Understanding the database structure of Microsoft Dynamics 365 is not straightforward. Access to information stored in databases has always been a major headache for advanced users and, by extension, for their support teams. Microsoft Dataverse is proposed as the solution to the problems of access, security, and complexity in today’s databases.
Until now, users who needed to access the information stored in the database to work with it, generate reports, or perform imports/exports, had to
- Locate each of the databases, since information was usually found in different disconnected silos
- Understand the database structure and its implications
- Have prior knowledge of SQL
The goal of Dataverse is for users to be able to focus on exploiting their data, avoiding technical complexities.
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Microsoft Dataverse: Definition and Features
- What is Microsoft Dataverse?
- What are the advantages of Microsoft Dataverse?
- Third-party data integration
- What is the difference between Azure and Dataverse?
- Dataverse and Dynamics 365
- Dataverse and Power Platform
1. What is Microsoft Dataverse?
Microsoft Dataverse is Microsoft’s data store aimed at making the management and use of business data simple and secure.
It was born from Common Data Service with the purpose of allowing users to work with data models without requiring technical knowledge.
From a structural point of view, Dataverse is a cloud-based database made up of tables in which we find rows (records) and columns (fields).
2. What are the advantages of Microsoft Dataverse?
The main advantages are
- Protection through Microsoft security.
- Access to Dynamics 365 business information.
- Ability to build applications without programming knowledge.
- Ease of administration by being hosted in the cloud.
- Integrates rich metadata.
- Integration of logic and validation.
Protection through Microsoft security.
Secure access to information is guaranteed by role-based access security.
Access to Dynamics 365 business information.
The information generated by Dynamics 365 is also stored in Dataverse, so it can be used to generate new applications or reports.
Ability to build applications without programming knowledge.
Ease of administration by being hosted in the cloud.
We do not need to worry about the technical details tied to the database. Microsoft’s cloud is what hosts the information.
Integrates rich metadata.
Data types and relationships are used directly within PowerApps.
Integration of logic and validation.
Column (field) calculation logic, business rules, workflows, and business process flows are stored alongside the database.
3. Third-party data integration in Dataverse
In keeping with the spirit of Dataverse — maintaining a single database that contains all information, even when it comes from third-party data — the process of building applications becomes simpler.
Once this information is incorporated, access from Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents is immediate.
The ways to integrate information are
One-time import
Following industry standards, it facilitates importing through Excel spreadsheets and CSV files.
Scheduled integration
It is possible to define synchronizations from other data sources.
Integration through PowerQuery
This third option allows the use of PowerQuery to perform data transformation and incorporation.
4. What is the difference between Azure and Dataverse?
By this point, you have probably reached the conclusion that Dataverse looks a lot like Microsoft Azure. The answer is yes and no.
Indeed, Azure is a data store, just as Dataverse is. And if we have to describe the difference quickly, we would say that Azure is aimed at personnel with extensive technical knowledge, while Dataverse is designed for end users.
Therefore
- Azure requires SQL programming, while Dataverse is low-code and does not require SQL knowledge
- Azure maintenance is handled by the client’s technical staff, while Dataverse is updated and maintained by Microsoft.
- Azure’s connectivity is greater than Dataverse’s, especially with older third-party applications.
- Dataverse is more cost-effective than Azure.
Azure and Dataverse integration
Indeed, Dataverse can import data from Azure, make use of Azure data in its applications, and export Dataverse data to Azure services.
5. Dataverse and Dynamics 365
As mentioned earlier, Dynamics 365 works on the Dataverse model to store business information. This is because Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM was the first application to use it, before it was later extended to the rest.
6. Dataverse and Power Platform
Power Platform is made up of Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. Using any of these tools is much simpler with Dataverse as the data store.
Microsoft Dataverse is included free of charge with the Power Apps license.