Encryption key - do I need to restore it or not ?

Question

I am testing some SSRS migration process. I noticed if I migrate from a server to a different server, I do need to restore encryption key after restore the report dbs.

But if I just change an existing server from one name to another , even I don't restore the encryption key, the reports still works. Is that correct?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi @Anne ,

Reporting Services uses encryption keys to secure credentials and connection information that is stored in a report server database.

It is necessary to restore the backup copy of the encryption key when any of the following events occur:

Changing the Report Server Windows service account name or resetting the password. When you use the Report Server Configuration Manager, backing up the key is part of a service account name change operation.

Renaming the computer or instance that hosts the report server (a report server instance is based on a SQL Server instance name).

Migrating a report server installation or configuring a report server to use a different report server database.

Recovering a report server installation due to hardware failure.

More details about SSRS encryption keys please refer:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/reporting-services/install-windows/ssrs-encryption-keys-manage-encryption-keys?view=sql-server-ver15

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/reporting-services/install-windows/ssrs-encryption-keys-back-up-and-restore-encryption-keys?view=sql-server-ver15

So if you changed the existing server from one name to another that hosts the report server, please also remember to restore encryption key.

Regards，

Zoe

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Answer 2

What I found is after I restored the database from another server to new server, I restored the encryption key, and after that we renamed the new computer to the old computer name, and then I don't need to restore the encryption key it still works.