SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a powerful business
intelligence tool that provides an integrated solution for generating, Employing,
and administering interactive and customizable reports based on the data stored
in your database to best suit the needs of your organization.
Each report can either be integrated within a MS Windows or web-based
application, allowing for enhanced reporting features, which extend to the
realm of cloud-based data. Reports can be implemented in graphical, free-form,
or tabular formats and can include record data from relational,
multidimensional, or Report Definition Language(RDL) via XML Files; allowing
for them to be implemented in multiple viewing formats. SSRS reports also integrate well with SharePoint
and other Microsoft applications, such as MS Excel, MS Access and MS Word,
making the exportation of such reports seamless between these applications.
A Few Key Features of SSRS Include:
Security: As most organizations house sensitive data, the need for data security is essential. Reporting Services allow for added security features such as controlling the accessibility of reports, making them unavailable to users with invalid credentials, ultimately allowing for control of the audience, enhancing security of all report data.
Scalability: As the data-set reflected within the report changes and the data workload increases, reports are updated to reflect those changes, making SSRS reports fully scalable.
Manageability: A key component of SSRS functionality includes the ability of the report administrator to manage and deploy reports with ease.
Customization: Reports can be scripted to allow for fully customizable functionality, giving 'personality' to the look and feel of each report.
Ease Of Use: Even the novice can create professional reports using the provided functionality such as wizards to assist.
