What can Sigma connect with today?
Connectors are provided for the most popular data warehouses today. We are adding connections all the time as market demand dictates. We currently have support for:
Click here for detailed information on Sigma Connections.
I have some data in CSV, can Sigma use that too?
For sure! Sigma supports uploading a local CSV file to analyze data not available in your data warehouse (up to 100MB). Just pick a connection to use, drag and drop your CSV file, select the column(s) you want to use and click “Explore.” Our workflows make it as simple and quick for the user as possible.
When a CSV file is uploaded to Sigma, its data is automatically written back to your data warehouse as a new warehouse table. If your organization has multiple warehouses with write access enabled, you will be given the option to select a single destination.
Click here for more information on CSV Upload in Sigma.
How hard is it to connect… really?
We like to say you can “connect instantly,” but in reality it takes less than a minute to set up a new connection.
Check out a quick video connecting Sigma to Snowflake in under a minute!
Our connections are built-in, code-free, and only require that you provide the basic connection details like account, username, and password.
Additional features of write access and AWS Private Link can be set up with the assistance of an admin. Each type of connection we support has connection-specific options.
For example, Snowflake connections allow additional user attributions such as Snowflake Role to provide row-level security using pre-existing warehouse settings.
If you are connecting to Snowflake, this is what is minimally required:
After providing the seven details, click create. Sigma will verify that the connection is valid and you are now ready to create content. It’s that simple.
Are there any other ways to connect?
Our partners have integrated the connection process into their own workflows.
For example, Databricks has their “Partner Connection” program. With Partner Connect, users get a streamlined experience that makes it easy to get connected to Sigma using the Databricks user interface.
Watch the Databricks Partner Connect video
Snowflake has a similar program called Snowflake Partner Connect that is integrated with Sigma.
Does Sigma store my data?
Sigma will never hold or persist any of your data. Sigma instead facilitates write-back-to-cloud data platforms that allow users to “Bring their own data.” Sigma’s recently launched Input Tables allow end users to bring last-minute data sets and input variables into defined warehouse writeback schemas so that they can get their final answer working alongside governed data.
Can I also connect to dbt?
Many modern data stack engineers work directly in their warehouse with dbt. Sigma can integrate with dbt to provide access to docs and metadata generated from dbt directly in Sigma. Sigma does not require a redundant metadata layer in addition to dbt.
Read more about dbt configuring here.
Do you charge for connections?
Sigma does not charge for connections. You can have as many as you require, of any of the available types. It is common for Sigma customers to have different connections for different use-cases.
In addition, customers can use a single connection and switch the warehouse and role being used by a user or team. This saves administrative time and complexity and pushes data access policies to the lowest level: the warehouse. It’s also a very powerful feature for embedded use cases.
Won’t this drive up my warehouse costs?
Not necessarily. Sigma unlocks the value of your data in the warehouse to your business users who need to leverage it to make better decisions, faster.
For example, DoorDash logged a 30% increase in Snowflake queries while keeping the Snowflake cost constant with Sigma.