Microsoft licensing Part 1 – Breaking it down

Huniyer Hovich, 12 August 2012

User Licenses can be deconstructed into 3 general programs. Falling within each of those programs are the licensing options available for selection.

What you choose will be dependent on your circumstances and what you are trying to achieve in terms of budget, accessibility and function.

The easiest way to get your head around the different licenses on offer is to categorise them according to business size. 

Open programs are recommended for small to medium business and come in three forms:
Open Value, Open Value subscription, Open License, Enterprise agreement 

Enterprise programs are recommended for medium to large business with 250+ desktop pc’s. These come in three forms:
Select plus, Enterprise agreement, Enterprise subscription 

Industry programs are recommended for government/education/health/non-profit  sectors. Industry programs consist of the six different forms mentioned above, the difference is that they are offered at specific pricing negotiated for these industries. 

At this point you’d be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed at the different license options. But it’s really all smoke and mirrors. I’ll tell you why.

There are only six different forms of license that apply to all businesses– Open Value, Open Value subscription, Open License, Enterprise agreement, Select Plus, Enterprise subscription.

The first three apply to small-med business, the fourth applies to medium-large business, the last two apply to large business. Grouped together all six apply to public and welfare type agencies. 

Understand this, and you’ll be ready to delve into Open programs for small to midsize business with me next week. 

Image from http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/