Rob Horwitz analyzes and writes about Microsoft licensing programs and product licensing rules. He also trains organizations on best Microsoft licensing practices.
Before co-founding Directions on Microsoft in 1992, Rob spent eight years at Microsoft in a variety of software development and technical marketing roles. He was a software developer on the first version of Macintosh Word and marketed Microsoft operating system- and server-based products while in the developer relations, networking product marketing, international, and OEM marketing groups.
Rob holds a B.S. in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
Latest Content by Rob Horwitz
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Updated: April 16, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Office 365 and Microsoft 365 Comparison
Compares the set of online services included with Office 365 E1/E3/E5 suites to those included with Microsoft 365 F3/E3/E5 suites
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Windows Enterprise Rights Flowchart
Illustrates the ways an organization can acquire the right to install and run Windows Enterprise edition locally on an end-user’s...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Per Core License Model Flowchart
Explains how to calculate the number of core licenses required for SQL Server 2016/2017/2019/2022 Enterprise and Standard editions under the...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Office Suite Hosting Scenarios
Explains licensing rules for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office Professional Plus when running within server-based desktop deployments hosted...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Visual Studio with MSDN Edition Packaging
Compares development and test tools, OSs, application software, online services, and other benefits included with editions of Visual Studio with...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Windows VDI Hosting Scenarios
Lists client-side licenses that provide rights to run and access Windows client OS-based virtual desktops (sometimes called a VDI) hosted...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
SQL Server Hosting Scenarios
Explains the rules for applying SQL Server Standard and Enterprise edition core licenses purchased through volume licensing programs toward workloads...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Windows Server Hosting Scenarios
Explains the rules for applying Windows Server Standard and Datacenter edition core licenses purchased through volume licensing programs toward workloads...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
Windows client OS edition packaging
Compares technical feature and use right differences across Windows 10 /11 Pro, Windows 10 / 11 Enterprise Per Device, and...
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Updated: April 8, 2025 · by Rob Horwitz
SQL Server Edition Packaging
Compares SQL Server edition features across versions 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2012.