Server Subscriptions via MCA

Server software subscriptions are purchased exclusively through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program via a Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) and are available for Windows Server, SQL Server, and System Center and in addition for Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs) and Remote Desktop Services User CALs.

Software subscriptions are available for one-year or three-year terms and include many (but not all) Software Assurance (SA) equivalent rights. Most subscriptions have version upgrade rights, but other SA-related rights differ for each software product. Windows Server and SQL Server Subscriptions for Azure provide Azure Hybrid Benefit use rights (hence “for Azure” in the name), enabling eligible server licenses to be assigned to Azure-based workloads. MCA server subscriptions are marketed to be combined with one- and three-year Azure Reserved VM Instances but can be applied to servers on-premises. Additionally, subscription licenses can be assigned to workloads running on multitenant hardware at Authorized Outsourcers (which include CSPs but excludes Amazon, Google and Alibaba) using Flexible Virtualization Benefit.