A – D

A

Active Directory Rights Management Services: AD RMS can be used to protect documents using information rights management (IRM) which allows a user to attach access permissions to a particular document which can prevent it from being opened, forwarded or printed by unauthorized people, for example. Learn about licensing Active Directory Rights Management Services here. 

Additive CAL: A CAL that must be used in conjunction with a Base CAL. Learn about the licensing of Additive CALs for Windows Server RDS and Windows Server AD RMS. 

Add-on licenses: A license for which there is a prerequisite, where you need a qualifying license to be eligible to purchase it. Learn about Add-on licenses here. 

Advanced Communications: The precursor to Teams Premium.

Advanced Threat Analytics: Security technology which uses machine learning to learn what’s normal behavior for users and devices so that it can identify suspicious behavior which may indicate a malicious attack. Learn about licensing Advanced Threat Analytics here.

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): See Azure Advanced Threat Protection, Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, or Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection. 

AD RMS: Active Directory Rights Management Services.

Advisor: See Azure Advisor.

Affiliate: A legal entity buying under another organization’s Volume Licensing agreement. Learn about affiliates for the Enterprise Agreement, MPSA, and the Open Programs.

AHB: Azure Hybrid Benefit.

AHUB: Azure Hybrid Use Benefit – the original name for the Azure Hybrid Benefit.

AI Builder: A tool to help you to create intelligent apps that can learn from data and make decisions. Learn about the licensing of AI Builder here.

ATP: Advanced Threat Protection.

Attach licenses: In a Dynamics 365 solution, a user is licensed for the first app with a Base license, and for subsequent apps with Attach licenses. Learn about Base and Attach licenses for the CRM apps and for the ERP apps.

Audio Conferencing: Functionality that enables users to dial into Teams meetings from a mobile or landline phone. Learn about licensing Audio Conferencing here. 

Authorized Mobility partner: A partner who can receive licenses which are eligible for the License Mobility through SA benefit. Learn about licensing with Authorized Mobility partners here. 

Authorized Outsourcer: Any hosting partner that is not one of the Listed Providers. Learn about licensing with Authorized Outsourcers here.

AVD: Azure Virtual Desktop.

AX 2012 R3 Server: The precursor to Dynamics 365 for Operations Server.

Azure: Microsoft’s cloud services. Learn about the licensing of Azure here, and how to buy it through CSP, the EA, the Open programs, and the MCA-E.

Azure Active Directory: The previous name for Microsoft Entra ID. 

Azure AD: Azure Active Directory.

Azure Advanced Threat Protection: The previous name for Microsoft Defender for Identity. 

Azure Advisor: A tool that analyzes Azure resource configuration and usage telemetry and then recommends solutions that can help a customer improve (among other things) the cost effectiveness of the Azure resources. Learn more about the Azure Advisor here.  

Azure Arc: Extends the Azure platform to manage resources beyond Azure itself, allowing you to manage and govern resources across data centers, at the edge, and in multicloud environments. Learn about Azure Arc ESUs for Windows Server 2012/R2, SQL Server 2012 and SQL Server 2014. 

Azure ATP: Azure Advanced Threat Protection. 

Azure Calculator: See Azure Pricing Calculator.

Azure consumption services: The majority of the Azure services are sold on a consumption basis where customers pay in arrears for the services they have used. Learn about the licensing of the consumption services here.

Azure Cost Management: The previous name of Microsoft Cost Management.

Azure Data Box Edge: The previous name of Azure Stack Edge.

Azure Dedicated Host: An Azure service that provides physical servers, able to host one or more Azure virtual machines for Windows or Linux, which are dedicated to a single organization and their workloads. Learn about the licensing of Azure Dedicated Host here.

Azure DevOps: The online Application Lifecycle Management solution part of the developer tools. Learn about licensing Azure DevOps here.

Azure DevOps Server: The on-premises Application Lifecycle Management solution part of the developer tools. Learn about licensing Azure DevOps Server here.

Azure Enterprise Portal: When Azure was first made available in the Enterprise Agreement customers used the Azure Enterprise Portal to track usage and spend of the Azure consumption services. Learn more about the Azure Enterprise Portal here.

Azure Hybrid Benefit: benefit that allows customers to take eligible licenses to Azure. Learn about the Azure Hybrid Benefit with Windows Server and SQL Server. 

Azure Hybrid Use Benefit: The original name for the Azure Hybrid Benefit.

Azure Local: The evolution of the Azure Stack solutions, enabled by Azure Arc. Azure Stack HCI was renamed to Azure Local – learn about its licensing here.

Azure Management Group: A collection of a specific group of Azure Subscriptions. Learn more about Azure Management Groups here.

Azure Management Portal: The portal at https://portal.azure.com/ used by technical staff to set up resources such as virtual machines, and by financial users to track usage and spend. Learn more here.

Azure Marketplace: Where Microsoft and partners sell solutions that are built on Azure. Learn more about licensing via Azure Marketplace here.

Azure Prepayment: An upfront payment for Azure services. As the consumption services are used, the relevant amount is decremented from this Azure Prepayment amount each month. Learn about Azure Prepayment in an Enterprise Enrollment and the Open programs.

Azure Pricing Calculator: A tool to help customers to estimate the cost of a solution based on the Azure services. Learn more here.

Azure quotas: Many Azure services have quotas, which are maximums for the resources that may be created within a Subscription. Learn about Azure quotas here. 

Azure Reservation: A Reservation is a way of making a duration-based commitment to one of the Azure services to get attractive pricing. Learn more about how Azure Reservations generally work here, and find specific information on Reservations for Azure Dedicated Host, Reserved Instances, Azure SQL Reserved Capacity, and SUSE Linux Software Plans.

Azure Resource Group: A group of resources within an Azure Subscription. Learn more about Azure Resource Groups here.

Azure Savings Plans: A way of making a duration-based commitment to the Azure compute services running in any Azure data center to get attractive pricing. Learn more about licensing with Azure Savings Plans here.

Azure Sentinel: The former name of Microsoft Sentinel.

Azure Spot virtual machine: A type of virtual machine which takes advantage of special pricing when Microsoft has spare capacity for a particular virtual machine type. Learn more about licensing Azure Spot virtual machines here.

Azure SQL: The term Microsoft uses to group together the options that customers have for running SQL Server in Azure. Learn about licensing SQL Server virtual machines (IaaS solutions) and licensing SQL Server PaaS solutions.

Azure Stack: The previous name of Azure Stack Hub. See also Azure Stack solutions.

Azure Stack Edge: A solution that enables customers to run edge-computing workloads on an Azure managed appliance. Learn about the licensing of Azure Stack Edge here.

Azure Stack HCI: A hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) cluster solution that hosts virtualized Windows and Linux workloads and their storage. It was renamed to Azure Local – learn about its licensing here.

Azure Stack Hub: Sold as an integrated hardware system, with software preinstalled on validated hardware. It includes a (small) subset of the Azure services giving customers an autonomous cloud that they can run completely or partially disconnected from the internet and the public cloud. Learn about the licensing of Azure Stack Hub here.

Azure Stack solutions: Solutions that enable customers to extend the Azure services and capabilities to their own environments, whether that’s a data center, an edge location, or a remote office. There are three members of the Azure Stack family: learn about licensing Azure Stack Edge, Azure Stack HCI (renamed to Azure Local), and Azure Stack Hub. 

Azure Subscriptions: Containers to which resources are assigned as they are created. Learn about the structure of an Azure Subscription here.

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): A service in Azure that allows customers to take advantage of a secure remote virtual desktop and app experience, enabling them to deliver virtual desktops to their users or to stream the Office applications. Learn about licensing Azure Virtual Desktop here.

B

Base CAL: A CAL that an Additive CAL must always be purchased with. Learn about the licensing of Windows Server 2025 Base CALs here. 

Base licenses: In a Dynamics 365 solution, a user is licensed for the first app with a Base license, and for subsequent apps with Attach licenses. Learn about Base and Attach licenses for the CRM apps and for the ERP apps.

Bing Chat: The former name of Copilot without commercial data protection.

Bing Chat Enterprise: The former name of Copilot with commercial data protection. 

Bing Image Creator: The former name of Microsoft Designer.

BizChat: See Business Chat.

BizTalk Server: Software that enables companies to automate business processes using adapters which can communicate with and connect the different software systems used in an enterprise. Learn about licensing BizTalk Server here.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): When employees use their own devices at work, often with an organizational virtual desktop. Learn about licensing virtual desktops here.

Bring Your Own License (BYOL): When organizations use their licenses with partners’ hardware or on Azure. Learn about the different BYOL licensing models: Azure Hybrid Benefit, Flexible Virtualization Benefit, and License Mobility through Software Assurance

Business Chat (BizChat): The Microsoft 365 Copilot chat interface that provides answers from both the web and Microsoft Graph. Learn about licensing Microsoft 365 Copilot here. 

Business Cloud: The former name of the GitHub Enterprise Cloud online service. Learn about licensing GitHub Enterprise here.

BYOD: Bring Your Own Device.

BYOL: Bring Your Own License.

C

CACD: Common Area Communications Device.

CAL: Client Access License.

CAL equivalent license: A user Subscription License for an Online Services product that also includes rights to access licensed on-premises servers. Learn about CAL equivalent licenses for Office 365, Microsoft 365 and EMS.

CAL Suite: A convenient and cost-effective way of buying CALs. Learn about the licensing of the Core CAL Suite and the Enterprise CAL Suite.

Calling Plan: A way of paying for calling minutes which enable users to call phone numbers outside their organization, essentially making Microsoft their telecoms provider. Learn more about licensing Calling Plans here.

CAP: Common Area Phone.

Capacity Reservations: A way of reserving virtual machine capacity in a particular Azure data center. Learn more about licensing with Capacity Reservations here.

Capacity Unit (CU): The unit of purchase for Microsoft Fabric.

CDS: Common Data Service.

CIS suites: Core Infrastructure Server suites.

Client Access License (CAL): A license assigned to a user or device to allow access to the services of a server. Learn about CALs for Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server and Exchange Server. 

Client Management License (CML): A license assigned to a user or device to allow management by System Center. Learn about licensing with System Center CMLs here.

Client operating system: An operating system that runs on a client or desktop computer. Microsoft’s client operating system is Windows 11. Learn about licensing Windows 11 (Device) here and Windows 11 (User) here.

Cloud flow: Digital Process Automation (DPA) in Power Automate enabling users to automate processes which are triggered either automatically, instantly, or via a schedule. Learn about licensing cloud flows in Power Automate here.

Cloud PBX: The previous name of the Phone System license.

Cloud Solution Provider program: A program designed to enable partners to sell licenses for Microsoft products, along with their own services, to customers. Learn about CSP and on-premises software, Online Services (legacy/NCE) and Azure.

Cloudyn: The precursor to Azure Cost Management, retired on June 30, 2021.

CML: Client Management License.

CML equivalent license: A user Subscription License for an Online Services product that also include rights to access licensed on-premises servers. Learn about CML equivalent licenses for Microsoft 365 and EMS here.

Common Area Communications Device (CACD): A Teams device placed in a shared space that anyone can use without logging in. Examples include Common Area Phones, Teams Displays, and Teams Panels. Learn about licensing Teams devices here.

Common Area Phone: A phone used by any user in a shared space, and the previous name for the Teams Shared Devices license.

Common Data Service (CDS): The former name of Dataverse.

Communication Credits: A method for paying for calling minutes used in various scenarios, including toll-free calls on Teams meeting invites or when the monthly minute capacity from a Calling Plan is exhausted. Learn about licensing Communication Credits here.

Companion Subscription License (CSL): A license that was available to allow users using a Windows 8 licensed device to access a VDI desktop on additional devices. Learn about VDI licensing with Windows 11 here. 

Configuration Manager: See Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager. 

Constrained core virtual machine: Special virtual machines available in Azure where the virtual core count is constrained; this reduces the cost of the software licensing, while maintaining the same memory, storage, and I/O bandwidth. Learn about licensing constrained core virtual machines here.

Container: An alternative environment to running products in a virtual machine. Learn about licensing Windows Server and SQL Server for containers.

Conversation Intelligence: Part of the Dynamics 365 Sales Insights capabilities.

Copilot: Microsoft’s AI assistant which helps users to (for example) find information, ask questions, and generate new content through a chat-based interface. Learn about licensing Copilot here.

Copilot Agents: A way of adding new knowledge and skills to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Learn about licensing Microsoft 365 Copilot here.

Copilot for Finance: The former name of Microsoft 365 Copilot for Finance.

Copilot for Microsoft 365: The former name of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Copilot for Sales: The former name of Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales.

Copilot for Security: An AI-powered security solution that helps increase the efficiency and capabilities of security professionals. Learn about the licensing of Copilot for Security here.

Copilot for Service: The former name of Microsoft 365 Copilot for Service.

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Service: An AI assistant included in eligible Dynamics 365 Customer Service licenses. Learn about licensing Copilot in Dynamics 365 Customer Service here.

Copilot in Dynamics 365 Sales: An AI assistant included in eligible Dynamics 365 Sales licenses. Learn about licensing Copilot in Dynamics 365 Sales here. 

Copilot Lab: The former name of Copilot Prompt Gallery.

Copilot Pages: A place for users to collaborate with each other and Copilot. Learn about licensing Copilot here.

Copilot Pro: See Microsoft Copilot Pro. 

Copilot Prompt Gallery: A set of resources to help you get started with Copilot.

Copilot Studio: A low-code tool for building standalone copilots and customizing Microsoft 365 Copilot. Learn about the licensing of Copilot Studio here.

Copilot Studio in Microsoft 365 Copilot: Not a product, but the name for the use rights included in a Microsoft 365 Copilot license that allow you to customize Microsoft 365 Copilot using Copilot Studio. Learn about licensing Microsoft 365 Copilot here.

Copilot with commercial data protection: Use of Copilot where both user and organizational data is protected. Learn about licensing Copilot with commercial data protection here.

Copilot with Graph-grounded chat: The former name of Business Chat (BizChat).

Copilot without commercial data protection: Use of Copilot without protection of user and organizational data. Learn about licensing Copilot with commercial data protection here.

Core CAL Suite: A way of buying six useful CALs together. Learn about the licensing of the Core CAL Suite here.

Core Infrastructure Server (CIS) suites: A way of buying licenses for both Windows Server 2025 and System Center 2025, available in Standard and Datacenter editions. Learn about Core Infrastructure Server suites licensing here.

Coterminous: When multiple subscriptions or terms align, reaching the end/renewal date at the same time.

CRM: Customer Relationship Management.

CRM Online: The precursor to the Dynamics 365 CRM apps.

CRM Server 2016: The precursor to Dynamics 365 Server.

CSL: Companion Subscription License.

CSP: Cloud Solution Provider program.

CSP-H program: CSP-Hoster program.

CSP-Hoster (CSP-H) program: A program to enable hosting partners to build and manage solutions based on Microsoft software. Learn about licensing CSP-Hoster solutions here.

CU: Capacity Unit.

Current Branch: A release cadence which provides feature updates several times a year. Learn about the Current Branch for System Center.

Customer Engagement Plan: See Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Plan.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Technology used to manage interactions with customers and potential customers. The Dynamics 365 CRM apps give users working in different functional areas of the business software specific to their roles.

Customer Service Hub: An app available to use in a desktop browser or on a mobile device for managing knowledge articles and case management. Learn about the licensing of Customer Service Hub here.

Customer Service Insights: Functionality in the Dynamics 365 Customer Service solution that gives agents and customer service managers (for example) insights into customer satisfaction-boosting analytics. Learn about the licensing of Customer Service Insights here.

CustomerSource: A retired SA benefit giving self-help resources for Dynamics users. Learn about CustomerSource here.

D

D365: Dynamics 365.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Technology that enforces compliance requirements for sensitive data. Learn about licensing Data Loss Prevention here.

Data Protection Manager (DPM): A Microsoft backup and recovery solution, part of the System Center management products. Learn about Data Protection Manager licensing here.

Dataverse: Where you securely store and manage data that’s used by the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform products. Learn about Dataverse capacity licensing here.

Dedicated hardware: Hardware that is dedicated to the use of a single customer. Learn about licensing dedicated hardware for Windows Server, SQL Server and other server applications.

Defender: See Microsoft Defender.

Designer in Copilot: See Microsoft Designer.

Desktop flow: Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Power Automate enabling users to automate repetitive desktop processes. Learn about licensing desktop flows in Power Automate here. 

Developer tools: Microsoft’s developer tools are Visual Studio, Azure DevOps Server and Azure DevOps. Learn about the licensing of Visual Studio, Azure DevOps Server and Azure DevOps.

Device CAL: A CAL assigned to a device to allow access to the services of a server. Learn about Windows Server Device CALs. 

DevOps: See Azure DevOps.

DevOps Server: See Azure DevOps Server.

Dev/Test pricing: Special pricing for Azure services which are only used for Dev/Test workloads. Learn about Dev/Test pricing here.

Dev/Test Subscriptions: An Azure Subscription used for Dev/Test workloads with discounted rates on some of the Azure services. Learn about Dev/Test Subscriptions here.

Digital Process Automation (DPA): In the context of Power Automate, the facility to create cloud flows to automate processes which are triggered either automatically, instantly, or via a schedule. Learn about licensing cloud flows in Power Automate here.

DLP: Data Loss Prevention.

Down-edition rights: Rights allowing you to install a lower edition of a product. Learn about down-edition rights for Windows Server 2025, SQL Server 2022 and Office LTSC 2024. 

Downgrade rights: Rights allowing you to install an earlier version of a product. Learn about downgrade rights for Windows Server 2025, SQL Server 2022 and Office LTSC 2024. 

DPA: Digital Process Automation.

DPM: Data Protection Manager.

Dual access rights: Rights granted with a user Subscription License for an Online Services product that allows users to access licensed on-premises servers. Learn about dual access rights for Office 365, Microsoft 365 and EMS.

Dynamics 365: A collection of CRM and ERP applications.

Dynamics 365 Business Central: An online ERP solution aimed at smaller businesses helping them to automate and streamline their business processes. Learn about licensing Dynamics 365 Business Central here.

Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises: An on-premises ERP solution aimed at smaller businesses helping them to automate and streamline their business processes.

Dynamics 365 Commerce: One of the Dynamics 365 ERP apps to license, for example, users who work in the headquarters of a retail operation. Learn about licensing Dynamics 365 Commerce here.

Dynamics 365 CRM apps: Sales, Customer Service and Field Service apps.

Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Plan: The former way of buying licenses for the Dynamics 365 Sales, Field Service, Customer Service, and Project Service Automation apps. This was retired by Microsoft in October 2019. Learn about the licensing of the Dynamics 365 CRM apps here.

Dynamics 365 Customer Service: One of the Dynamics 365 CRM apps to license, for example, a Customer Service Rep managing cases. Learn more about licensing Dynamics 365 Customer Service here. 

Dynamics 365 Customer Voice: Part of the Dynamics 365 CRM apps solutions enabling you to capture and analyze customer feedback. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Customer Voice here. 

Dynamics 365 Electronic Invoicing: Enables organizations to create, process, and exchange invoices digitally. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Electronic Invoicing here.

Dynamics 365 ERP apps: Commerce, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Project Operations and Human Resources apps. Learn about the licensing of the ERP apps here.

Dynamics 365 Field Service: One of the Dynamics 365 CRM apps to license, for example, a Field Technician managing site repairs and updating work orders. Learn more about licensing Dynamics 365 Field Service here.

Dynamics 365 Finance: One of the Dynamics 365 ERP apps to help organizations efficiently manage their financial processes: financial reporting, budgeting, and tax management, for example. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Finance here.

Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations: The precursor to the Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management apps. This was retired by Microsoft in October 2019. Learn more about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management.

Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection: Helps customers to block fraudulent activity with a set of three protection and prevention capabilities: Account Protection, Purchase Protection, and Loss Prevention. Learn about Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection licensing here.

Dynamics 365 Guides: A mixed-reality application that provides users with on-the-job guidance via holographic instructions. HoloLens-wearing users see instruction cards showing what needs to be done, and where, helping them to carry out new or unfamiliar tasks. Learn about licensing Dynamics 365 Guides here.

Dynamics 365 Human Resources: One of the Dynamics 365 ERP apps to license, for example, an HR professional or a recruiter. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Human Resources here.

Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management: A standalone service designed to enhance the order fulfilment process for customers from when an order is placed to the point of delivery. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Intelligent Order Management here.

Dynamics 365 for Operations Server: An on-premises solution providing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) functionality, enabling organizations to manage processes and departments within and across the entire organization. Learn about licensing Dynamics 365 for Operations Server here.

Dynamics 365 Marketing: The former name of the Journeys app in Dynamics 365 Customer Insights. Learn about licensing Dynamics 365 Customer Insights here.

Dynamics 365 Plan: A single license for all of the Dynamics 365 functionality, retired by Microsoft in October 2019, which combined the Customer Engagement Plan and the Unified Operations Plan. Learn more about licensing the Dynamics 365 CRM apps and ERP apps.

Dynamics 365 Project Operations: One of the Dynamics 365 ERP apps to license, for example, project managers, project assistants and project accountants responsible for accelerating project delivery in an organization. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Project Operations here.

Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation: The precursor to Dynamics 365 Project Operations.

Dynamics 365 Remote Assist: A mixed-reality application which enables users to get on-the-job help from experts. The user wears a HoloLens and contacts an expert for help via a Teams video call. The expert can see everything the user sees and can provide assistance by holographically drawing and annotating whatever the user is working on. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Remote Assist here.

Dynamics 365 Retail: The precursor to Dynamics 365 Commerce.

Dynamics 365 Sales: One of the Dynamics 365 CRM apps to license, for example, a Territory Sales Manager managing sales pipelines and closing deals. Learn more about licensing Dynamics 365 Sales here.

Dynamics 365 Sales Insights: Part of the Dynamics 365 Sales solution that helps sellers to build stronger relationships with their customers and to stay on top of their deals with real-time AI-based insights. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Sales Insights here.

Dynamics 365 Sales Premium: A single license for Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise and Sales Insights. Learn about the licensing of Dynamics 365 Sales Premium here.

Dynamics 365 Server: An on-premises solution providing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) functionality, enabling organizations to get a holistic view about what’s happening across their customers. Learn about Dynamics 365 Server licensing here.

Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management: One of the Dynamics 365 ERP apps to license, for example, users in operations roles at manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Learn more about licensing Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management here. 

Dynamics 365 Talent: The precursor to Dynamics 365 Human Resources

Dynamics 365 Unified Operations Plan: The former way of buying licenses for the Finance and Operations, Retail, and Talent apps. This was retired by Microsoft in October 2019. Learn about the licensing of the ERP apps here.

Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Server: The precursor to Dynamics 365 for Operations Server.