I'd just like to verify that deleting the encryption key in reporting services configuration manager does no harm to the database or any of the data within that may be encrypted; and this action ONLY affect the reporting services environment. Thanks

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms156010.aspx Deleting the encryption keys removes all symmetric key information from the report server database and deletes any encrypted content. All unencrypted data is left intact; only encrypted content is removed. When you delete the encryption keys, the report server re-initializes itself automatically by adding a new symmetric key. The following occurs when you delete encrypted content: Connection strings in shared data sources are deleted. Users who run reports get the error "The ConnectionString property has not been initialized." Stored credentials are deleted. Reports and shared data sources are reconfigured to use prompted credentials. Reports that are based on models (and require shared data sources configured with stored or no credentials) will not run. Subscriptions are deactivated. Once you delete encrypted content, you cannot recover it. You must re-specify connection strings and stored credentials, and you must activate subscriptions.

I read that too...I was hoping for the experienced users' answer to the question.

I'd just like to verify that deleting the encryption key in reporting services configuration manager does no harm to the database or any of the data within that may be encrypted; and this action ONLY affect the reporting services environment. Thanks Hi MitchP_ny, Actually, these values are encrypted: Connection information and credentials used by a report server to connect to a report server database that stores internal server data ; Stored credentials that are used by a report server to connect to external data sources that provide data to a report. Besides, An unattended user account used by the report server to connect to other computers to retrieve external images files or external data that is used in a report and symmetric key used for encryption are also encrypted. Thanks, Challen FuPlease remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.