What is Microsoft Dataverse?

Benefits of Microsoft Dataverse

Dataverse Features and Functionality

Let`s check out some of the features and functionality of Dataverse.

Model-Driven Power Apps

Model-Driven Power apps are applications that provide end-users with a standard set of forms, dashboards, or processes. Dataverse allows you to build model-driven apps directly. This gives you an intuitive interface. This functionality is the basis for many applications in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite, including custom business applications.

Dataverse Security

Dataverse employs Azure Active Directory and ID table to ensure that only authorized users have access to the environment and any related data. Dataverse supports encryption of received, sent, and stored data due to its Azure nature.

Dataverse uses role-based security for grouping together privileges. These roles can be assigned to users directly or can be associated with Dataverse business units and teams.

Dataverse individual columns and “fields” can all be shared one by one with another user. Dataverse offers a column-level security feature that allows for more precise control over security at the “field” or column levels. Entity-level access control is not sufficient for certain business situations.

Dataverse also offers hierarchy as a layer of data security:

• Manager hierarchy – To access the data, the manager must be in the same business unit or parent business unit.
• From an organizational design perspective, users who are under the manager will only view data relative to this hierarchy.
• The position hierarchy allows data access across business units.

Manual and Schedule Backups

Dataverse provides data security and integrity through regular backups. User-initiated manual backups are usually done before you make any significant customizations or apply a new version. Manual backups can be done for both the sandbox as well as production environments.

Backups for sandboxes are kept for seven days by default. Backups of production environments created using a database that has one or more Dynamics 365 apps installed are kept for 28 days. If there are no Dynamics 365 applications installed in the production environment, manual backups will be retained for seven days. Manual backups are unlimited and don’t count against the storage limit.

System (system) Backups Back up all environments. They are performed continuously and automatically. Azure SQL Database uses the same technology as Azure SQL Database. Backups of production environments created using a database that has one or more Dynamics 365 apps installed are kept for 28 days. If there are no Dynamics 365 applications installed in the production environment, system backups will be retained for seven days. System backups for sandbox environments can also be retained for 7 days.

Industry Solution Accelerator Available for Power Platform

Industry accelerators are powerful connected experiences that support common business needs in specific industries. They enable solutions that provide new insights and personalized customer interactions. It makes it easier to find partner solutions and build custom applications. Customers have access to a single data layer, which saves them time and money.

The currently available industries include automotive, healthcare and nonprofit, education and manufacturing, and supply chain. Media and communications, banking, finance, and banking are some of the other options. Microsoft is developing each accelerator through an open community where businesses can share their best practices and implement them.

• The Automotive Industry Accelerator contains specific entities for deals and sales contracts, specifications and fleet, warranties and inspections, test drives branding, customer-vehicle relations, vehicle and equipment and leads, after-sales and service management, and many other things.
• Banking and Finance Industry Accelerator was built in accordance with open source specifications of the Banking Industry Architecture Network. These specifications include definitions for loans and mortgages, referrals and branch details, collateral, deal limits, facilities, etc.
• Education accelerator allows easy access to data entities like students, faculty, and extracurricular activities.
• The nonprofit accelerator includes extensions of the Common Data Model for developing solutions for managing constituents and raising funds.
• Media and Communications accelerator offers extensions for event and venue administration, ticketing and advertising sale, media sponsorships, and other guest interactions, such as event registrations and tracking loyalty programs.
• The manufacturing and Supply Chain accelerator includes scenarios that will qualify new suppliers, onboard new suppliers for API data integration, and manage ongoing supplier relationships.
• Healthcare accelerator unites electronic health record data (EHR) while enabling a suite of applications that help to better manage and understand patient outcomes.

Dataverse is built around the Common Data Model. Industry accelerators offer exciting opportunities for independent developers (ISVs), to build on any level of the platform or accelerators.

• Create your own accelerator using the Common Data Model
• Continue to expand the accelerator
• You can further extend Microsoft apps or third-party apps and create a solution.
• You can extend the solution built on top of the app that is available at the AppSource
• Offer expertise to customers and industry solutions built using the Microsoft Industry Accelerators. This allows software developers to build industry vertical solutions support and practices. They can assist customers directly, or help with ISV deliveries.

Dataverse for Teams

Microsoft now offers a free copy of the Dataverse in its Microsoft Team app. This is a lighter version and distinct of the Dataverse. It is therefore not visible from Power Apps Dataverse or Dynamics 365. It can only be used with a relational database and cannot exceed 2GB or have more than 1 million records. If any of these limitations are preventing your business from growing, you can upgrade for a fee.

This was the same mindset that drove the Team to introduce the “Record Macro” button into Microsoft Office products a decade back. This is to allow non-IT users to automate everyday tasks. Anyone can create no-code or low-code apps using the Microsoft Teams application. These apps can be shared with other team members and used by Dataverse to store and manage data. Microsoft also included pre-built template apps to assist with getting started.

Dataverse is a tool that can be used to automate small tasks. It can also be used to get business intelligence data using Power BI. You don’t need a Dynamics 365 license or Power Platform license. A user with no previous experience can create and share an app within minutes. The app can only be used within the Teams environment if it was built using a no-cost license.

What is Dataverse used for?

Dataverse is used as a database for making business applications. It is quite easy to create a table and store the data in a tabular structure using column and row format. It is used generally used with power platform tools for making business applications using low code applications development framework.

What is the difference between Dataverse and SQL?

Dataverse is a relational database from Microsoft which is used as a database for making low-code business applications using Power Platform tools.

Creating a table and adding or modifying data in Dataverse does not require any SQL language requirement.

It is an appropriate database for building low-code business applications.

While SQL is a database language that is used to create tables and add or modify the data in the database.

Is Dataverse a cloud database?

Yes, Dataverse is a new name for Common Data Service and is a cloud-based storage space. Dataverse allows you to securely store and manage data that’s used by your business applications such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.