, integrates with various data sources, databases, and cloud platforms, providing users with a unified view of their data.

4. Advanced Analytics Capabilities: Azure Synapse offers advanced analytics capabilities, including machine learning, AI, and cognitive services. Users can build and deploy machine learning models within the platform, enabling them to gain valuable insights from their data. Looker, on the other hand, focuses on data exploration and visualization, providing users with powerful data visualization and reporting tools to analyze and present their data.

5. Security and Compliance: Azure Synapse provides robust security and compliance features, including encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access control, and data masking. It also supports compliance with various industry standards and regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA. Looker also offers security features such as user access controls, data encryption, and compliance with industry regulations.

6. Integration with Existing Infrastructure: Azure Synapse allows users to seamlessly integrate with their existing on-premises infrastructure and other cloud services. It provides connectors and APIs to easily connect with various data sources and tools. Looker, on the other hand, integrates with a wide range of data sources and platforms, enabling users to leverage their existing infrastructure and tools for data analysis and visualization.

In summary, Azure Synapse and Looker are both powerful platforms for data analytics and visualization. Azure Synapse provides integrated data integration, processing, and advanced analytics capabilities with native Azure service integration. Looker, on the other hand, focuses on data exploration and visualization, providing a user-friendly interface for creating interactive dashboards and reports. Both platforms offer scalability, security, and integration capabilities, but their primary focus and feature sets vary.