Updated: September 8, 2023 (September 8, 2023)

Microsoft 365 Apps OK for Amazon VDI

Rob Horwitz analyzes and writes about Microsoft licensing programs and product licensing rules. He also trains organizations on best Microsoft... more

Microsoft 365 customers who run Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise within Amazon Workspace deployments are no longer in violation of Microsoft licensing rules.
The decision reduces pressure on Amazon customers to adopt Microsoft’s own virtual desktop services, but Google and Alibaba customers do not benefit.

Microsoft 365 E3 & E5 customers who run Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise within Amazon Workspace virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployments are no longer in violation of Microsoft licensing rules.

Workspaces is an Amazon-hosted VDI, with the underlying servers dedicated to the specific customer.

Old rule. Customers were explicitly prohibited from running Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise within server-based desktops (including VDI) hosted at Amazon, Google, or Alibaba. The same rule applied to Visio Online Plan 2 and Project Plan 3/5. Microsoft rolled out these rules in Oct. 2019 as an incentive for customers to use Azure VDI instead.

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