Licensing Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows Server RDS

Question

Licensing Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows Server RDS

Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20

There is still some confusion about licensing Windows Server as the Windows SErver RDS host in the case of an ISV providing VDIs to their end customers in Azure and AWS.

AZURE VIRTUAL DESKTOP

In the case of Azure Virtual Desktop, if an ISV is using Azure Virtual Desktop with Windows Server as a host, can they still buy SPLA RDS SAL licenses in order to license their end customer users in Azure after 30th September? It is not very clear in https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/

WINDOWS SERVER RDS IN AWS

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? How can they license this scenario in AWS?

Thanks in advance

Isabel

Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-14T18:23:15.74+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Thanks for raising a new request. Could you please change the tag you mentioned as Remote Desktop to Azure Virtual Desktop.
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-16T20:09:49.2633333+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Did you get a chance to check my solution. If you have any further queries, let me know. If the information is helpful, please click on Upvote and Accept Answer on it.

Answer accepted by question author

Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

After September 30, 2025, Microsoft has announced that SPLA licenses, including RDS SALs, will no longer be permitted on Listed Providers such as Azure. This change means that ISVs will need to transition to alternative licensing models for their AVD deployments.

No, an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) cannot use SPLA RDS SAL licenses to license end customer users in Azure when using Windows Server as the host in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) after September 30, 2025.

If you're using Windows Server as the host OS in AVD after Sept 30, 2025, you will need Windows Server + RDS CALs with Software Assurance (purchased through Volume Licensing). These CALs must be assigned per end customer, and Software Assurance is mandatory for license mobility rights.

Microsoft Q&A only supports Azure related queries.

If you have any further queries, let me 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

Isabel Gómez Miragaya 20 Reputation points

2025-05-19T09:24:32.44+00:00
Thanks for the answers.

The solution deployed both in AWS and Azure AVD is for external commercial use (since they are ISVs), therefore, as I understodd in Azure AVD, you cannot use Windows 10/11 multi-session with Microsoft 365 licenses, you have to use Per User Access pricing in azure as explained in https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/licensing and in https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/licensing#per-user-access-pricing-for-external-commercial-purposes-to-use-azure-virtual-desktop

Per-user access pricing lets you pay for Azure Virtual Desktop access rights for external commercial purposes. You must enroll in per-user access pricing to build a compliant deployment for external users.

Can you please confirm please? Is the following true?

AZURE AVD

Windows Server as host> After 30th September, for external commercial use, you can only license end users with RDS CAL with software assurance (open value OLV or open value subscrpition OVS). In this case, Azure Virtual Desktop pricing also refers to "RDS User Subscription License". Will this available to use for external commercial use after 30th September ? under wich contract? (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/?msockid=2e78b720ed716eab3a7fa250ec126f52)

Windows 11 multisession> For external commercial use, Azure Per user access pricing has to be used. You cannot use MIcrosoft 365 licenses if it is for external commercial use as explaine

AVS

Windows server as host > after 30th September the only way to license end user for external commercial use is with RDS CAL with software assurance (both open value OLV and open value subscription OVS) or AWS-provided SAL licenses Can you use in this case "RDS User Subscription License" as explained in ttps://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/?msockid=2e78b720ed716eab3a7fa250ec126f52 for external commercial use? If that is the case, what is the type of contract that provides this type of license?

Thanks in advance

Isabel
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-19T19:33:32.6033333+00:00
Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Note: Microsoft Q&A only supports Azure related queries.

You're correct in seeking clarity on licensing Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) for external commercial use.

Windows Server as Host OS
Licensing Update Post-September 30, 2025: SPLA RDS SAL Licenses: Not allowed for external commercial use on Azure due to updated Microsoft licensing terms.
Alternative Licensing Options:

RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) with Software Assurance (SA): License end users with RDS CALs that include active SA, available through Volume Licensing programs like Open Value (OLV) or Open Value Subscription (OVS).

RDS User Subscription Licenses: Obtainable through specific Microsoft Volume Licensing programs for external commercial use, requiring an eligible Volume Licensing agreement.

Windows 10/11 Multi-Session as Host OS
External Commercial Use: You must use Per-User Access Pricing. Microsoft 365 licenses do not grant rights for external users in this scenario.
Enrollment: You need to enroll your Azure subscription in Per-User Access Pricing. This model charges a monthly fee per unique external user who accesses AVD resources.

If you have any further queries, let me know. If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and "Upvote it" as it can be helpful to others in the community.
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-20T18:29:05.54+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

I have provided more information to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any queries. If the information is helpful, please Upvote it and Accept Answer for the benefit of the community.
Rosa Vet 0 Reputation points

2025-09-29T07:51:36.25+00:00

Hi!

You could also license via Software Subscriptions, right?

Those have SA included and have hybrid benefit rights.

I see above here that you state: only OV and OVS.

So just to check ;)

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Rosa Vet

1 additional answer

Your answer

Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-14T18:23:15.74+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Thanks for raising a new request. Could you please change the tag you mentioned as Remote Desktop to Azure Virtual Desktop.
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-16T20:09:49.2633333+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Did you get a chance to check my solution. If you have any further queries, let me know. If the information is helpful, please click on Upvote and Accept Answer on it.
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-19T19:33:32.6033333+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

Note: Microsoft Q&A only supports Azure related queries.

You're correct in seeking clarity on licensing Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) for external commercial use.

Windows Server as Host OS
Licensing Update Post-September 30, 2025: SPLA RDS SAL Licenses: Not allowed for external commercial use on Azure due to updated Microsoft licensing terms.
Alternative Licensing Options:

RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) with Software Assurance (SA): License end users with RDS CALs that include active SA, available through Volume Licensing programs like Open Value (OLV) or Open Value Subscription (OVS).

RDS User Subscription Licenses: Obtainable through specific Microsoft Volume Licensing programs for external commercial use, requiring an eligible Volume Licensing agreement.

Windows 10/11 Multi-Session as Host OS
External Commercial Use: You must use Per-User Access Pricing. Microsoft 365 licenses do not grant rights for external users in this scenario.
Enrollment: You need to enroll your Azure subscription in Per-User Access Pricing. This model charges a monthly fee per unique external user who accesses AVD resources.

If you have any further queries, let me know. If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and "Upvote it" as it can be helpful to others in the community.
Anusree Nashetty 6,715 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-20T18:29:05.54+00:00

Hi Isabel Gómez Miragaya,

I have provided more information to your question. Please tell us if it was helpful and feel free to reach out to us if you have any queries. If the information is helpful, please Upvote it and Accept Answer for the benefit of the community.
Rosa Vet 0 Reputation points

2025-09-29T07:51:36.25+00:00

Hi!

You could also license via Software Subscriptions, right?

Those have SA included and have hybrid benefit rights.

I see above here that you state: only OV and OVS.

So just to check ;)

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Rosa Vet

Answer 1

SPLA-based RDS SALs will no longer be allowed in any Authorized Outsourcer’s cloud infrastructure after Sept 30, 2025 — this includes Azure.

You CANNOT use SPLA RDS SALs to license end users on Windows Server hosts in AVD. You will need:

Windows Server + RDS CALs with Software Assurance (via volume licensing) per customer

OR use Windows 10/11 multi-session with Microsoft 365 licenses.

So, the sum up scenario will be like this:

Cloud Platform: AVD

Host OS: Windows Server

SPLA RDS SAL Allowed After Sept 30, 2025? NO

==========

Cloud Platform: AWS (EC2)

Host OS: Windows Server

SPLA RDS SAL Allowed After Sept 30, 2025? NO