Chart shows five licensing scenarios for a 16-core host computer running Azure Stack HCI as the host OS and Windows Server as the guest OS.

Licensing the Azure Stack HCI OS in an Enterprise Agreement requires balancing cost, rights, and technical capabilities.

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.

Illustration shows the timeline of Office, Windows, and Office server versions as they leave support through 2025 and 2026.

A series of on-premises software will leave support in 2025 and 2026, pushing customers toward subscription-based software.

Chart shows end-of-support dates for versions of Office and Microsoft 365 Apps running on Windows Server.

Support for running most versions of Office applications on Windows Server will end by Oct. 2025, pushing organizations to Microsoft services for hosted session-based virtual desktops.

Chart explains three options for an EA customer to license Windows Server Datacenter edition for an Azure Stack HCI host.
Include aspect that I have licenses in the back office so save even more.

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