Why Do I Need a Cube and How Do I Get Started?

This week I'm pleased to be the professor at SQL University during SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) week. My assumption is that you know nothing about SSAS today and wonder if you ever need to. Today, before I get into the technical details of how to build a cube (which is the container of data that Analysis Services stores for you), I'll start by describing the reasons you might need a cube and explain the preparatory steps that you should take before beginning cube construction. In later lessons this week, I'll teach you how to build and deploy a simple cube (and what deployment means), and how you can make a cube accessible to other people.