There’s a new (February 2025) Base and Additive CALs licensing guidance document from Microsoft which is an evolution of the October 2020 Microsoft Server Base and Additive CALS Overview Licensing Brief document. It’s broadly the same information covered, but all the diagrams showing the layered structure of Base and Additive CALs are removed to be replaced with more comprehensive explanations and links to the Product Terms.
Find this new document here: https://bit.ly/4b5Lzn3.
There’s an updated (February 2025) Dynamics 365 Licensing Guide with just one small change: there’s a link to the Outsourcing Software Management Licensing Brief added to the Dual Use Rights section on page 45.
Find this updated guide here:Â https://bit.ly/4jMma5R.
There’s an updated (October 2024) Outsourcing Software Management brief from Microsoft. It adds two questions to its FAQ section: Can you take your Windows Server licences to AWS (no), and: Can you take Windows Server licences acquired before October 2019 to AWS dedicated server offerings (yes). There is, as you might expect, a lot more detail in the answers that are given in the brief.
Find this updated document here: https://bit.ly/3Z0R8PD.
There’s an updated (October 2024) Microsoft 365 Apps Licensing Brief from Microsoft. It coincides, of course, with the recent launch of Office LTSC 2024 – see our blog: https://bit.ly/3Yq4O5c, and now also includes the Flexible Virtualization Benefit.
There’s also a question added about whether you can deploy the Microsoft 365 Apps on Amazon WorkSpaces – you can.
Find this updated guide here: https://bit.ly/409v1HA.
There’s an updated (September 2024) Office LTSC Licensing Brief from Microsoft updated, of course, for the recent launch of Office LTSC 2024 – see our blog: https://bit.ly/3Yq4O5c.
It now also includes the Flexible Virtualization Benefit and the new external user definition effective from October 2024 – see our blog: https://bit.ly/4fdde6r.
There are also long-overdue updates for the retirement of Windows To Go, and the renaming of the Home Use Program to the Workplace Discount Program.
Find this updated guide here: https://bit.ly/3YxJdsJ.
There’s an updated (March 2023) Microsoft Azure Customer Solution Licensing Brief. There’s just one change of note – confirmation that if you’re an on-premises hoster you can use the Azure services under your own agreement to protect the on-premises servers with Microsoft Defender for Cloud. The table on page 3 is updated, and an extra FAQ is added on page 5. Find this updated guide here: http://bit.ly/3U6VNLz.
There’s an updated (March 2023) Licensing Brief to explain the options for virtualising Windows 11 and remotely accessing it. Changes include the addition of Windows 365 and the Flexible Virtualization Benefit. Overall, it’s a good summary of the licences you need for each of the different virtualisation options, and you can find this updated Licensing Brief here: http://bit.ly/3Jm6fv4.
There’s an updated (October 2022) “Introduction to Microsoft Core licensing models” Licensing Brief from Microsoft. The main changes are for the new Windows Server per virtual machine licensing option, as well as the change for SQL Server and BizTalk Server where licensing by virtual machine is now a Software Assurance benefit.
Find this updated Licensing Brief here: https://bit.ly/3SWTn0u.
There’s an updated (November 2022) “Windows 11 licensing for Virtual Desktops” Licensing Brief from Microsoft with two main changes.
Firstly, there’s the inclusion of the Flexible Virtualization Benefit showing the additional options customers can now have for using Windows 11 virtual machines with an Authorized Outsourcer’s shared hardware.
Secondly, the Qualifying Operating System requirements are updated, removing the need for one when a user is licensed with a Microsoft 365 licence. Find this updated guide here: http://bit.ly/3gpVmg7.
There’s an updated (October 2022) “Licensing Microsoft server products in virtual environments” Licensing Brief from Microsoft.
There are updates for the new per virtual machine licensing model for Windows Server, the introduction of the Flexible Virtualization Benefit, and the changes for SQL Server 2022 where licensing by virtual machine becomes an SA/Software Subscription benefit.
Find this updated Licensing Brief here: https://bit.ly/3fG3BUw.