Azure Analysis Services versus Synapse Analytics

Question

Can someone explain what is the difference between Azure Analysis Services and Azure Synapse Analytics? Why would one use Analysis Services over Synapse Analytics?

Thanks,

Answer 1

Azure Synapse Analytics is a rebrand of Azure SQL Data Warehouse (GA) with additional Analytics/Streaming/ML enhancements (currently at Public Preview).
here

Azure Analysis Services (AAS) is the Azure PaaS version for SQL Server Analysis Services.
here.

Please note -

"Power BI Premium is the focus for enterprise BI and the primary target for future investments. In time, Power BI Premium will provide a superset of the capabilities when compared to Azure Analysis Services."
here

Answer 2

Azure Analysis Services - can be used

• when small volume of data is to be analyzed,
• for detailed analysis,
• to form dashboard development,
• when concurrency required is high (thousands of users)

Azure Synapse Analytics - can be used

• when very high volumes of data is to be analyzed,
• when analysis involves complex queries,
• when concurrency required is low (128 users or few)
• for data mining.