Microsoft Fabric Licenses : All the Types Discussed

In order to efficiently harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), powerful integrated analytics platforms have become a necessity, and one such platform is Microsoft Fabric. However, organisations require Microsoft Fabric Licenses to collaborate and share content on the platform.   

This blog will delve into detail about Microsoft Fabric Licenses, the different types of licenses and choosing between the licenses. Read ahead to learn more! 

Table of Contents 

1) What is a Microsoft Fabric License? 

2) The different types of Microsoft Fabric Licenses 

   a) Organisational licenses 

   b) Individual licenses 

3) Choosing the right license 

4) Conclusion 

What is a Microsoft Fabric License?   

A Microsoft Fabric License is a type of software license that allows users to create and share Fabric content in Microsoft Fabric. Microsoft Fabric is a unified platform that can meet your organisation's data and analytics needs. It provides a set of services that help you build, manage, and govern your data estate. 

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The different types of Microsoft Fabric Licenses    

Licenses in Microsoft Fabric can be divided into two broad categories: Organisational and Individual. As the names denote, the licenses applicable for organisations would fall under the former, while the licenses suitable for individuals looking to use the platform would fall under the latter.   

Here is a detailed explanation of both the categories of licenses: 

1) Organisational licenses 

Listed below are the three distinct types of organisational licenses: 

a) Trial license: Trial licenses are available for free for a limited period of time. Trial licenses allow you to try out Fabric before you purchase a license. 

b) Capacity license: Capacity licenses are used to provide computing power for Fabric workloads. Capacity licenses are available on a pay-as-you-go basis. The cost of capacity licenses varies depending on the capacity of computing power that is required. 

c) Premium Per User (PPU) license: PPU licenses are the most common type of Microsoft Fabric License. They allow users to create and share Fabric content, including Power BI content. PPU licenses are available on a subscription basis. The cost of PPU licenses varies depending on the features and the number of users included. 

Here is a table that summarises the critical features of each type of organisational license:

2)  Individual licenses 

Listed below are the two distinct types of individual licenses:  

a) Free license: A free license allows you to share and create content in Microsoft Fabric in case you have access to a Fabric Capacity (regardless of whether it is trial or paid). However, you will only have limited accessibility to the features and functionality of Fabric. For example, you cannot create or share Power BI content with other users. 

b) Pro license: A Pro license lets you share Power BI content with other users. It gives you full accessibility to all of the functionalities and features of Fabric, including the ability to create and share content on Power BI. Every organisation needs a minimum of one Pro license if they intend to work with Power BI. If you're buying a Microsoft Fabric License for your organisation, make sure you purchase at least one Pro license for your team. 

The following are three advantages of obtaining individual Microsoft Fabric Licenses: 

a) Cost-effective: Individual licenses are cost-effective so that you can save money on your data management costs. 

b) Flexible: Individual licenses are flexible, so you can choose the type of license that best meets your needs. 

c) Scalable: Individual licenses are scalable, so you can easily add or remove licenses as needed. 

Individual Microsoft Fabric Licenses are an excellent option if you're looking for a cost-effective, flexible, and scalable way to manage your data. 

Below is a table that displays the capabilities of individual licenses for Microsoft Fabric:


 

Choosing the right license   

Listed below are some questions that need answering before choosing the suitable Fabric license: 

a) Your organisation's needs: What are your organisation's data management needs? Do you need to create and share Fabric content? Do you need to provide computing power for Fabric workloads? 

b) The size of your organisation: How many users do you have? Do you have a small, large, or medium organisation? 

c) Your budget: How much are you inclined to spend on Microsoft Fabric licenses? 

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Once these factors have been taken into full consideration by the enterprise, you can choose the right Microsoft Fabric license for your organisation. 

Here are some recommendations for choosing the right Fabric License: 

a) You may want to consider a free license if you belong to an enterprise with a limited budget. Free licenses allow you to create and share Fabric content if you have access to a Fabric Capacity (either trial or paid). However, you don't have access to all of the features and functionality of Fabric. 

b) You may want to consider a Pro license if you are a medium or a massive organisation with a larger budget. Pro licenses give you access to all of the features and functionality of Fabric, including the ability to create and share Power BI content. 

c) You may need to purchase capacity licenses if you need to provide computing power for Fabric workloads. Capacity licenses are available on a pay-as-you-go basis. The cost of capacity licenses varies depending on the capacity of computing power that is required.


 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Microsoft Fabric is an exciting new platform that offers a lot of analytical prospects for data lovers and professionals. To use it, you need to completely understand the different types of Microsoft Fabric Licenses and how they affect your usage of the platform.  

We hope this blog post helped you obtain a clear picture of the licensing options for Microsoft Fabric.