Selecting the Appropriate RDS CALs for Your Business Needs

The Windows Server operating system licenses are designed to operate the system on the licensed holder's physical server. These licenses alone do not permit users or devices to connect to the server.

To allow users or devices to access the server and utilize specific services, separate licenses are necessary.

A User-CAL authorizes an individual to access the server across multiple devices, associating the license with the user rather than the device. Conversely, a Device-CAL allows a device access to the server, eliminating the need for individual users of this device to possess a User-CAL.

Determining the Best Fit for Your Business

The choice between User-CAL and Device-CAL depends on your business's ratio of employees to devices and the nature of your work environment, such as whether employees need remote access or operate from a fixed location.

For instance:

• If your company has fewer employees than devices, or employees need to connect to the server from various devices, User-CAL would be more advantageous.
• If your company has more employees than devices, or multiple employees use the same device in shifts, Device-CAL would be more appropriate.

User Licences for RDS CALs

For most companies, the RDS CALs per user license option proves cost-effective, particularly when employees access servers from multiple devices. For example, consider an employee who accesses their email from a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone within a week. A single User-CAL would suffice for this employee, whereas a per-device license would require four separate RDS CALs for each device.

Device Licences for RDS CALs

In a per-device model, a temporary license is issued the first time a device connects to the Remote Desktop Session Host. Upon subsequent connections, provided the licensing server is active and RDS CALs are available, a permanent RDS Device-CAL is issued.

This model is ideal for environments with high employee turnover using a limited number of computers, such as kiosks in shopping centres, maintenance teams sharing a PC, or businesses operating continuously with different shifts sharing the same computers.