I’m not sure why exactly, but I have always loved SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). If you didn’t already know it, I’m here to let you know that Windows Azure has a similar version called SQL Reporting. In everything I see about Windows Azure, SQL Reporting doesn’t seem to be talked about much. SQL Reporting doesn’t presently do everything you can do with SSRS, it is more like a younger sibling. The general look and feel from a user perspective is the same and for the most part the development is as well.
I think the only thing stopping SQL Reporting from wider adoption is the data sources currently supported. Presently SQL Reporting only supports a Windows Azure SQL Database as a data source. Though if you wanted you could run SSRS in a VM on Windows Azure. You can also connect your on-premises SSRS to SQL Databases.
Here is a comparison of SSRS and SQL Reporting from MSDN. You can also get more details about specific features that aren’t supported in SQL Reporting by going to the previously referenced MSDN article.
| Feature | Windows Azure SQL Reporting | SQL Server Reporting Services |
| Design tools | Report Designer in SQL Server Data Tools Report Builder 3.0 | Report Designer in SQL Server Data Tools Report Builder 3.0 |
| Data Sources | Windows Azure SQL Database | Built-in or customizable data sources. |
| Report Management and Delivery | Windows Azure Management Portal Includes displaying reports and rendering reports to multiple formats Reports can be viewed in browsers, Report Viewer Windows Forms and ASP.NET applications. | Use Report Manager for native mode or SharePoint application pages for SharePoint integrated mode Includes displaying reports, rendering reports to multiple formats, creating subscriptions and scheduled deliveries, managing cached reports and shared datasets Reports can be viewed in browsers, Report Viewer Windows Forms and ASP.NET applications, and in SharePoint web parts. |
| Extensibility | No extensions are supported in this release. | Custom extensions for data, processing, rendering, delivery, and security |
| Security Model | Windows Azure SQL Database username and password authentication are required for data access. SQL Reporting username and password are required for report access. Permissions to reports and report-related items are controlled by role assignment. | Windows authentication and other authentications are supported. Permissions to reports and report-related items are controlled by role assignment. |
What do you think of Windows Azure SQL Reporting?
By the way, if you need a Windows Azure subscription, here is the link for a free trial.
