Licensing Terms

Licensing Reference Licensing reference materials are continuously updated, highly-detailed entries covering Microsoft licensing terms, procedures, practices and timelines. View More

Product Reference Product reference materials are clear, concise definitions and descriptions of Microsoft's ever-growing catalog of products and services. View More

Licensing Terms Analyst Reports

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Microsoft 365 Government: What’s in the Box? Updated: May 11, 2025 Microsoft 365 Government offers better regulatory compliance for U.S. governmental organizations than Microsoft 365 commercial...more Transitioning Microsoft 365 from an EA to an MCA Updated: March 11, 2025 Enterprise Agreement customers transitioning to Microsoft Customer Agreements will have to reassess how they license...more Azure: Know Reservations Updated: February 15, 2025 Azure reservations allow customers to reduce Azure costs in exchange for a one- or three-year...more New License Rule for Contractor Access Updated: August 27, 2024 Contractors and other nonemployees who access an organization’s Microsoft systems face new licensing rules in...more Executive Focus: Negotiating Microsoft Licensing Agreements Updated: April 15, 2024 Licensing and negotiations favor Microsoft, but adopting the right approach allows customers to negotiate from...more Executive Focus: Understanding Microsoft Licensing Updated: January 22, 2024 Microsoft licensing challenges can increase business risk, impacting budgets, cash flow, and daily business activities....more Time to Walk Away from Some Microsoft Products Updated: June 2, 2023 Microsoft is dropping development, cutting support, and raising prices for many on-premises products. These dead-end...more Windows Client OS VDI Licensing Relaxed Updated: May 31, 2023 Windows 10 and 11 will cost less to license in some virtual desktop infrastructures. The...more Windows Server Licensing Head-to-Head for Azure Stack HCI Updated: May 31, 2023 Enterprise Agreement customers have four major options to license the Azure Stack HCI OS...more Software Assurance Support and Training Benefits Cut Updated: May 31, 2023 Some accrued Software Assurance benefits will be modified or eliminated starting in 2020. Planning and...more Additional Azure Reservation Categories Available Updated: May 31, 2023 Additional types of Azure reservations became available in Nov. 2019. Azure Licensing: One Phrase, Many Meanings Updated: May 31, 2023 Azure licensing is a multifaceted, complex process involving multiple roles within an organization. Understanding the...more Microsoft Open License Program Ending Updated: May 31, 2023 Microsoft’s Open License program will end on Dec. 31, 2021. Customers cannot buy new licenses...more Negotiating a Microsoft EA Updated: May 31, 2023 In this episode, Mary Jo Foley talks to veteran negotiator Dean Bedwell about Microsoft Enterprise...more The Challenges of Licensing Shared Devices Updated: May 31, 2023 Many organizations have devices that are shared by multiple users and not permanently dedicated to...more Dedicated Host Licensing Favors Azure Updated: November 23, 2020 New licensing rules for dedicated hosting favor Azure over competing cloud platforms from Amazon, Google,...more

Infographics

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Available Azure Reservations Updated: February 16, 2025

Podcasts

Windows Server 2025: What you need to know

March 28, 2024

· Season - 3 · Episode - 5 · Duration - 30m Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp Lessons Learned

March 18, 2024

· Season - 3 · Episode - 4 · Duration - 26m Subscriptions! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm

February 13, 2024

· Season - 3 · Episode - 2 · Duration - 52m 5s

All Licensing Terms Podcasts

Blog

Updated: December 16, 2024 Microsoft's VMware Rapid Migration Plan: Not as shiny as it looks

by
Mary Jo Foley

Updated: December 9, 2024 Microsoft to add new monthly billing option, but at a 5% premium

by
Mary Jo Foley

Updated: July 31, 2024 Still no signs of a Microsoft 365 E7 bundle, but the subscription landscape is shifting

by
Mary Jo Foley

All Licensing Terms Blogs