Design Real Time Streaming with Azure

Relay 100 Reputation points
2025-05-13T06:12:26.8833333+00:00

I am in process of designing a real time (15 sec latency) data streaming system.

Please share your thoughts on Pros and Cons for below scenerio.

I have to replace SAP Connector with Azure Tech stack with lowest latency for process data, as shown in pic below .

which Component in Azure Stack best to replace SAP Connector.

SAP-Connector

2nd scenerio:

can we directly connect Stream Analytics with Azure SQL DB, or will it be fine connecting with service bus queue and function app. as shown in diagram.

There will be multiple data source to be connect to system.

Azure- SQL

My Doubt is Is this solution is scalable and cost effective or shall I go with different approach.

Which all area I should focus before do the system design.

Please share your expertise suggestion.

Thanks

Azure Stream Analytics
Azure Stream Analytics
An Azure real-time analytics service designed for mission-critical workloads.
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  1. phemanth 15,755 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-05-13T08:16:46.0866667+00:00

    @Relay

    It sounds like you're diving into an exciting project with real-time data streaming in Azure. Let's break down your queries:

    Replacing SAP Connector: For low-latency data processing in Azure, you might want to consider using Azure Stream Analytics. It's designed for real-time analytics and processing, providing low-latency capabilities. It can seamlessly integrate with various Azure services, making it a solid replacement for your SAP Connector.

    Pros of Azure Stream Analytics:

    • Low latency (under 100 ms for high throughput).
    • Simplified management (no need to manage clusters).
    • Built-in support for temporal processing and a SQL-like query language.

    Cons:

    • Limited scalability compared to a full Spark cluster if you need to process a massive amount of data.
    • Some learning curve if your team is unfamiliar with the service.

    Connecting Stream Analytics with Azure SQL DB: You can definitely connect Azure Stream Analytics directly to Azure SQL Database for real-time analytics without adding an intermediate step like Service Bus queues or Function Apps. However, if your architecture demands more control or you need to decouple components, using a Service Bus can also be a good option.

    Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness: Given you're considering multiple data sources:

    • Using Azure Stream Analytics is cost-effective due to per-job billing and no clusters to manage. Ensure you assess your expected data volumes to choose an appropriate number of Streaming Units.
    • If you anticipate significant growth or variable loads, consider Azure Databricks for flexibility.

    Areas to Focus On for System Design:

    • Data Sources: Identify all data sources and their formats. Ensure you consider how they'll integrate into your streaming solution.
    • Latency Requirements: Make sure your chosen components will consistently meet your latency goals, especially under peak loads.
    • Error Handling: Plan for message processing failures and retries.
    • Monitoring and Analytics: Implementing monitoring tools to assess performance and reliability will be crucial for maintenance.
    • Cost Management: Regularly monitor costs associated with Azure services to adjust as necessary.
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  2. Relay 100 Reputation points
    2025-05-13T13:10:34.5233333+00:00

    @phemanth : Thanks a lot.

    But few doubts when directly connect :Azure Stream Analytics to SQL

    1. How to handle throttle or timeouts issue.
    2. How to handle partial failures, logging at each phase.

    Appreciate your suggestion very much.

    Thanks a lot

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