RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server

Question

RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server

Hussein Alaa 20 Microsoft External Staff

The Azure AVD documentation https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/

states: '**RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server is available through September 30, 2025, to Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners only.'

I would like to know if this restriction is also applicable to VM in Azure with RDS access for customers (not AVD)? and if Azure ISV clients can continue to use RDS SAL through SPLA after the September 30, 2025, to expose VM/RDS to customer?

Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-01-03T02:01:52.3233333+00:00

Hi Hussein Alaa,

If an answer has been helpful, please consider accepting the answer to help increase visibility of this question for other members of the Microsoft Q&A community. Thank you for helping to improve Microsoft Q&A!
Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20 Reputation points

2025-05-13T10:52:44.9966667+00:00

Hi Anusree Nashetty

There is still some confusion about licensing AVD with Windows Server as a host in the case of an ISV providing VDIs to their end customers.

If an ISV is using Azure Virtual Desktop with Windows Server as a host, can they buy SPLA RDS SAL licenses in order to license their end customer users in Azure after 30th September?

What about an ISV providing Windows Server RDS VDIs to end customers in AWS? Can they still purchase SPLA RDS SAL licenses to license their end customers?

Thanks in advance

Isabel
Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-14T01:15:19.15+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Could you please submit a new request so that we can track it more easily and address it separately? This will help us manage and resolve the issue more efficiently.

Thank you.
Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20 Reputation points

2025-05-14T07:33:09.8066667+00:00

done: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2275760/licensing-azure-virtual-desktop-and-windows-server

Accepted answer

1 additional answer

Your answer

Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-01-03T02:01:52.3233333+00:00

Hi Hussein Alaa,

If an answer has been helpful, please consider accepting the answer to help increase visibility of this question for other members of the Microsoft Q&A community. Thank you for helping to improve Microsoft Q&A!
Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20 Reputation points

2025-05-13T10:52:44.9966667+00:00

Hi Anusree Nashetty

There is still some confusion about licensing AVD with Windows Server as a host in the case of an ISV providing VDIs to their end customers.

If an ISV is using Azure Virtual Desktop with Windows Server as a host, can they buy SPLA RDS SAL licenses in order to license their end customer users in Azure after 30th September?

What about an ISV providing Windows Server RDS VDIs to end customers in AWS? Can they still purchase SPLA RDS SAL licenses to license their end customers?

Thanks in advance

Isabel
Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-14T01:15:19.15+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Could you please submit a new request so that we can track it more easily and address it separately? This will help us manage and resolve the issue more efficiently.

Thank you.
Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20 Reputation points

2025-05-14T07:33:09.8066667+00:00

done: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2275760/licensing-azure-virtual-desktop-and-windows-server

Answer 1

Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Hussein Alaa,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Platform! Thank you for asking your question here.

It's correct that Azure stated 'RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server is available through September 30, 2025, to Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners only' but this restriction is not extended to Virtual Machines in Azure with RDS access for customers. In future, if there are any such changes occur Azure will announce it officially.
VMs have different licensing requirements for standard Azure Virtual Machines using Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services (RDS), the requirement for RDS SALs is part of the general licensing framework.
ISVs using SPLA to provide RDS access to customers on Azure VMs will remain unaffected as there’s no public statement in official Microsoft documentation indicating that this right will be discontinued for Azure VMs after September 30, 2025.

If you have any further queries, please do let us know. If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and "Upvote it" as it can be helpful to others in the community. User's image

Stephane 0 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2025-01-02T16:29:49.2866667+00:00

Thanks @Anusree Nashetty for this clarification.
Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-01-06T08:23:04.63+00:00

Hi Hussein Alaa,

If an answer has been helpful, please consider accepting the answer to help increase visibility of this question for other members of the Microsoft Q&A community. Thank you for helping to improve Microsoft Q&A!
Jason Mc Tiernan 5 Reputation points

2025-02-27T09:04:42.6266667+00:00

Hi, does the same exemption apply for Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners only to continue to license Office Standard for standard Azure Virtual Machines using Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services (RDS) ?
Jason Mc Tiernan 5 Reputation points

2025-02-28T17:08:25.73+00:00

Can you also confirm if this restriction extends to other applications available under the SPLA program for Service Providers and in particular licensing of Office 2021 on Azure VMs for customers?
Anusree Nashetty 4,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-02-28T17:43:33.3566667+00:00

Hi Jason Mc Tiernan,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A!

Regarding your inquiry about the licensing of Office Standard on standard Azure Virtual Machines using Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services under the Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA), it's important to note that, as of the latest available information, Microsoft has not publicly announced any changes to the SPLA that would restrict the licensing of Office Standard on standard Azure VMs. Therefore, SPLA partners can continue to license Office Standard for deployment on standard Azure VMs using Windows Server and RDS.

Concerning the licensing of other applications under the SPLA program, including Office 2021, for deployment on Azure VMs for customers, there are no forthcoming restrictions. SPLA partners should be able to continue licensing and deploying these applications on Azure VMs as per the existing SPLA terms.

For your reference: Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) Licensing Guide
Virtual Machines licensing FAQ
Jason Mc Tiernan 5 Reputation points

2025-03-03T09:17:49.9233333+00:00

Thank you for clarifying.

Answer 2

Hi,

I am following up in relation to the original questions relating to SPLA licensing on Azure Virtual Machines and Office 2021 which have already been answered above. However, we are running multiple Azure Virtual Machines (not VDIs) with Office 2021 LTSC using Remote Desktop Services and offering this service to our customers and currently licensing on a per user basis under our SPLA with RDS SAL and Office 2021 SAL. We are also an ISV.

We have been informed by Microsoft Ireland, that as of October 1st 2025, Office apps and RDS will no longer be allowed in Azure, and we would be required to make adjustments to continue hosting this solution in Azure.

Office would need to transition to BYOL, so we can offer those SKU's via CSP. The business will need to reinstall the new Office 365 solutions along with the necessary technical updates for Office 365 integration.
For RDS, the SKU's within CSP do not support the License Mobility option that would enable this. The business would have to make a technical design changes to the platform.

The response from Microsoft conflicts with the information originally provided on this forum / thread, so I have questioned this with Microsoft Ireland. Microsoft Ireland reached out to the US Program Management team who have confirmed what I have stated above (1 & 2) is Microsoft's position and their official response.

It appears to me there is uncertainty within Microsoft as to what this upcoming change relating to SPLA licensing extends to across Azure.

Share via

RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server

1 additional answer

Your answer