Aug 31 2017 12:10 PM
Azure Analysis Services presents opportunities for the automation of administrative tasks including server provisioning, scale up/down, pause/resume, model management, data refresh, deployment, among others. This can leverage cloud efficiencies and helps ensure the repeatability and reliability of mission-critical systems.
Such tasks can be performed in the Azure cloud using PowerShell in unattended mode. Services such as Azure Automation exist to support these processes. They should be executed using service principals for enhanced security and ease of management. Service principals are similar to on-premises service accounts, but for Azure. They use credentials in the form of an application ID along with a password or certificate. Model permissions are assigned to service principals through role membership like normal Azure Active Directory UPN accounts.
Read all about it in the Azure blog.