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.