Kusto, the internal service driving Microsoft’s telemetry and several key services, recently marked its 10-year milestone. Over the decade, Kusto has evolved significantly, becoming the backbone for crucial applications such as Sentinel, Application Insights, Azure Data Explorer, and more recently, Eventhouse in Microsoft Fabric. This journey highlights its pivotal role in enhancing data processing, monitoring, and analytics across Microsoft’s ecosystem.
This powerful service has continually adapted to meet the growing demands of Microsoft’s internal and external data needs, underscoring its importance in the company’s broader strategy for data management and analysis.
A Dive into Azure Data Explorer’s Origins
Azure Data Explorer (ADX), initially code-named “Kusto,” has a fascinating backstory. In 2014, it began as a grassroots initiative at Microsoft’s Israel R&D center. The team wanted a name that resonated with their mission of exploring vast data oceans, drawing inspiration from oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Kusto was designed to tackle the challenges of rapid and scalable log and telemetry analytics, much like Cousteau’s deep-sea explorations.
By 2018, ADX was officially unveiled at the Microsoft Ignite conference, evolving into a fully-managed big data analytics platform. It efficiently handles structured, semi-structured (like JSON), and unstructured data (like free-text). With its powerful querying capabilities and minimal latency, ADX allows users to swiftly explore and analyze data. Remembering its oceanic roots, ADX symbolizes a tribute to the spirit of discovery.
Enjoy!
The Flying Maverick 