Microsoft Fabric queries Dremio data lakes directly without copying files
Microsoft has launched a preview feature in Fabric that lets users query governed Iceberg tables from Dremio without moving data. It creates OneLake shortcuts to the tables using a mirrored catalog, REST endpoints, and token authentication. Schema changes sync automatically. This opens direct access for Power BI reports and Fabric SQL endpoints.
Before, pulling external data into Power BI or Fabric meant full imports or complex Power Query steps. Refreshes dragged on for hours, especially with messy sources like shared Excel files or undocumented transformations. Duplicates piled up, and numbers rarely matched the source. Now Fabric can read Dremio's Iceberg tables in place via shortcuts, slashing refresh times to near-instant for compatible data. This extends Direct Lake querying – Fabric's fast, no-import mode – to third-party lakes. Beginners gain a path to boss-pleasing dashboards without wrestling 200-step queries.
Analysis
Previews like this scream Fabric's future is query-in-place everywhere, nuking your slow refresh pains – but only if your data plays ball. Ditch import mode today: pick your simplest Fabric dataset, flip it to Direct Lake, rebuild one visual, and clock the speed gain. Under 10 seconds to load? Roll it out to your inherited report mess now.
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