Run SSIS packages in Azure Data Factory
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is typically used to create and deploy SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages. It can be used for both on-premises SSIS packages, and for packages that run in Azure through Azure Data Factory. When you create a new SSIS package that runs in Azure, first select the Integration Services Project (Azure-Enabled) template, which prompts you to connect to SSIS in Azure Data Factory.
You may already have SSIS packages that you wish to have enabled for Azure. In this case, there's the option to open up the project in SSDT, and then right-click the project and select Azure-Enabled Project menu item under the SSIS in Azure Data Factory submenu to launch the Azure-Enabled Project Wizard.
This opens up the Azure-Enabled Project Wizard where you can select the Visual Studio configuration to apply package execution settings in Azure. Select the target version supported by the Azure-SSIS Integration Runtime (IR), which is currently SQL Server 2017, and finally connect to the Azure-SSIS IR. By connecting your Azure-enabled projects to SSIS in ADF, you can upload your packages into Azure Files and run them on Azure-SSIS IR. It also provides you with the capability to lift and shift SSIS packages too.
SSIS in ADF connection wizard
Lifting and shifting SSIS packages is achieved by running the SSIS in ADF Connection Wizard. This wizard connects an Azure-enabled project to an Azure-SSIS IR and to an Azure Storage account. SSDT uploads the packages of the project into Azure Files in that storage account, where they can run on the Azure-SSIS IR.
On the SSIS in ADF Introduction page, review the introduction and select the Next button to continue.
On the Select SSIS IR in ADF page, select your existing ADF and Azure-SSIS IR to run packages or create new ones if you don't have any.
On the Select Azure Storage page, select your existing Azure Storage account to upload packages into Azure Files or create a new one if you don't have any.
Select the Connect button to complete your connection.
Executing SSIS packages
There are pre-execution steps that you should perform before executing an SSIS package. These include a variety of setting such as project settings and authentication settings for the SSIS package. This can be done by performing the following steps
Right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer panel of SSDT to pop up a menu and then selecting the Azure-Enabled Settings menu item under the SSIS in Azure Data Factory submenu.
Select the Enable Windows Authentication drop-down list and choose True. Then select the edit button for Windows Authentication Credentials option to enter the credentials.
Provide credentials in the Windows Authentication Credentials editor.
With these settings configured, you can then execute the packages in Azure from within SSDT by selecting the Start button, and then selecting Execute in Azure. Alternatively right-click on the package node in Solution Explorer panel of SSDT to pop up a menu and select the Execute Package in Azure menu item.
Command-line execution with AzureDTExec
For scenarios where you need to automate package execution in scripts or CI/CD pipelines, the AzureDTExec command-line utility provides an Azure-native alternative to the standard dtexec utility. Unlike dtexec, which runs packages locally, AzureDTExec submits package execution to your Azure-SSIS IR by creating and triggering an Azure Data Factory pipeline with an Execute SSIS Package activity.
This approach is useful when integrating SSIS package execution into automated workflows, scheduled jobs, or deployment pipelines where direct SSDT interaction isn't practical. For configuration and usage details, see Run SSIS packages with the AzureDTExec utility.