Azure Services Can Be Organized by Service Role

For its Azure services, Microsoft has defined a loose taxonomy consisting of three categories: User Plans, Infrastructure Plans, and Services. Understanding this taxonomy, and which category each Azure service falls into within it, can help an organization plan purchases, track usage, and comply with license terms. However, the taxonomy is evolving, and not all services are aligned with it.

Role, Licensing, Define Category

These categories of Azure services are outlined in the Product Terms, a Microsoft document that serves as the main repository for rules governing Microsoft product licenses acquired through volume licensing programs. The categories were introduced in Feb. 2017, and their definitions have shifted and changed throughout the year, indicating they are still in flux.

As of Aug. 2017, there are three categories:

Azure User Plans primarily include client-side infrastructure, management, and security, such as Azure Active Directory identity management and Azure Information Protection information encryption.