Deciding Between User and Device RDS CALs for Windows Server 2019

Windows Server operating system licenses authorize the software to operate on the licensee’s physical server but do not permit user or device connections.

Separate licenses are necessary for users or devices to access the server and utilize specific services.

A User-CAL authorizes an individual to access the server from various endpoints, as it is linked to the user rather than any single device. Conversely, a Device-CAL allows a particular device access to the server, irrespective of the user.

Choosing the Right CAL for Your Business

The choice between User-CAL and Device-CAL depends on your company's ratio of employees to devices, and the environment in which they operate, such as needing access from multiple locations or a single site.

For instance:

• Select User-CAL if your employees outnumber your devices, or if they need to connect from various devices.
• Opt for Device-CAL if you have more devices than users, or if multiple employees use the same device at different times.

User RDS CALs Licensing

With User RDS CALs, each user is licensed to connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host from any device. Licenses are allocated from the available or overused RDS CAL pool. You must ensure all users are properly licensed to avoid breaching Remote Desktop Services terms.

This option is usually more cost-effective for businesses with employees who access the server from multiple devices. For example, an employee who uses various devices throughout the week would require only one User CAL rather than multiple Device CALs.

Device RDS CALs Licensing

For Device CALs, a temporary license is initially granted when a device connects to the Remote Desktop Session Host. A permanent license is issued upon subsequent connections, provided the licensing server is active and CALs are available.

This type of license is ideal for businesses with high employee turnover using few devices, such as kiosks, shared PCs in maintenance teams, or operations running multiple shifts sharing the same equipment.