Understanding Microsoft’s Many Graphs
In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and data analytics, “graph” is a term that’s gaining traction—but not all graphs are created equal. Microsoft’s ecosystem features several distinct graph technologies, each designed for specific scenarios and audiences. Here’s a breakdown to help you navigate the differences.
Microsoft Graph Security API: The Security Data Broker
The Microsoft Graph API is a RESTful web API endpoint that lets you automate actions across Microsoft products, including Office, Exchange, Outlook, and Security. It allows you to programmatically access and manipulate data.
Key Features:
Unified format: Connects to multiple providers (Microsoft, Splunk, ServiceNow) and work with data in a unified format through a single integration point.
Bring data from external resources: Connect external data to Microsoft Graph, like a human resources database or product catalog.
Automation ready: Integrates with Logic Apps, Power Automate, and SIEMs like Splunk and QRadar.
Use Case: Ideal for SOC teams needing a centralized view of security alerts and automated response workflows.
Think of it as: A security data broker that simplifies integration and orchestration across Microsoft’s security stack and third-party tools.
Enterprise Exposure Graph in MSEM: Attack Surface Intelligence
The exposure graph in Microsoft Security Exposure Management (MSEM) gathers information about assets, users, workloads, and more to provide a unified view of organizational security posture.
Key Features:
Exposure risk exploration: Streamlines the identification and prioritization of business-critical assets, enabling risk-managers and SOC teams to focus efforts where they matter most and reduce overall attack surface risk.
Attack Surface Map: Visualize exposure data and attack paths including assets and their connections.
Use Case: Security analysts use it to proactively identify and mitigate exposure risks across hybrid environments.
Think of it as: A dynamic, queryable map of your enterprise’s security posture.
Kusto Graph Semantics: Graphs in KQL
Kusto Graph Semantics is a feature that lets users model data as graphs and perform graph queries and analytics using Kusto Query Language (KQL).
Key Features:
Transient & Persistent Graphs: Create graphs on-the-fly or persist them for repeated use.
Graph Operators: Use make-graph, graph-match, and others to explore relationships.
Seamless KQL Integration: Combine graph queries with time-series and tabular data.
Use Cases: Digital twins, supply chains, cybersecurity, and more.
Use Case: Data engineers and analysts use it to model and analyze complex relationships within existing telemetry data.
Think of it as: Graph analytics without leaving your KQL comfort zone.
Microsoft Fabric Graph: Native Graph Database for Analytics
Announced at the Fabric Community Conference in September 2025, Fabric’s graph brings relational and causal reasoning into operations. It’s designed for AI-driven operations, mapping relationships, simulating outcomes, and anticipating cascading effects.
Key Features:
GraphQL API: Query multiple data sources using a familiar, flexible API.
Native Graph Engine: Built on top of OneLake, enabling real-time graph analytics without data movement.
AI-Ready: Powers recommendation systems, knowledge graphs, and agentic applications.
Geospatial Integration: Combine graph and map data for real-time insights.
Use Case: Perfect for developers and data scientists building AI-driven applications that require complex relationship modeling.
Think of it as: A cloud-native graph database for modern analytics and AI workloads.
Final thoughts:
Each of these graph technologies serves a distinct purpose:
Microsoft Graph Security API is your go-to for integrating and automating security alerts.
Microsoft Fabric Graph is built for modern analytics and AI.
Enterprise Exposure Graph helps you understand and reduce your attack surface.
Kusto Graph Semantics brings graph power to your existing telemetry and queries.
Understanding these differences helps you choose the right tool for the job—whether you’re building a SOC dashboard, modeling supply chains, or hunting threats