16 Sep 2026

SSRS to Power BI Migration: Steps, Tools, and Best Practices

Q: What is the difference between Power BI paginated reports and interactive reports for SSRS migration?

Power BI paginated reports are RDL-based and built in Power BI Report Builder. They are the closest equivalent to SSRS reports and preserve pixel-perfect layout, multi-page output, and print-ready formatting. Power BI interactive reports are built in Power BI Desktop and are better suited to analytical dashboards and self-service exploration.

Quick Summary

SSRS to Power BI migration moves SQL Server Reporting Services pixel-perfect reports, data sources, subscriptions, and delivery workflows to Microsoft Power BI. Most SSRS reports map to Power BI paginated reports (built in Power BI Report Builder, RDL-based), the closest Power BI equivalent for print-ready, multi-page, formatted output. Microsoft's RDL Migration Tool automates the initial conversion of supported report elements. The migration process covers inventory and classification, data source reconfiguration, report conversion or rebuilding, subscription migration, and output validation before cutover.

SSRS to Power BI migration is the process of moving SQL Server Reporting Services reports, shared data sources, shared datasets, subscriptions, and related reporting infrastructure to Microsoft Power BI. Because SSRS and Power BI have different report architectures, migration is not a simple file import; each report must be assessed, classified, and rebuilt or converted using the appropriate Power BI target. Pixel-perfect SSRS reports map to analytical dashboards may be better rebuilt as Power BI interactive reports. Microsoft's RDL Migration Tool can accelerate the initial conversion of supported SSRS reports, though complex reports with custom code and unsupported features still require manual rework.

What Is SSRS to Power BI Migration?

SSRS to Power BI migration modernizes a SQL Server Reporting Services environment on Microsoft Power BI. SSRS is Microsoft's server-based reporting platform, producing pixel-perfect, paginated reports in RDL format for financial statements, compliance reports, invoices, and scheduled operational outputs. Organizations migrate to Power BI to consolidate reporting on a modern cloud-native platform, reduce SSRS server maintenance overhead, and enable self-service analytics alongside managed paginated reporting.

For SSRS migration, two Power BI report types are particularly relevant: paginated reports and interactive Power BI reports. Power BI paginated reports, built in Power BI Report Builder using RDL format, are the closest equivalent to SSRS reports designed for multi-page, print-ready, pixel-perfect output. Power BI interactive reports (.pbix), built in Power BI Desktop, are designed for analytical exploration and dashboard-style viewing. Deciding which Power BI report type best serves each SSRS report is the first architecture decision in any migration.

Can SSRS Reports Be Directly Converted to Power BI?

You can migrate SSRS reports to Power BI, but the approach varies by report type and complexity. Power BI paginated reports use the same RDL format as SSRS, which means many SSRS reports can be converted rather than rebuilt from scratch.

Microsoft's RDL Migration Tool automates parts of this conversion by scanning SSRS RDL files, identifying supported and unsupported elements, and generating Power BI paginated report files. However, the tool does not handle everything: SSRS reports with complex custom code assemblies, unsupported data regions, non-standard expressions, or SSRS-specific features still require manual rework after the tool runs. A full inventory and compatibility assessment before conversion is the most reliable way to identify which reports will convert cleanly, which will need manual work, and which are better rebuilt as interactive Power BI reports.

Which Power BI Report Type Replaces SSRS?

Not all SSRS reports map to the same Power BI target. Choosing the right Power BI report type for each SSRS report is one of the most important migration decisions.

SSRS Report Type	Power BI Target	Migration Approach
Financial and compliance reports (pixel-perfect, multi-page)	Power BI paginated reports	RDL Migration Tool + manual review
Invoices and statements (print-ready, formatted)	Power BI paginated reports	RDL Migration Tool + manual review
Operational reports and data exports	Power BI paginated reports	Convert or rebuild in Report Builder
KPI dashboards and analytical summaries	Power BI interactive reports	Rebuild in Power BI Desktop
Ad-hoc and self-service reports	Power BI interactive reports	Rebuild with semantic model on Power BI Desktop

Why Organizations Migrate from SSRS to Power BI

Reduced server maintenance: SSRS runs on-premises and requires server patching, SQL Server licensing, and infrastructure management. Power BI in the cloud removes the server layer and shifts maintenance to Microsoft.
Unified analytics platform: Power BI consolidates paginated reports and interactive dashboards on one service, replacing separate SSRS and BI tools.
Modern self-service analytics: business users can build their own interactive reports and dashboards against governed Power BI semantic models alongside managed paginated reports.
Microsoft ecosystem integration: Power BI connects natively with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Azure, and Microsoft Fabric, enabling reporting in the environments where users already work.
Power BI Report Server option: organizations not ready for the cloud can deploy Power BI Report Server on-premises, hosting paginated reports and Power BI Desktop reports on a server they control, with a familiar SSRS-like experience and a path to the Power BI service when ready.

SSRS to Power BI Asset Mapping

SSRS Asset	Power BI Equivalent	Migration Note
RDL report files	Power BI paginated reports (RDL)	RDL Migration Tool for supported elements; manual for complex
Shared data sources	Power BI data sources and gateways	On-premises sources need a gateway; reconfigure connection strings
Shared datasets	Shared Power BI datasets or semantic models	Rebuild or re-point; review query logic for compatibility
Report parameters	Paginated report parameters	Largely compatible; review cascading parameter dependencies
Standard subscriptions	Power BI subscriptions (paginated)	Rebuild subscription schedule and recipient lists
Data-driven subscriptions	Power BI data-driven subscriptions or Power Automate	More complex per-recipient delivery rebuilt in Power Automate
Report snapshots and history	No direct equivalent; scheduled refresh with export	Historical snapshots need a separate archival process
Custom code assemblies	Custom DAX expressions or Power Query logic	Cannot be imported; business logic must be reimplemented
SSRS security (Windows/SQL roles)	Power BI workspace roles, Microsoft Entra ID, RLS	Redesign security for Power BI model; validate with real users

SSRS to Power BI Migration Tools

Tool or Approach	Purpose in SSRS Migration
RDL Migration Tool (Microsoft)	Scans SSRS RDL files, identifies supported/unsupported elements, and converts supported reports to Power BI paginated report format
Power BI Report Builder	The modern equivalent of SSRS Report Builder used to rebuild or finalize converted paginated reports in Power BI format
Power BI Desktop	Used to rebuild analytical SSRS reports as Power BI interactive reports (.pbix) with DAX measures and semantic models
SSRS inventory and scanning tools	Catalog SSRS report usage, shared data sources, dependencies, and subscription configuration before conversion
On-premises data gateway	Required to connect Power BI paginated reports and semantic models to on-premises SQL Server and other on-premises data sources
Power BI Report Server	On-premises deployment option for Power BI content, providing an SSRS-like server experience with a path to the Power BI cloud service
Power Automate	Used to rebuild SSRS data-driven subscriptions and complex per-recipient report delivery workflows

How to Migrate SSRS to Power BI: Step-by-Step

Inventory the SSRS environment: catalog every report, shared data source, shared dataset, subscription, and user permission. Include usage statistics; reports with no users in the last year are retirement candidates. The inventory determines the active migration scope before any conversion begins.
Classify each report: assign every report to a target type (Power BI paginated report or Power BI interactive report) and a migration path (RDL Migration Tool, manual conversion, or rebuild). Reports with complex custom code assemblies or unsupported features should be flagged for rebuild rather than conversion.
Run the RDL Migration Tool: for reports targeting Power BI paginated reports, run the RDL Migration Tool to scan RDL files and convert supported reports. Review the tool output: the compatibility report identifies elements that converted cleanly, elements that need manual adjustment, and unsupported elements requiring rebuild.
Rework and rebuild: open converted reports in Power BI Report Builder and correct any elements flagged by the RDL Migration Tool. Rebuild reports with unsupported custom code, complex expressions, or unsupported data regions from scratch in Report Builder or Power BI Desktop.
Reconfigure data sources: update shared data source connections for the Power BI environment. On-premises SQL Server sources require an on-premises data gateway installed, configured, and tested before paginated reports can connect.
Migrate subscriptions and delivery: rebuild standard subscriptions in Power BI subscriptions. Rebuild data-driven subscriptions as Power BI data-driven subscriptions or Power Automate flows. Validate recipient lists and output formats.
Implement security: migrate SSRS Windows authentication and SQL Server roles to Power BI workspace roles, Microsoft Entra ID groups, and row-level security. Validate access with representative user accounts, not admin accounts.
Validate output: compare Power BI paginated report output with the original SSRS report output side by side, checking data, calculations, layout, formatting, parameters, and subscription delivery before directing users to Power BI.

SSRS vs Power BI Paginated Reports: Key Differences

Understanding the key differences between SSRS and Power BI paginated reports helps teams identify where manual rework will be needed during migration.

Area	SSRS	Power BI Paginated Reports
Report format	RDL (on SSRS server)	RDL (in Power BI service or Report Server)
Design tool	SSRS Report Builder / SSDT	Power BI Report Builder
Custom code	VB.NET custom assemblies supported	Custom assemblies not supported; expressions only
Data sources	Direct SQL Server and SSAS connections	Gateway required for on-premises sources
Subscriptions	Standard and data-driven subscriptions	Subscriptions and Power Automate flows
Snapshots	Report history snapshots	No direct equivalent; needs a separate archival process
Security	Windows auth, SQL Server roles	Microsoft Entra ID, workspace roles, RLS

Common SSRS Migration Challenges and Best Practices

Custom code assemblies: SSRS supports VB.NET custom code assemblies that Power BI paginated reports do not. Business logic implemented in custom assemblies must be reimplemented in report expressions or moved to the data layer; this is the most common source of manual rework.
Complex expressions: SSRS expressions use VB.NET syntax; most work in Power BI paginated reports, but some functions and patterns differ. Review complex expressions individually during the RDL Migration Tool output assessment.
Data-driven subscriptions: SSRS data-driven subscriptions that deliver personalized reports to a dynamic recipient list do not have a one-click equivalent in Power BI. Rebuild these using Power BI data-driven subscriptions or Power Automate, and test with representative recipient scenarios before cutover.
Report snapshots and history: SSRS report history snapshots have no direct Power BI equivalent. Organizations that rely on report history for audit or archive purposes need a separate export and storage process for Power BI.
On-premises gateway configuration: Power BI paginated reports connecting to on-premises SQL Server sources require a correctly sized, installed, and tested on-premises data gateway. Gateway configuration should be completed and tested before any report conversion begins.
Usage analysis before migration: running a usage report on the SSRS environment before migration typically reveals a significant portion of reports that have not been accessed in a year or more. Retiring low-usage content before migration reduces scope, conversion effort, and ongoing maintenance.

How Long Does SSRS to Power BI Migration Take?

Migration Scope	Typical Effort
Small SSRS environment, straightforward reports	Weeks to a few months
Mid-size SSRS estate with custom expressions and subscriptions	Several months
Large enterprise SSRS estate with custom assemblies, complex reports, and extensive subscriptions	Multiple phases across quarters

Timeline drivers include total report count, proportion requiring manual rework versus RDL Migration Tool conversion, custom code complexity, number of data sources needing gateway reconfiguration, subscription migration complexity, and validation scope. Inventory and usage analysis before migration determine which reports can be retired, which will convert cleanly, and which require a rebuild; these three categories make a timeline estimate defensible.

Illustrative Example: SSRS to Power BI Paginated Reports Migration

Illustrative Example. The following is a representative profile based on the types of SSRS-to-Power BI migration projects DataTerrain has supported. It is not an account of a specific named client.

A manufacturing company runs several hundred SSRS reports covering production scheduling, financial reporting, and supplier invoicing. The reports are hosted on an on-premises SSRS server running on SQL Server, with subscriptions delivering formatted output to department leads. The organization wants to move to Power BI in the cloud and consolidate reporting alongside existing Power BI dashboards.

Usage analysis shows that some reports have not been accessed in over a year; these will be retired with business sign-off before any conversion begins. The remaining active reports are classified: most target Power BI paginated reports; a smaller set of KPI summary views is rebuilt as Power BI interactive reports. The RDL Migration Tool runs across the active paginated report catalog and produces a compatibility report. The team identifies reports with custom assembly dependencies for manual rebuild. The team configures and tests an on-premises gateway against the SQL Server environment. Converted and rebuilt reports are validated side by side against SSRS output before rebuilding subscriptions and directing users to Power BI. SSRS is decommissioned after a parallel running period.

SSRS to Power BI Migration with DataTerrain

17+ Years Experience | 400+ US Clients | SSRS Report Inventory | Paginated Report Migration

DataTerrain provides end-to-end SSRS-to-Power BI migration, including report inventory, RDL conversion, paginated report migration, data source and gateway setup, security remapping, and validation. Our Automated BI reports conversion service accelerates SSRS report discovery and repetitive conversion tasks at scale.

Schedule a Free Assessment

Key Takeaways

SSRS reports do not all migrate the same way. Assess each report and either convert it using the RDL Migration Tool or rebuild it in Power BI Report Builder or Power BI Desktop.
Many SSRS reports map naturally to Power BI paginated reports. Both use RDL format. Power BI paginated reports are designed for pixel-perfect, multi-page, and print-oriented output.
The RDL Migration Tool accelerates conversion of supported reports. It is not a one-click migration; reports with custom assemblies, unsupported data regions, or complex expressions still require manual rework after the tool runs.
Custom code assemblies cannot be migrated. VB.NET custom assemblies supported by SSRS are not supported in Power BI paginated reports. Business logic must be reimplemented in expressions or the data layer.
Usage analysis before migration determines scope. Running a usage report on the SSRS environment typically reveals low-usage content that can be retired before conversion, reducing scope and ongoing maintenance.
On-premises data sources require gateway setup. Power BI paginated reports connecting to on-premises SQL Server sources require an on-premises data gateway; configure and test it before report conversion begins.
Validate at report level, not just data level. Compare Power BI output side by side with SSRS output, including formatting, parameters, totals, and subscription delivery before cutover.

Conclusion

SSRS to Power BI migration is a structured modernization involving report inventory, classification, RDL conversion and manual rebuild, data source reconfiguration, subscription migration, security remapping, and side-by-side output validation. Organizations that invest in a usage-based inventory before conversion, correctly classify each report to the right Power BI target, and validate at the report level before each cutover wave deliver Power BI environments that accurately replace SSRS for both scheduled delivery and managed reporting. Contact DataTerrain for a free assessment of your SSRS-to-Power BI migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can SSRS reports be converted directly to Power BI?

You can migrate SSRS reports to Power BI using Microsoft's RDL Migration Tool for supported paginated reports. Reports with complex custom code assemblies, unsupported data regions, or non-standard expressions still require manual rework after the tool runs. Interactive SSRS reports with analytical content may be better rebuilt as Power BI interactive reports (.pbix) in Power BI Desktop.

What is the difference between Power BI paginated reports and interactive reports for SSRS migration?

Power BI paginated reports (RDL-based, built in Power BI Report Builder) are the closest equivalent to SSRS reports, and preserve pixel-perfect layout, multi-page output, and print-ready formatting. Power BI interactive reports (.pbix, built in Power BI Desktop) are better for analytical dashboards and self-service exploration. Most SSRS reports map to paginated reports; a subset of analytical reports may be better rebuilt as interactive Power BI reports.

What is the RDL Migration Tool?

The RDL Migration Tool is a Microsoft open-source utility that scans SSRS RDL files, identifies supported and unsupported elements, and converts supported reports to Power BI paginated report format. It accelerates the initial conversion phase but does not handle custom assemblies, some unsupported data regions, or complex expressions that require manual rebuild.

What happens to SSRS subscriptions and scheduled delivery during migration?

Power BI subscriptions replace standard SSRS subscriptions for paginated reports. SSRS data-driven subscriptions for per-recipient delivery are rebuilt as Power BI data-driven subscriptions or Power Automate flows for more complex scenarios. Inventory and validate subscription logic during migration.

How long does SSRS to Power BI migration take?

A small SSRS environment may take weeks to a few months to migrate. A mid-size estate typically takes several months. A large enterprise SSRS environment with custom assemblies and extensive subscriptions may require multiple phases across quarters. Inventory and usage analysis determine scope and make the timeline estimate defensible.