Harbr + Microsoft: A private data marketplace for the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform

Data sharing on Azure doesn't have to be complicated or risky. By combining Harbr with Microsoft Azure, organizations can now create their own private data marketplace — think of it as a secure, well-organized place where teams can easily find, share, and use data. And thanks in part to Harbr’s partnership with Databricks, it’s now easier than ever to launch and run a private data marketplace on Azure that is fully integrated with the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform. This blog post shows you how these technologies work together to help your organization accelerate time-to-value while maintaining control and security.

Put simply, Harbr’s data marketplace orchestrates the discovery, entitlement, and customization of data products, while Databricks and Azure handle compute, storage, and access control.

Don’t miss our post about how Harbr’s partnership with Databricks helps you deploy data marketplace capabilities at scale.

Harbr + Microsoft: A seamless integration

Harbr’s integration with Microsoft is designed to provide a robust, secure, and scalable foundation for managing and distributing data products. Here’s how we’re leveraging Azure to deliver a compelling solution:

1. Deployment in the customer’s Azure tenant
   Harbr is deployed directly into the customer’s Azure environment, utilizing Kubernetes and cloud-native components like Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Monitor, Azure Secrets, and Azure Networking. This ensures that customers retain full control over their infrastructure while benefiting from Harbr’s advanced capabilities.
2. Comprehensive data connectivity
   Harbr supports a wide range of data connectors, including Azure-native technologies like OneLake, Azure Blob Storage, and Azure SQL. Additionally, we offer connectivity to Databricks, S3, Snowflake, BigQuery, Oracle, MySQL, SFTP, and GCS buckets. This flexibility enables customers to integrate both cloud-native and traditional RDBMS data sources seamlessly.
3. Integration with Microsoft Purview
   Harbr synchronizes with Microsoft Purview to automate the provisioning of assets in the Private Data Marketplace. This includes synchronization of metadata, such as column descriptions and tags, and data product and data asset definitions between the two systems — creating a fully automated and seamless experience for users. Configure once in Purview, and the data flows effortlessly into the Harbr marketplace.
4. Identity management with Azure Entra
   Harbr integrates with Azure Entra for identity management, ensuring secure and streamlined access control for all users.
5. Power Platform integration
   Harbr connects with Logic Apps and PowerApps, enabling customers to build custom workflows and applications that leverage their data products. 
6. Azure AI integration
   Harbr integrates with the Azure AI platform to enable advanced natural language queries, making it easier for users to interact with and derive insights from their data.
7. Coming soon
   Native integrations with PowerBI, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Copilot.

Harbr + Databricks: A unified data ecosystem

‍Harbr’s integration with Databricks extends the value of your existing data infrastructure, enabling seamless data product management and distribution. Here’s how we’re leveraging Databricks:

1. Unity Catalog integration
   Data assets are registered in Databricks’ Unity Catalog, which plays a critical role in access control and metadata management. This ensures that data products are governed and secure.
2. Databricks Jobs for data processing
   Harbr leverages Databricks Jobs to handle data processing and transformation, ensuring that data is always ready for consumption.
3. Clusters and SQL warehouses
   Harbr utilizes Databricks clusters and SQL warehouses to support advanced analytics and data analysis, empowering users to derive actionable insights from their data.
4. Customer-owned infrastructure
   The Databricks account is owned by the customer, meaning Harbr’s solution is fully deployed onto infrastructure that customers control.

The Harbr Platform: Transforming data product management‍

‍Harbr’s data marketplace platform is designed to help enterprises scale the management, distribution, and monetization of data products. By integrating deeply with Microsoft Azure and Databricks, Harbr delivers a fully governed, self-service environment that empowers organizations to:

• Accelerate time-to-value: Turn raw data into consumer-ready data products quickly and efficiently.
• Democratize data access: Enable both technical and non-technical users to discover, access, and customize data products.
• Enhance governance: Extend Databricks’ native security and governance frameworks with granular access controls and entitlements.
• Support AI initiatives: Provide high-quality, governed data products that fuel AI and machine learning pipelines.

Why Harbr + Databricks + Microsoft Azure?‍‍

The combination of Harbr, Databricks, and Microsoft Azure creates a powerful synergy that addresses the most pressing challenges in data management:

• Seamless data product management: Harbr orchestrates the discovery, entitlement, and customization of data products, while Databricks and Azure handle compute, storage, and access control.
• No-code self-service: Harbr’s marketplace lowers technical barriers, enabling non-technical users to engage directly with data products.
• Scalable governance: Harbr extends Databricks’ robust security and compliance frameworks, ensuring that governance requirements are met even as data usage scales.
• Flexible operating models: Harbr supports internal data democratization, external data commercialization, and multi-organization collaboration, making it ideal for complex enterprise ecosystems.

Due to the nature in which the Harbr platform is deployed, this helps customers draw down on any Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments (MACC).What makes Harbr different?Harbr stands out from other marketplace offerings due to its enterprise-grade scalability, user-centric design, and alignment with existing data ecosystems. Key differentiators include:

• Flexible operating models: Support for internal, external, and cross-organization data sharing.
• Granular entitlements: Fine-grained access controls tailored to specific user roles and geographies.
• No-code experiences: Empowers non-technical users to customize and consume data products.
• Proven at scale: Deployed in some of the world’s largest and most complex data ecosystems.

A future-proof data ecosystem‍

‍Harbr, integrated with the Microsoft Intelligence Data Platform, provides a transformative platform that reduces complexity, empowers users, and enhances governance. Whether you’re looking to democratize internal data access, monetize external datasets, or accelerate AI initiatives, Harbr Data delivers a future-proof solution that drives measurable business outcomes — at scale — and much faster than a costly self-build process.By combining the power of Harbr, Microsoft Azure, and Databricks, organizations can unlock the full potential of their data investments and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

‍Ready to transform your data ecosystem?
Contact us today to learn how Harbr Data plus Microsoft’s Intelligence Data Platform can help you scale your data product initiatives and achieve your business goals.