Integration Runtime (IR) is a crucial component in both Azure Data Factory (ADF) and Azure Synapse Analytics. It acts as a bridge to connect different network environments, handle data movement, and execute data transformation activities. There are three types of Integration Runtimes available: Azure, Self-hosted, and Azure-SSIS. Each type serves distinct purposes.
1. Azure Integration Runtime:-

- Provides data movement and transformation capabilities within Azure.
- Automatically scales out to meet data volume demands.
- Moves data between cloud data stores, such as Azure Blob Storage, Azure Data Lake Storage, and Azure SQL Database.
- Uses native compute services such as Azure HDInsight, Azure Databricks, and Azure SQL Database to perform data transformations.
- Seamlessly integrates with various Azure services for enhanced data processing capabilities.

2. Self-hosted Integration Runtime

- Provides data movement and transformation capabilities for on-premises, private network, and cloud environments that aren't natively supported by Azure Integration Runtime.
- Acts as a bridge for data transfer between on-premises sources and Azure.
- Moves data between on-premises data stores and cloud data stores, and between different cloud environments.
- Uses secure outbound data transfer protocols to ensure data security.
- Allows the use of custom activities and supports the execution of custom scripts.

3. Azure-SSIS Integration Runtime

- Provides the capability to lift and shift SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages to Azure.
- Allows SSIS packages to run natively in the cloud without extensive reconfiguration.
- Fully supports the execution of SSIS packages, including those with complex workflows and dependencies.
- Offers a managed environment for running SSIS packages, reducing the need for infrastructure management.
- Seamlessly integrates with Azure Data Factory, allowing orchestration of SSIS packages within ADF pipelines.