Summary

In this chapter we described how the Microsoft BI toolset maps to industry standard terminology. We made a compelling argument that you can build your entire business intelligence system using software only from Microsoft. Youre not tied to Microsoft for your entire project, however: the components are open , in the sense that they are linked together by published interfaces. If you wish, you can use a non-Microsoft product for any component of your BI system. Many people will develop a heterogeneous BI systemits particularly common for an enterprise to require the relational database or front end tools to use the corporate standard.

We described the basic recommended architecture of a Microsoft BI/DW system and introduced the studio toolsSQL Server Management Studio and BI Development Studio. We will provide much more information about these tools in upcoming chapters.