Which Azure service allows data engineers to create ETL processes?

Azure Data Factory is the service designed specifically for building ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes in the Azure ecosystem. It provides a comprehensive platform for data integration and allows data engineers to create data pipelines to move and transform data from various sources to destinations. The service supports a wide range of connectors to different data sources, whether they are cloud-based or on-premises, enabling users to define workflows that can include both data ingestion and transformation activities.

With Data Factory, users can orchestrate data movement and data transformation using activities that can run on a schedule or in response to events, supporting complex ETL workflows. The service allows for visual authoring of pipelines, making it easier for data engineers to manage and monitor these processes.

Other options serve different purposes: Azure Synapse Analytics is more focused on analytics and big data solutions, Azure Stream Analytics handles real-time data streaming for analytics, and Azure Cognitive Services provides AI capabilities rather than data integration. Thus, Azure Data Factory stands out as the primary service for creating ETL processes in Azure.