Most often used to describe when individuals or client devices make use of a server-based product or online service, the relevance being that access usually triggers a licensing requirement.

An overarching term for several AD (Active Directory) related Windows Server roles, including AD Domain Services, AD Federation Services, and AD RMS (Rights Management Services). See AD for in-depth entry.

A Windows Server role that encrypts e-mails, files, and other content to prevent access by unauthorized users, including content moved to an unsecured file sharing service or shared by e-mail; See: RMS for a detailed entry.

An activation method that uses an organization’s existing on-premises AD Domain Services to activate products on devices with access to the organization’s network.

A Windows Server role (often called “AD”) that provides authentication and access management for an organization’s users, computers, and groups, and product activation; licensed via Windows Server CALs (Client Access Licenses) and server-side licenses. See AD Domain Services for in-depth entry.

A Windows Server software directory federation component that enables users in an organization to connect to resources controlled by a third-party’s directory; use covered by Windows Server licenses. See AD Federation Services for in-depth entry.

Server software components that customers deploying server products can install and run on devices for free.

Technology that gives administrators more control over the configuration of PCs via Group Policy; licensed with MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack).

Technology that gives administrators more control over the configuration of PCs via Group Policy; licensed with MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack). See Advanced Group Policy Management for a detailed entry.

Software that runs client applications in an isolated environment on each user's computer or on servers, and allows organizations to centrally deploy and update the applications; see App-V for a detailed entry.

An online service that provides identity and access management for Microsoft-hosted services such as Office 365 and for customer and third-party applications; licensed primarily via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit for Windows Server server-side licenses that provides preferential pricing for a limited number of Azure VMs. See synonym Azure HUB for in-depth entry.

An online service that allows Windows client applications running on servers in an Azure datacenter to interact with a user’s local desktop; to be shut down in Aug. 2017.

A type of CAL (Client Access License) that covers access to the main features of a matching server-based product, but not access to certain advanced or niche features.

A compact self-contained server, usually on its own circuit board, that fits into an enclosure shared with other blades; treated as a freestanding server for licensing purposes.

Illustration outlines the components current in the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite.

Refers to an end-user (person) or an end-user’s client device, or other types of non-server hardware, such as sensors.

PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, and other end-user devices people use to interact with Microsoft software or online services, as well as autonomous devices such as sensors that access a server-based product or online service.

Prior name for Web-based console licensed by Office 365 Enterprise suites for managing security and compliance-related functions, including archiving, mobile device management, data loss prevention, basic eDiscovery, and retention. See Security and Compliance Center for in-depth entry.

A collection of six client-side licenses for accessing Microsoft server software.

Outlines major changes to the Core CAL Suite’s content and pricing.

A license model exclusive to Windows Server 2016 that requires at least 16 core–based licenses per physical server and CALs (Client Access Licenses) for users or access devices.

An online service that delivers customer relationship management, marketing, sales, and service capabilities. See synonym Dynamics CRM Online for in-depth entry.

A form of substitution, whereby a customer owning a license for a specific product edition deploys a different, generally lower-level edition instead. See synonym down edition for in-depth entry.

A type of servicing branch offered for the Windows client OS (Windows 10) and for Windows Server (version 2016) that delivers feature updates to a computer as often as two to three times a year.

Generally understood to mean the physical buildings an organization owns or leases to conduct its day-to-day business. See synonym premises for in-depth entry.

A compliance feature built into and licensed as part of various online services and on-premises products that helps minimize the likelihood that sensitive information leaks outside an organization via e-mail and document sharing.

An online service that offers personalized feeds and other capabilities to help Office 365 users discover people and documents; licensed through Office 365 Enterprise suites.

A Per-Device License model applicable to the Windows Pro Upgrade and to Windows Enterprise Per Device licenses purchased without SA (Software Assurance).

A license model exclusive to Visual Studio and MSDN offerings that generally requires a license for each user who accesses the included software and online services.

Provides the right for a device to be used by any person to access all running instances of a particular server-based product deployed by the customer’s organization.

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit offered for most on-premises server licenses that waives the need to license backup servers used for disaster recovery in some scenarios.

A form of substitution, whereby a customer owning a license for a specific product edition deploys a different, generally lower-level edition instead.

A family of on-premises products and online services that provide customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality.

Illustration outlines the spectrum of Dynamics 365 Enterprise Edition subscription offerings and the technical features and capabilities each makes accessible to licensed users or client devices.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Dynamics AX Server, organized by high and low value benefits

A legacy Windows Server-based server application that delivers customer relationship management, marketing, sales, and service capabilities; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model.Succeeded by Dynamics 365 On-Premises.

A legacy online service for creating, managing, and analyzing sophisticated marketing campaigns that target multiple communication channels; augments Dynamics CRM Server and Dynamics CRM Online. Succeeded by Dynamics 365.

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit that provides self-paced online courses targeted at end users and IT professionals.

A collection of client-side licenses for accessing Microsoft server software that is a superset of the Core CAL Suite. See synonym Enterprise CAL Suite for in-depth entry.

Used to distinguish the various SKUs within a product line, with differences including technical features, price, and occasionally use rights and license model.

Suites that offer a collection of User SLs (Subscription Licenses) for several online services used to manage and protect user identities, devices, applications, and corporate data, along with licenses for corresponding on-premises software. See the in-depth entry Enterprise Mobility + Security.

A collection of client-side licenses for accessing Microsoft server software that is a superset of the Core CAL Suite.

Outlines major changes to the Enterprise CAL Suite’s content and pricing.

Technology that enables organizations to centrally define and distribute VMs (virtual machines) to PCs; licensed with MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack).

Illustration summarizes which online services are included with Enterprise Mobility + Security suites.

Permits qualifying organizations to view Windows client OS source code for debugging or other purposes; licensed on a subscription basis through SA (Software Assurance) covered Windows Enterprise Per Device licenses, Windows Enterprise User SLs, and VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) subscription licenses.

Spreadsheet application available on client devices and platforms including Windows client OS, Mac, Android and iOS mobile devices, and Web browsers; typically licensed as part of an Office suite.

An Office 365-branded online service that provides e-mail, calendars, contacts, and tasks; works with Outlook clients; licensed standalone or as part of suites via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

An online service that archives e-mail from Exchange Online or Exchange Server in Microsoft data centers; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses) or the Enterprise CAL Suite.

A Windows Server-based server application that provides e-mail, calendaring, contact management, voice mail, and other collaboration features; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Exchange Server, organized by high and low value benefits

Licenses access by an unlimited number of nonemployees to instances of Windows Server running on a single physical server.

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit specific to SQL Server, Dynamics AX Server, and Dynamics CRM Server, that waives the need, under limited circumstances, to license systems used for passive fail-over.

An online service allowing users to automate repetitive tasks such as data collection, file synchronization, and e-mail or text notification; licensed separately or as part of Office 365 Enterprise suites and Dynamics 365 Enterprise Edition offerings.

A discontinued Microsoft-hosted service that filtered e-mail going into or out of organizations. See successor product Exchange Online Protection for in-depth entry.

A discrete and isolated subset of processor, memory, and other resources within a physical server, treated as its own server for licensing purposes.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit permits employees of organizations purchasing Office applications with SA to buy an additional Office application license for the employee’s noncommercial use on a home PC or Mac at a nominal charge. See HUP for a detailed entry.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit permits employees of organizations purchasing Office applications with SA to buy an additional Office application license for the employee’s noncommercial use on a home PC or Mac at a nominal charge.

Technology that allows multiple VMs (virtual machines), each running its own OSE (Operating System Environment) and applications, to execute concurrently on a physical device without interfering with one another.

To make a product ready to use by running the associated setup procedure or duplicating an existing installed copy.

An individual who is an employee of the licensed organization or a contractor or agent working on the organization’s physical premises.

An activation method that allows organizations to deploy and use on-premises servers to activate products on devices with access to the organization’s private network. See synonym KMS for in-depth entry.

Uses an organization’s on-premises Windows Server and KMS activation keys acquired from the VLSC (Volume Licensing Service Center) to activate products.

To allocate a product license to one device or user so that it is not considered to be in use by multiple devices or users simultaneously. See synonym Assign for in-depth entry.

A special provision, usually associated with SA (Software Assurance), that allows licenses assigned to servers to be reassigned with unlimited frequency within the confines of a server farm.

A use right provided through volume licensing programs that allows customers to repurpose server licenses with active SA (Software Assurance) toward workloads running on a service provider's multitenant servers. See synonym License Mobility through SA for in-depth entry.

Lists all the Illustrations available as part of the Licensing Reference Set

A retired online service that provided large meeting support. See successor product Skype Meeting Broadcast for in-depth entry.

A type of servicing branch offered for the Windows client OS and Windows Server that allows customers to defer feature upgrades to a computer for up to ten years while keeping the computer eligible for Microsoft product support. See: LTSB.

Client applications for desktop and mobile devices that provides access to Lync Server and Lync Online features that provided presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, and application sharing. Name changed; see successor product Skype for Business client for in-depth entry.

A Windows Server-based server application that provides presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, and application sharing. See successor product Skype for Business Server for in-depth entry.

A discontinued online service used for the creation, management, and analysis of sophisticated marketing campaigns that target multiple communication channels. See successor product Dynamics Marketing for in-depth entry.

A suite of technologies to help organizations centrally manage PCs; licensed on a subscription basis through SA (Software Assurance) offerings for Windows Enterprise and through VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) subscription licenses.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack is a suite of technologies to help organizations centrally manage PCs; see MDOP for a detailed entry.

New version licenses received as a benefit of SA (Software Assurance). See new version rights for in-depth entry.

A set of fee-based offerings that license a broad collection of Microsoft softwares and online services on a Per-User basis, with use generally limited to applications development and test, problem diagnosis and resolution, demonstration, and evaluation.

Per-user license covering non-production use of a broad array of Microsoft products; targets operations personnel who support developers and test labs, developers who do not need a Visual Studio IDE, and IT professionals involved with evaluation and troubleshooting.

An activation method that requires devices to connect to a Microsoft-hosted activation service to complete the product activation process. See synonym MAK for in-depth entry.

Describes architectures where server hardware at a service provider is shared among multiple customers, but in such a way that customers cannot access each other’s data.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit provides the right to deploy new product versions that become available during the term of SA coverage.

Generally understood to mean anywhere other than the physical buildings an organization owns or leases to conduct its day-to-day business.

A set of service plans that combines Microsoft-hosted online services, such as Exchange Online e-mail, with User SLs (Subscription Licenses) to the Office suite and related software.

A set of features licensed through Office 365 Enterprise suites to reduce the volume of data lawyers must review during the discovery phase of a legal case.

An online service that augments the Exchange Online Protection service to provide additional protection against previously unknown malware, malicious URLs, and other types of threats.

An online service that reports on user activity and cross-team interactions to help identify process inefficiencies and bottlenecks, using data collected from Office 365 users. Renamed; see Microsoft MyAnalytics for in-depth entry.

Illustration summarizes Office 365 online services licensed by the E1, E3, and E5 suites for enterprises.

A suite of client applications for PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets licensed Per-User via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

An online service that provides secure Microsoft-hosted portals for viewing, sharing, discussing, and discovering an organization's Flash and HTML5 video content; licensed through Office 365 Enterprise suites.

Client application suite for Macs that enables document editing, communication, presentation, and related functions; licensed on the Desktop Applications License Model.

Applications for mobile devices that provide e-mail and access to Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Word documents on Android, iOS, and Windows 10 devices; some forms of use are free, some require User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

An online service that enables browser-based viewing and limited editing of Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Word documents; internal users licensed with User SLs or Office and SA.

Client application suite for Windows PCs that combines Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Skype for Business, and Word; licensed on the Desktop Applications License Model.

Client application suite for Windows PCs that combines Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word; licensed on the Desktop Applications License Model.

Flow chart illustrates the ways an organization can acquire the right for clients to access an Offices suite installed and running within server-based desktops.

A term generally used to describe Microsoft software installed and executed on a client device or server devoted to a customer’s use.

An Office 365-branded online service that delivers file storage, sharing, and synchronization; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

A subscription-based product offering with at least some critical component hosted in Microsoft’s data centers.

Predecessor to Online Services Terms, a repository for certain types of information specific to online service licenses acquired through volume licensing programs. See Online Services Terms (OST) for in-depth entry.

Software that manages computer hardware and allows other software (applications) to run on that hardware; running instances are called OSEs.

One of two main repositories of online services-related licensing information, with the other being the Product Terms. See Online Services Terms (OST) for in-depth entry.

Outlook client applications that allow users to access Exchange Server and Exchange Online and other systems for e-mail, contacts, calendars, tasks, and voicemail; in most cases licensed separately from the server application and online service.

Is a browser based-client included with Exchange Server and Exchange Online. Renamed Outlook on the Web; see Outlook client.

A legacy online service that allows consumers to search portions of a Web site, such as a knowledge base for solutions to service problems, and to chat with customer service agents; augments Dynamics CRM Server and Dynamics CRM Online. Succeded by Dynamics 365.

A license model used for SQL Server and a few other server-based applications; use of the product covered by purchasing a license for each physical core in a server or licenses based on the processing resources allocated to a Virtual OSE.

A license model used for older versions of SQL Server and a few other server-based applications; use of the product covered by purchasing a license for each physical processor in a server or licenses based on the processing resources allocated to a Virtual OSE.

An OSE (operating system environment) running on either a physical device or hardware partition; see OSE for more details.

Generally used to distinguish various SKUs within the Office 365 family of online services, with the predominant differences being technical features, price, and use rights for related on-premises products.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit provides a selection of prescriptive onsite consulting engagement types delivered by qualified Microsoft partners or Microsoft Consulting Services.

Describes scenarios where clients communicate with a server-based product or online service through an intermediary rather than directly. See synonym Multiplexing for in-depth entry.

A graphical development and runtime environment designed to allow non-programmers to create applications that can present data for viewing and editing on any type of client device and be easily deployed to users; licensed separately or as part of Office 365 Enterprise suites and Dynamics 365 offerings.

Generally understood to mean the physical buildings an organization owns or leases to conduct its day-to-day business.

A type of CAL (Client Access License) that covers access to certain advanced or niche server features. See synonym Additive CAL for in-depth entry.

A user who uses a licensed device more than 50% of the time in any 90-day period; has licensing implications for Office client applications and Windows client OSs.

Circuitry fabricated on a single physical chip that processes the instructions, mostly encoded in software, that drive a computing device.

Generally used to describe any on-premises or online service offering sold to customers.

A unique 25-character alphanumeric code required to complete activation of traditional on-premises products using KMS Activation, MAK Activation, and AD Activation

The main repository for rules governing product licenses acquired through volume licensing programs and by far the most frequently consulted licensing-related text.

Describes software and online services used to run an organization’s internal day-to-day operations, including disaster recovery and backup, but not for solutions development and test, problem diagnosis and resolution, demonstration, or evaluation.

Client application for Windows PCs that provides project management and project portfolio management; licensed Per-User via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Project Server, organized by high and low value benefits

Prior to July 2015, one of two main documents (the other being the Product List) that contained rules governing product licenses acquired through volume licensing programs; replaced by Product Terms but still valuable for researching rules for non-current product versions

Somewhat nebulously defined by the Product Terms as a client “device that is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by Customer or its Affiliates”; phrase is a factor in Roaming Rights.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) that allows authorized individuals to use Internet-connected devices to connect to the organization’s server-based desktops or desktop PCs. See synonym Remote Desktop Gateway for in-depth entry.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) used to assign virtual desktops to users, load the associated VMs (virtual machines) onto server hosts, and help users connect. See synonym Remote Desktop Virtualization Host for in-depth entry.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit lets customers use RDS User CALs to license access to session desktops hosted on service providers’ multitenant servers.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) used to assign virtual desktops to users, load the associated VMs (virtual machines) onto server hosts, and help users connect. See synonym Remote Desktop Virtualization Host for in-depth entry.

Term typically used to describe a customer’s right to overwrite a PC’s OEM-installed Windows client OS with a customized Windows Pro image built using installation media obtained through a volume licensing program.

Most often used to describe software that allows a client device to access a Windows-based desktop (OS, shell, desktop applications, user settings and preferences, etc.) hosted on a different device.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) that allows authorized individuals to use Internet-connected devices to connect to the organization’s server-based desktops or desktop PCs; licensed via RDS CALs and External Connectors.

A feature for hosting session desktops, formerly known as Terminal Services, that is built into Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) role; licensed via RDS CALs and External Connectors

Refers to the right for users, under certain circumstances, to use some other client device to connect to their Windows-licensed PC from across the Internet.

A Windows Server role that encrypts e-mails, files, and other content to prevent access by unauthorized users, including content moved to an unsecured file sharing service or shared by e-mail; See: RMS for a detailed entry.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit, associated with Office Professional Plus and other client products licensed Per-Device, sometimes permits users at unlicensed client devices to access server-based desktops running the product.

A subscription add-on for on-premises licenses that provides rights to new versions of the licensed software, use rights that provide the most cost effective way to enable specific usage scenarios (such as virtualization), and miscellaneous benefits of modest value.

A name often given to a CAL that covers access to the main features of a matching server-based product, but not to certain advanced or niche features. See synonym Standard CAL for in-depth entry.

Illustration summarizes the online services and features included with Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE) suites.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit permits certain on-premises server products to be used as components within a commercial hosted service.

A single data center or two data centers each physically located either in time zones not more than four hours apart or within the EU or EFTA.

The most common license model for server-based applications; generally requires at least one server-side license per physical server and CALs (Client Access Licenses) for users or client devices.

Used to distinguish various Azure branded offerings with differences including technical features, performance, capacity, and price. See synonym Tier for in-depth entry.

A type of server-based desktop architecture where multiple concurrent users share the same Windows Server instance running on a server.

An alternative to Office 365 Activation used to handle activation of Office 365-branded applications on devices shared by multiple users.

An Office 365-branded online service that delivers file sharing, team collaboration, corporate portal hosting, enterprise search, content management, Web-based reporting, and other functions based on the SharePoint Server software; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with SharePoint Server, organized by high and low value benefits

Online service delivering file storage, sharing, and synchronization. Name changed; see successor product OneDrive for Business for in-depth entry.

Client applications for desktop and mobile devices that provides access to Skype for Business Server and Skype for Business Online communications features; in most cases licensed separately from the server application and online service.

An online service that provides presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, and application sharing; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

A feature associated with Skype for Business Online that enables meeting attendees to call in to Skype for Business meetings when they are unable to attend online; users scheduling or hosting such meetings require a User SL.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Skype for Business Server, organized by high and low value benefits

An online service that allows organizations to monitor social networks and blogs for brand performance and engage with individuals who post comments; augments Dynamics CRM Server, Dynamics CRM Online, and Dynamics 365.

Microsoft code that customers install on hardware used by the organization, or within VMs (virtual machines) at a service provider such as Microsoft’s own Azure.

Offering that combines User SLs (Subscription Licenses) for Windows Enterprise, Office 365 Enterprise suites, and Enterprise Mobility + Security suites. See the in-depth entry Secure Productive Enterprise.

A Windows Server-based product that provides database management, data warehouse, business intelligence analysis and reporting, and integration services; licensed under various licensing models depending on version and edition.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with SQL Server, organized by high and low value benefits

Outlines major changes to SQL Server’s license model and rules, edition lineup, and pricing

Type of supplementary license used to convert a lower-level edition or plan license to a higher level

An image of software created by running a program’s associated setup procedure or duplicating an existing installed copy. See synonym install for in-depth entry.

A collection of related licenses for products sold together at a discount.

A Windows Server-based server application that provides source code control, project and build management, test execution, and centralized storage for collaborative software development; licensed under a somewhat modified Server/CAL License Model. See Visual Studio Team Foundation Server for in-depth entry.

An online service that provides a front-end interface for threaded chats and other information from Office 365 Groups; licensed as part of Office 365 Enterprise suites.

A Windows Server-based server application that provides source code control, project and build management, test execution, and centralized storage for collaborative software development; licensed under a somewhat modified Server/CAL License Model. See Visual Studio Team Foundation Server for in-depth entry.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit provides a selection of 1-5 day courses for IT pros and developers conducted at MS Learning partner locations.

This SA (Software Assurance) benefit provides the right to deploy new product versions that become available during the term of SA coverage. See synonym new version rights for in-depth entry.

Provides the right for an individual to use any device to access all running instances of a particular server-based product deployed by the customer’s organization.

Provides the (non-perpetual) right for a user to access a particular online service, server-based product, or Windows client OS, typically from any device.

Provides the (non-perpetual) right for a user to access a particular online service, server-based product, or Windows client OS, typically from any device. See synonym User SL for in-depth entry.

A Per-Device subscription license allowing a client device to be used by any user to access Windows Client OSs running within server-hosted virtual desktops, and to install and run Windows Enterprise locally on most Windows-capable devices.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is most often used to refer to virtual desktops running the Windows client OS in VMs (virtual machines); sometimes used more broadly to describe any server-based desktop architecture or infrastructure.

A form of substitution, whereby a customer owning a license for a specific version and edition of a product deploys an older version of the same (or equivalent) edition instead.

A unit of processing power allocated to a VM (virtual machine); sometimes relevant under the Per Core License Model.

A Per-Device or Per-User subscription that licenses access to Windows Client OSs running within server-hosted virtual desktops and in many cases also allows local use of Windows Enterprise on client devices. See VDA for in-depth entry.

Software component that emulates the CPU, memory, and other hardware of a computer; see VM for a detailed entry

Term for Visio Standard and Professional diagramming client applications that enable creation of business and technical diagrams; term also used in other contexts.

Client application for creating business and technical diagrams, such as flowcharts, organization charts, and office layouts; licensed Per-User via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

The brand name used for both fee-based and free application development tools and related on-premises and online services offerings used to design, develop, and test commercial and in-house applications.

Outlines major licensing, packaging, and pricing changes made to Visual Studio- and MSDN- branded offerings.

The functional equivalent of the Visual Studio Professional integrated development environment (IDE) offered for free but with usage restrictions that make it unsuitable for most midsize and large organizations’ purposes.

Licenses (mostly) non-production use of Microsoft products; targets developers requiring the most advanced debugging, diagnostics, testing, modeling, and lab management capabilities, and applications developers leveraging server-based software besides SQL Server. Renamed Apr. 2017; see Visual Studio Enterprise Subscription for in-depth entry.

An online service that provides source code control, build management, and other Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) functionality. See successor product Visual Studio Team Services for in-depth entry.

An integrated development environment (IDE) used to design, develop, debug, and test commercial and in-house applications, usually running in conjunction with Microsoft software or online services; licensed under the Developer Tools License Model.

Licenses non-production use of Microsoft products; targets developers who do not require the advanced debugging, diagnostics, testing, architecture and modeling, and lab management capabilities unique to the Visual Studio Enterprise IDE. Renamed Apr. 2017; see Visual Studio Professional Subscription for in-depth entry.

A free edition of Visual Studio Team Foundation Server, a Windows Server-based application lifecycle management tool for developers and testers, but with use limited to five or fewer users.

Licenses testing tools along with non-production use of a broad array of Microsoft software and online services; targets personnel involved with software test planning, authoring, execution, and tracking.

A discontinued MSDN offering targeting high-end development requiring the most advanced debugging and load and performance testing tools; replaced by Visual Studio Enterprise Subscription.

An OS (operating system) instance and applications that exhibits the behavior of a separate computer but does not require its own dedicated hardware to run.

Programs designed to make bulk purchases more practical and convenient for organizations that want to license Microsoft products for production purposes, as well as for development and testing of internal applications.

Refers to certain scenarios involving public-facing Windows Server-based websites licensed via volume licensing programs where client access is “free,” meaning neither Windows Server CALs (client access licenses) nor External Connectors are required.

General name for Windows operating system editions used by organizations on client PCs or within virtual desktops.

Outlines major modifications to the Windows client OS’s license model and rules, edition and SKU lineup, and other changes.

One of the two Windows client OS editions of interest to organization customers, with the lower-end Windows Pro edition missing a few features present in Enterprise.

Flowchart illustrates the ways an organization can acquire the right to install and run Windows Enterprise edition locally on an end-user’s PC or Mac.

A Per-User subscription that allows an individual user to install and run Windows Enterprise edition on most Windows-capable client devices as well as access a Windows Client OS running within server-hosted virtual desktops.

One of the two Windows client OS editions of interest to organization customers, with the higher-end Windows Enterprise edition providing a few additional features.

A Per-Device license providing the right to install and run on the PC (or Mac) the latest version of Windows Pro as of the time of license purchase.

Illustration outlines the technical features licensed by each of the three Windows Server-related CALs (Client Access Licenses) associated with versions 2016, 2012 R2, and 2012.

A Windows Server role that encrypts e-mails, files, and other types of content to prevent access by unauthorized users, including content moved to an unsecured file sharing service or shared by e-mail; See: RMS for a detailed entry.

Outlines major changes to Windows Server’s license model and rules, edition lineup, and pricing

A Windows client OS feature that enables running Windows Enterprise from portable media such as USB storage drives; licensed on a subscription basis through SA (Software Assurance) on Windows Enterprise Per Device licenses or through Windows Enterprise and VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) subscription licenses.

Word processor application available on client devices and platforms including Windows client OS, Mac, Android and iOS mobile devices, and Web browsers; typically licensed as part of an Office suite.