Exchange SE CAL question

Question

I currently have Windows server 2025 User and Device CAL's.

Will those CAL's cover Exchange SE users/devices or do I need Exchange CAL's?

Exchange SE would be installed on a Windows server 2025.

I do have 365 Business basic licenses but Exchange online is currently not being used.

Answer 1

Hi @Susan Dodds

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I understand you’re looking for clarification on licensing requirements for Exchange Server SE, especially in the context of already having Windows Server 2025 CALs and Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses. 

After researching available resources, I couldn't find any official documentation confirming whether Windows Server 2025 CALs include access rights to Exchange Server SE. Typically, Windows Server CALs are limited to providing access to the Windows Server operating system itself. Since Exchange is a separate server product, it generally requires its own set of CALs—either per user or per device. 

Although you have Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses, which include Exchange Online, these do not apply to an on-premises Exchange Server.  

As a moderator, we don't have access to internal licensing systems or account-specific details, and licensing terms can vary depending on specific agreements or purchase channels. For accurate and definitive information, I recommend reaching out to your licensing reseller, who can review your entitlements and clarify what is included in your current setup. 

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any further questions. 

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