Inquiry on PBI Report Server Usage and Licensing

[jieunjung]

Hello,

I would like to inquire about the use of PBI Report Server.

Currently, the customer’s Software Assurance (SA) has expired. Based on the latest official documentation, we understand that PBI Report Server is provided if the customer holds SQL Server 2025 Enterprise or Standard edition licenses.

If the customer is eligible to use PBI Report Server through SQL Server 2025 Enterprise or Standard, we would like to confirm whether it can be used independently of SQL Server 2025 and connected to the customer’s existing SQL Server Enterprise Core licenses (purchased via MPSA in November 2023 and Open Value in May 2025).

Thank you.

[Poojara_D12 · Accepted solution]

Hi @jieunjung 

No—you cannot decouple PBIRS from SQL Server 2025 licensing and reuse it against older SQL Server Enterprise licenses.

If you want to use PBIRS under the new licensing model, you must:

• Have SQL Server 2025 (Std/Ent) core licenses, and
• Run PBIRS within the scope of those licensed cores/servers

Anything outside that falls back to the old rule (Enterprise + SA required).

[v-dineshya]

Hi @jieunjung ,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community Forum.

Yes, with SQL Server 2025 Enterprise or Standard licenses, the customer is entitled to use Power BI Report Server. Software Assurance is NOT required for PBIRS when licensed under SQL Server 2025. PBIRS cannot be legally decoupled from SQL Server 2025 licenses and “attached” to older SQL Server Enterprise Core licenses (2022 or earlier) whose SA has expired. Existing SQL Server Enterprise Core licenses from Nov‑2023 or May‑2025 do not grant PBIRS rights unless they are SQL Server 2025 licenses.

Please refer below link.

Reporting Services Consolidation FAQ - SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Microsoft Learn

I hope this information helps. Please do let us know if you have any further queries.

Regards,

Dinesh