Have you ever thought about why your company needs extra licenses to let people connect to your Windows Server? Are you having trouble figuring out the difference between the different kinds of RDS CALs and which one your business really needs? If you’re setting up Remote Desktop Services for your business, you’ve probably come across these confusing licensing rules that seem like they don’t need to be so hard. Let’s go over everything you need to know about RDS CAL licenses and why they are important for your remote access setup.
What is an RDS CAL, and why can’t you just use Windows Server without one? A Remote Desktop Services Client Access License (RDS CAL) is a required license that gives users or devices the legal right to connect to a Windows Server that has Remote Desktop Services running. If your company doesn’t have the right RDS CALs, it could have trouble following the rules and face fines during Microsoft audits. Your Windows Server license lets you install and run the server software, but each RDS CAL license lets a single user or device actually connect to that server from a distance.
Should you get an RDS user CAL or an RDS device CAL for your business? You have to think about your own situation before making this choice. A person gets an RDS user CAL, which lets them use Remote Desktop Services from any device, like their laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. This option is best when workers need to be able to connect from different devices at different times during the day. An RDS device CAL, on the other hand, is linked to a specific device instead of a person. This means that anyone can use Remote Desktop Services from that one device. This is why device CALs are great for places where people work in shifts and share the same workstation.
How do you figure out which licensing model will cost your business less? Think about how your workforce is set up very carefully. If your employees often switch between devices or work from home on their own devices, it makes more sense to buy RDS user CALs. If your company has dedicated workstations that different employees use on different shifts, though, RDS device CALs would be cheaper because you only need one license per machine, no matter how many people use it.
Do you know that you can’t mix and match these types of licenses for the same server environment? You can use both RDS user CAL and RDS device CAL licenses in your business, but each connection must have the right type of license. By knowing these small details about Remote Desktop Services licensing, you can keep your business in compliance and save money at the same time. Taking the time to figure out exactly what you need and choose the right RDS CAL configuration will save you a lot of trouble later and make sure that everyone on your team can access the system remotely without any problems.