Vdi software assurance

I try to write about different topics, but I also like to give updates and understanding to various topics that really hit home; VDI is one of them. What is a virtual desktop in the licensing world? You should think about virtual desktop as a software assurance benefit. Like license mobility, software assurance is required.

Unlike license mobility, there is no option to install in shared infrastructure. Let me repeat — no option to install in shared infrastructure. One more time…no option to install in shared infrastructure. What are the options? That means if they did not purchase with software assurance, there is no option for them to use virtual desktops from a true licensing perspective.

What if the machine is a dummy terminal with no software assurance option available? The end-user would be required to purchase a VDA license for each device. If your customer has not purchased VDA or software assurance on the OS, they need to reconsider if they want a virtual desktop.

Some service providers are under the impression that they can sell a desktop OS perpetually to the customer and host it for them in a dedicated environment.

They have the dedicated environment part right, but an OS sold to an end-user does not grant that end-user access to a virtual desktop without software assurance SA. Secondly, you have to be an authorized reseller to sell perpetual licenses non SPLA to consumers. Third, you cannot buy a Windows desktop license yourself and host it to third parties.

Anything you buy outside of SPLA is for your internal employees only. Last, not only should you not buy licenses and host, but do not install on servers that is also used for your internal use. That is a big compliance headache. Where is it written that you cannot host on servers internal employees are also accessing? That not only is a compliance risk, it is also not very economical. Download the FAQ guide here. What are your options? The good news is Azure, AWS, and all the others have the same rules.

They cannot offer desktop OS in the public cloud. Check it out here. I get it, not the same thing but I think it is a more of a compelling solution from a cost perspective and be compliant.

Dedicating a physical server and virtual server is not always the most profitable solution. RDS now has mobility rights, I think Office should too. If I was a service provider, I would work with someone who is an expert in SPLA based licensing and an expert in software assurance benefits.

As you can see from my previous posts and with VDI, software assurance is a requirement for most cloud based licensing solutions. In years past, SA Software Assurance was only leveraged for organizations that wanted the latest version on software and pay annually for the licenses under their agreement.

Fast forward to today and customers want to move to the cloud but leverage their existing licenses. Have you been asked that before? How do they accomplish that? The answer is Software Assurance. If I was a Microsoft shareholder, I would applaud that move. Things are changing in the world of data center outsourcing, but for some reason this is still stuck in the mud. Why no VDI today?

I wrote about this topic earlier, but my hunch is it has something to do with the OEM manufactures. OEM is a big piece of Microsoft business, and they protect it. Although Surface kind of muddies that theory. So even under a rented desktop model, OEM is still a requirement. The only thing that would change this model is if they received a very high number of requests to offer this through Azure. RDS was never part of license mobility.

Azure comes along and before you know it- RDS has mobility rights! Office is a prime example of this. Attachments: Up to 10 attachments including images can be used with a maximum of 3. Please 'Accept as answer' if the provided information is helpful, so that it can help others in the community looking for help on similar topics.

JoaquinGomez Any update on the issue? If the suggested response helped you resolve your issue, do click on "Accept as Answer", that helped you for benefit of the community. The license is assigned to the client device. Here is the link for your reference. IT Asset Management. The first option is Software Assurance SA which provides product use rights that allow virtual desktop access.

If devices are not covered by Software Assurance, as in the case where the organization has decided not to purchase it, or for thin clients that are not covered by SA, a Virtual Desktop Access VDA license can be purchased.

Both software licensing models provide the same benefits, which include:. Flexera One discovers even the most elusive assets whether on-prem, SaaS, cloud, containers and more. Software Assurance must be renewed over time to keep the product use rights tied to it. SA and VDA licenses are both attached to devices, not users.

Each corporate device accessing the VDI environment needs to be licensed; however with the roaming rights a user can use any devices external to the organization to access their VDI Desktops. The rules are almost the same for Microsoft desktop applications. Again, most Microsoft desktop licenses, such as Microsoft Office, are attached to specific devices, not users. With Software Assurance, Office, Project and Visio versions have roaming use rights allowing users to remotely access their software on their virtual desktop from third party devices not owned by the company outside the organization such as home PCs and internet kiosks.

Within the organization, every device using the software must be licensed.