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What is the Fabric Adoption Framework?

Table of Contents​

Overview of the Fabric Adoption Framework

Introduction​

The Fabric Adoption Framework is a collection of best practices, documentation, and tools that help organizations shape their strategy for adopting Microsoft Fabric. Based on the proven structure of the Azure Cloud Adoption Framework, this adaptation focuses on enabling scalable, secure, and value-driven data platform modernization.

The goal of this framework is to guide business, IT, and data teams through a structured journey—from initial business alignment and architectural readiness, to secure deployment, governance, and sustainable operations within the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem.

Find here the latest updates of the Fabric Adoption Framework.

Key Considerations​

Adopting Microsoft Fabric is not just a technical migration — it's a strategic transformation. Key considerations include:

  • Business alignment: What business goals are driving your analytics modernization?
  • Technical readiness: Are your environments, data pipelines, and workloads ready for a unified platform like Fabric?
  • Security and compliance: How will you govern data, access, and usage across the organization?
  • Organizational change: What teams, skills, and roles are needed to manage the transition and operate Fabric sustainably?

Guidance​

The Fabric Adoption Framework is organized into stages inspired by the Cloud Adoption Framework:

  • Strategy: Define business outcomes, identify key stakeholders, and align data initiatives with strategic priorities.
  • Plan: Assess your current environment and data, identify skill gaps, and develop an adoption roadmap.
  • Ready: Build the foundation with Fabric workspaces, domains, and security configurations (including OneLake and Microsoft Purview).
  • Adopt: Execute workloads using Fabric services like Lakehouse, Warehouse, Real-Time Intelligence, and Power BI.
  • Govern: Establish policies for data quality, access control, sensitivity labeling, and auditability.
  • Secure: Implement Zero Trust principles with Microsoft Entra ID, network isolation, encryption, and compliance tooling.
  • Manage: Monitor, operate, and optimize Fabric usage with built-in monitoring, cost controls, and DevOps practices.

Fabric Adoption Scenarios​

The Fabric Adoption Framework also provides structured guidance for adopting specific technologies or requirements. These Fabric adoption scenarios apply the framework’s principles to each use case and offer actionable steps based on real-world experiences. Each scenario includes best practices to support your cloud journey and can be integrated into your overall cloud strategy. Use the following table to find the correct scenario:

ScenarioDescription
AI AdoptionGuidelines for adopting AI workloads securely and effectively using Fabric
Cloud-scale AnalyticsDesign considerations for scalable analytics workloads in Fabric
High-performance AnalyticsRecommendations for optimizing large-scale and compute-intensive workloads
Highly Sensitive DataData governance and security strategies for sensitive or regulated environments
Hybrid and MulticloudPatterns for integrating Fabric into hybrid or multicloud landscapes
Modern Application PlatformGuidance for integrating data workflows into modern app development pipelines

Additional resources​

Explore more in-depth documentation and tools to support your Fabric adoption:

Training​

Build your team's Fabric skills with Microsoft Learn and community content:

Contributors