SSRS utilizes a role-based security model to control access to report server items and administrative tasks. Security in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) maps items (folders, reports) to Active Directory users or groups through defined roles containing a set of tasks. Implementing strict security management ensures your data remains protected while giving users exactly the permissions they need. Use Active Directory (AD) Groups
Map permissions exclusively to AD groups instead of individual Windows accounts.
Simplify employee onboarding and offboarding by managing access within Active Directory.
Prevent broken individual report permissions when a user changes departments.
Mirrors SSRS roles directly to corresponding security groups in AD. Secure at the Folder Level
Leverage role inheritance by applying security permissions directly to parent folders.
Avoid breaking inheritance on individual reports or data sources to prevent administrative overhead.
Create a dedicated subfolder if a specific report requires unique permissions.
Move the restricted report into that isolated subfolder to manage its distinct group access. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege
Assign users the most restrictive role that still allows them to complete tasks.
Use the Browser role for the vast majority of report consumers who only view data.
Reserve the Content Manager role strictly for content authors and publishers.
Avoid over-allocating administrative privileges just to bypass access roadblocks. Clean Up Default and High-Level Permissions
Remove or modify the default BUILTIN\Administrators group assignment from the Home folder.
Prevent local server administrators from automatically inheriting full content privileges over reports.
Explicitly define a distinct AD group for actual Report Server administrators instead.
Audit the default System User role at the site level to limit broad discovery access. Customize Predefined Roles via SSMS
Connect to your Reporting Services instance via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to tweak permissions.
Inspect the built-in system and item roles to see their exact underlying tasks.
Create custom roles if out-of-the-box definitions (like Browser or Publisher) do not fit your security matrix.
Avoid altering default roles directly; clone and rename them for better upgrade stability. Secure Data Source Credentials
Avoid embedding hardcoded Windows credentials directly inside shared data sources.
Use stored credentials securely encrypted in the report server database via a dedicated service account.
Enable Prompt for credentials if reports require end-user database-level permission validation.
Configure TLS/SSL encryption in the Report Server Configuration Manager to protect credentials in transit.
To help tailor this, what version of SSRS are you running, and are you using Native mode or SharePoint integrated mode? SSRS Security Groups Advice – Spiceworks Community
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