Azure customers receive special privileges for Windows Server hosting that are not available with third-party service providers.

Customers can bring their own Windows Server licenses to more service providers with a new licensing option.

Sidebar explains high-level licensing requirements to run Windows Server in VMs, regardless of host hypervisor.

Flowchart explains how to calculate the number of core licenses required for Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 Datacenter and Standard editions under the Core/CAL License Model.

Windows Server 2016 will license servers based on cores rather than processors, use technical features to differentiate between Datacenter and Standard editions, and introduce a new Software Assurance benefit related to Azure.

Windows Server 2016 will license servers based on cores rather than processors, use technical features to differentiate between Datacenter and Standard editions, and introduce a new Software Assurance benefit related to Azure