Azure to Be Licensed for Server Applications

SharePoint Server and SQL Server will be allowed to run on the Windows Azure Virtual Machines (VM) service under rules published in June 2012. The Azure VM service uses Microsoft data centers to host VMs that run the customer’s chosen OS and applications. Microsoft server applications on Azure will offer organizations tighter control and better customization than Microsoft-hosted cloud applications such as SharePoint Online. Azure VM application licensing rules resemble those for other service providers, but customers should carefully review those rules, and the Azure rules might prevent Microsoft applications from serving extranets or other partner- and customer-facing systems.

Move Server Application Licenses with SA

Customers will be able to license a Microsoft server application to run in Azure VMs by purchasing licenses for the application in volume licensing and then reassigning server-side licenses for the application to Microsoft—the service provider—under a set of license mobility rules. All licenses for the application must be covered by Software Assurance (SA), including any Client Access Licenses (CALs) or Management Licenses (MLs). Most Microsoft server applications offer license mobility with SA.