A validation process built into a small number of the most popular Microsoft products that must be successfully completed for the software to function correctly.

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.

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).

A Windows Server role (often called “AD” or “Active Directory”) that provides authentication and access management for an organization’s users, computers, and groups, as well as limited product activation; licensed via Windows Server CALs (Client Access Licenses) and server-side licenses.

A Windows Server component that links user identities and their associated attributes across multiple identity management systems including Azure Active Directory; use covered by Windows Server licenses.

A subscription-based license that layers an online service, technical support offering, or special use rights on top of certain license(s) the customer already purchased.

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.

A feature associated with Skype for Business Online and Teams that enables meeting attendees to call in to meetings (via traditional telephone lines) when they are unable to attend online; users scheduling meetings with audio conferencing enabled require a User SL.

An activation method specific to Windows Enterprise when licensed Per-User; use is optional except in two specific scenarios. See synonym Windows 10 Subscription Activation for in-depth entry.

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit specific to core licenses for Windows Server and SQL Server that waives certain Azure-related fees for comparable workloads hosted in Azure.

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit specific to core licenses for Windows Server that can reduce the cost of running Windows Server-based Azure VMs by as much as 45%.

An online service that secures enterprise applications and services through a two-factor authentication process; licensed by User SLs or a consumption-based model.

An online service that encrypts e-mails, files, and other types of business content to prevent access by unauthorized users, including content moved to unsecured file sharing or shared by e-mail; licensed by User SLs (Subscription Licenses). Renamed; see Azure Information Protection for in-depth entry.

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.

Subscription providing the right for a user to access some subset of on-premises server products; used to “bridge” gaps between use rights included with traditional Core/Enterprise CAL Suites and use rights included with certain online service suites.

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

Illustration lists the CAL (client access license) and Client ML (Management License) subscriptions included with Office 365 Enterprise suites, Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) suites, Microsoft 365 Enterprise suites, and Intune.

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.

An online service that monitors and controls access across multiple Microsoft and third-party hosted online services; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

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.

An independent processing unit contained on a physical processor chip.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with the Core CAL Suite, organized by high and low value benefits

Combines server-side licenses and SA (Software Assurance) for equivalent editions of Windows Server and System Center; licensed Per-Core.

Outlines major changes to the Core Infrastructure Server Suite’s license model and rules, edition lineup, 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 model offered for the Windows client OS (Windows 10) and for Windows Server (version 2016) that delivered feature updates to a computer as often as two to three times a year; replaced by SAC (Semi-Annual Channel) model.

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 is not misused, for example, forwarded or sent outside an organization via e-mail and document sharing.

A broad brand for social networking and document discovery features in Office 365; 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 online services and on-premises products that provide customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality.

A Windows Server-based server application, formerly called Dynamics AX Server, that delivers enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities, tailored for multinational midmarket organizations; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model and listed in the Product Terms under Dynamics 365 On-Premises.

On-premises server software, Dynamics 365 Server and Dynamics 365 for Operations Server, that deliver customer relationship management (CRM), sales management, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model.

Set of online services that provide customer relationship management (CRM), sales management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), retail, and human resources (HR) functionality; packaged as Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Dynamics 365 Unified Operations and licensed primarily via User SLs.

A Windows Server-based server application, previously called Dynamics CRM Server, that delivers customer relationship management (CRM), sales, and service capabilities; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model and grouped under the Dynamics 365 On-Premises packaging.

Online service providing enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality previously packaged in Dynamics AX Online; licensed primarily via User SLs (Subscription Licenses) and Device SLs.

A legacy Windows Server-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform tailored for multinational midmarket organizations; primarily licensed under the Server/CAL License Model. The application’s successor is Dynamics 365 for Operations Server, which is included under the category of Dynamics 365 On-Premises.

The previous name for Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement, an online service that delivers customer relationship management, sales, and service capabilities; licensed primarily via User SLs (Subscription Licenses); now packaged as part of Dynamics 365 Online.

A now defunct SA (Software Assurance) benefit that provided self-paced online courses targeted at end users and IT professionals; replaced by free offerings branded “Microsoft Learn.”

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 the various Add-on options for the Enterprise Mobility + Security suites, including their prerequisites and contents.

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. Renamed; see Enterprise Mobility + Security for in-depth entry.

An online service that filters incoming and outgoing e-mail for malware and spam, is included as a built-in feature of Exchange Online, and is available for Exchange Server installations. See Exchange Online Protection (EOP) for in-depth entry.

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.

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. Renamed; see Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection for in-depth entry.

An online service that filters incoming and outgoing e-mail for malware and spam, is included as a built-in feature of Exchange Online, and is available for Exchange Server installations.

Illustration outlines the technical features licensed by the Exchange Server Standard CAL (Client Access License) and Enterprise CAL; covers versions 2013 through 2019.

Outlines major licensing and packaging changes to Exchange Server.

Support offering that provides security updates and bulletins for versions 2008 and 2008 R2 of SQL Server and Windows Server, as well as for Windows 7 Enterprise and Professional, for three years after these product versions leave Extended Support.

An individual who is neither an employee of the licensed organization nor a contractor or agent working on the organization’s physical premises.

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.

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 special class of subscription-based licenses that provide EA (Enterprise Agreement) customers a 10-20% discount if they already own related on-premises licenses covered by SA (Software Assurance).

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.

Provides the legal right to install, run, access, or otherwise interact with a product.

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

A SA (Software Assurance) benefit, offered for most server applications, that allows server-side licenses to be reassigned to cover workloads running on a service provider's multitenant servers, including Microsoft's own Azure.

Determines how a customer is charged for use of a Microsoft product by defining a set of license types, which devices or users require them, and under what circumstances.

Lists all the tables 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 model offered for Windows client OS, Windows Server, and most System Center products, that allows customers to defer feature upgrades for up to ten years while keeping computers eligible for product support. See LTSC for in-depth entry.

The Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) is a type of servicing model offered for Windows client OS, Windows Server, and most System Center products, that allows customers to defer feature upgrades for up to ten years while keeping computers eligible for product support.

An online service that provided presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, and application sharing. Name changed; see successor product Skype for Business Online for in-depth entry.

Multiple Activation Key (MAK), one of several available activation methods, requires devices to connect to a Microsoft-hosted activation service to complete the product activation process

Technology that manages BitLocker, Microsoft's full disk encryption technology; licensed with MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack). See BitLocker Administration and Monitoring for a detailed entry.

Technology that enables organizations to centrally define and distribute VMs (virtual machines) to PCs; licensed with MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack). See Enterprise Desktop Virtualization for a detailed entry.

Illustration summarizes the various Microsoft 365 Enterprise Suite Add-on options, including their prerequisites and contents.

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 legal- and regulatory-related features that augment core compliance capabilities built into Office 365 services; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

An online service that provides threat detection, application control, and usage discovery to organizations using Office 365; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

An online service designed to help users increase their productivity by better understanding how they spend their work time within Office 365. Renamed; see MyAnalytics for in-depth entry.

Illustration summarizes the various Add-on options for the Office 365 Enterprise suites, including their prerequisites and contents.

An online service that combines group membership with collaboration spaces for discussions and data sharing among Office 365 users; predominantly licensed through Office 365 Enterprise suites.

Frequently updated technical documents outlining features in Office 365 Enterprise and their constituent online services.

An online service that provides secure Microsoft-hosted portals for viewing, sharing, discussing, and discovering an organization's 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, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word; licensed on the Desktop Applications License Model.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with Office suites, Visio, and Project; organized by high and low value benefits

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.

One of two main repositories of online services-related licensing information, with the other being the Product Terms

An operating system instance running on either a physical device, VM (virtual machine), or hardware partition; see synonym OSE for a detailed 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.

Client applications for accessing Exchange Online and Exchange Server and other systems for e-mail, contacts, calendars, tasks, and voicemail; most commonly licensed as part of various Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites.

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

Refers to a secondary system that remains inactive (“passive”) until it takes over when a primary system fails or is taken out of service; for some server products the passive fail-over system does not need to be licensed.

Flowchart explains how to calculate the number of core licenses required for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise and Standard editions under the Per Core License Model

Describes a license that allows a customer to use the associated software in perpetuity.

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.

Label for back-end report repositories, report design tools, and client interfaces and applications used to create and share reports, dashboards, and other forms of business intelligence; licensed through User SL (Subscription Licenses) and capacity-based licenses.

Power BI Embedded, retired on June 30, 2018, was a hosted service designed for sharing read-only reports with external users via Web sites and applications.

An online service for publishing, distributing, and rendering reports; licensed primarily on a per-user basis.

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 Online 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.

An online service and a Windows desktop application for managing project schedules and resource data, reporting time and status, and analyzing an organization's projects; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).

Higher end edition of Windows client application for managing complex projects; integrates with Project Server and Project Online and is licensed Per-Device under the Desktop Applications License Model.

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

Client applications for Windows PCs that provides project management and project portfolio management; licensed on the Desktop Applications License Model.

OS types, versions, and editions eligible for upgrade via Windows Pro Upgrade and Windows Enterprise Per Device licenses purchased through volume licensing programs.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) that maps a user’s remote connection request to the appropriate session desktop or virtual desktop hosted on a server. See synonym Remote Desktop Connection Broker for in-depth entry.

A feature for hosting session desktops, formerly known as Terminal Services, that is built into Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) component. See synonym Remote Desktop Session Host for in-depth entry.

This Windows Server role (previously called Terminal Services) allows users to interact over a network with session desktops and virtual desktops (sometimes called VDI), the two types of server-based desktop architectures; licensed with its own unique CAL (Client Access License).

A feature for hosting session desktops, formerly known as Terminal Services, that is built into Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) component. See synonym Remote Desktop Session Host for in-depth entry.

The ability to move a product license between devices or users after the license has already been assigned.

Refers to the right for users, under certain circumstances, to use some other client device to connect to their Windows client OS-licensed PC through the Internet. See synonym Remote use for in-depth entry.

A feature of Windows Server’s RDS (Remote Desktop Services) that maps a user’s remote connection request to the appropriate session desktop or virtual desktop hosted on a server; licensed via RDS CALs and External Connectors

A Windows Server role (previously called Terminal Services) that allows users to interact over a network with session desktops and virtual desktops (sometimes called VDI), the two types of server-based desktop architectures. See synonym RDS 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; licensed via RDS CALs and External Connectors.

A feature of RDS (Remote Desktop Services) that allows Windows client applications running on a Windows Server machine to interact with a user’s local desktop in a manner that is almost indistinguishable from locally installed applications.

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; licensed by Windows Server Additive CALs (Client Access Licenses).

Software loaded into memory and executing. See synonym instance for in-depth entry.

Some form of special use right, rule exception, or other item of value bundled as part of SA (Software Assurance).

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.

A Web-based console licensed by Office 365 Enterprise suites for managing security and compliance-related functions, such as data loss prevention, eDiscovery, and retention; licensed as part of Office 365 Enterprise suites.

A product servicing model promising to deliver two new versions per year, each supported for approximately 18 months; use of these versions require active SA (Software Assurance) coverage on a preexisting perpetual license, or an ongoing subscription license. SeeSAC for in-depth entry.

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.

Architectures that allow a wide variety of client devices to display Windows client applications and OS user interface without having to install and run Windows-based applications or OSEs (Operating System environments) locally.

Organization that offers its customers access to services built (at least in part) on Microsoft software; often requires special licensing via a SPLA (Services Provider License Agreement]].

Used to describe a schedule for how frequently new versions of on-premises product software will be released and how long they will be supported.

Shorthand for Skype for Business, on-premises and online services products providing presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, and application sharing capabilities. See Skype for Business Server and Skype for Business Online for in-depth entries.

A discontinued server application based on SharePoint Server that delivered file sharing and team collaboration for small organizations and was licensed free with Windows Server.

A Windows Server-based server application that delivers file sharing, team collaboration, corporate portal hosting, enterprise search, content management, Web-based reporting, and other collaboration features; licensed under the Server/CAL License Model.

A SKU (stock keeping unit) uniquely identifies a specific type of license for a Microsoft product.

Microsoft’s family of on-premises server, online services, and clients that provide presence, instant messaging (IM), voice and video, application sharing, and telephony capabilities.

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

A service that augments Phone System by providing domestic and international calling minutes; licensed via its own separate User SL. Renamed; see Calling Plan for in-depth entry.

Used to pay for telephony-related services not covered by Phone System or Audio Conferencing User SLs. Renamed; see Communication Credits for in-depth entry.

Illustration outlines the technical features licensed by the Skype for Business Server Standard, Enterprise, and Plus CALs (Client Access Licenses).

A service that augments Skype for Business Online or Skype for Business Server by providing support for large meetings with up to 10,000 internal and external attendees; licensed via Office 365 Enterprise suites.

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.

Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE) combined User SLs (Subscription Licenses) for Windows Enterprise, Office 365 Enterprise suites, and Enterprise Mobility + Security suites. Renamed; see Microsoft 365 Enterprise.

A server-based product that provides database management, integration services, reporting (including Power BI Report Server), analysis services, and machine learning components; 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

A name often given to a CAL that covers access to the main features of a matching server product, but not to certain advanced or niche features.

A stock keeping unit uniquely identifies a specific type of license for a Microsoft product. See synonym SKU for in-depth entry.

A relatively new video-hosting and -sharing online service set to eventually replace Office 365 Video; mainly licensed through Office 365 Enterprise suites.

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

A family of on-premises management and security products use for computer configuration, monitoring, virtualization, backup, software deployment and installation, and other administrative tasks; licensed under the Management Servers License Model.

A Windows Server-based management application that automates software deployment and patching, hardware and software inventorying, and compliance with configuration policies; licensed under the Management Servers License Model via System Center Server MLs and Client MLs.

Protects Windows Server, Windows client OS, macOS, and Linux computers against viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, and spyware; licensed under the Management Servers License Model via System Center Server MLs and client User SLs (Subscription Licenses) or Device SLs

A Windows Server-based management application that monitors hardware, OS, and apps, and automatically takes corrective action or helps identify the root cause of a problem; licensed under the Management Servers License Model via System Center Server MLs and Client MLs.

Summary of SA (Software Assurance) benefits associated with System Center products, organized by high and low value benefits

Outlines major changes to System Center’s license model and rules, edition lineup, and pricing

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 group-based collaboration spaces by bringing together features from multiple Office 365 services into an integrated user experience; 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

A line of software and online services for creating and sharing business and technical diagrams, such as network diagrams and office layouts.

Tool for viewing and creating business and technical diagrams, such as flowcharts, organization charts, and office layouts; delivered as both a browser-based and Windows-based application and licensed via User SLs. Renamed; see Visio Online (Plan 2) for in-depth entry.

Lower end edition of Windows client application for viewing, creating, and modifying business and technical diagrams; licensed Per-Device under the Desktop Applications License Model.

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.

A family of three free development tools, each providing a subset of Visual Studio Professional functionality; being phased out with Microsoft recommending use of Visual Studio Community instead.

A discontinued MSDN offering targeting high-end development; replaced by Visual Studio Enterprise Subscription.

Licenses non-production use of a broad array 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.

Windows Server-based server software that provides source code control, project and build management, test execution, and centralized storage for collaborative application development; licensed under a somewhat modified Server/CAL License Model.

An online service that provides source code control, build management, and other Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) functionality; limited use is free, otherwise requires Per User subscriptions and monthly consumption-based fees.

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. Renamed Apr. 2017; see Visual Studio Test Professional Subscription for in-depth entry.

Illustration compares development and test tools, OSs, application software, online services, and other benefits included with editions of Visual Studio with MSDN.

Allows administrators to monitor products activated with AD Activation, KMS (Key Management Service), or MAK (Multiple Activation Key).

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

Microsoft’s family of OS (operating system) offerings, specifically Windows Server for server hardware, and Windows client OSs for PCs, tablets, and other client devices.

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.

The highest (most feature-laden) edition of the Windows client OS; distributed exclusively through volume licensing programs with both Per-Device and Per-User licensing options available.

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.

Table compares use rights and rules for a Windows Enterprise User SL (Subscription License) and a VDA User SL purchased via an EA (Enterprise Agreement), Select Plus contract, or MPSA (Microsoft Product and Services Agreement)

An edition of Windows 10 designed for compute-intensive workloads that sits between Windows Pro and Windows Enterprise in the edition line-up; distributed exclusively through retail and OEM channels.

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 2019, 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 via Windows Enterprise and VDA (Virtual Desktop Access) 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.

An online service designed to help organizations improve overall productivity by analyzing how employees spend their time; licensed via User SLs (Subscription Licenses).