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Microsoft CALs (Client Access Licenses)

Understanding the licensing options around Microsoft CALs can get complicated quickly and we recommend that you contact CompuCom’s Microsoft Licensing Specialists for assistance. They will assess your organization’s requirements and explain which of these license type(s) best meet your needs.

In addition to licensing any Microsoft product for the workstation or server on which it resides, you may be required to purchase Client Access Licenses (CALs) in order for users to legally access Microsoft server software across a network.

A CAL may be required if your company's workstations are networked and access Microsoft server(s) software to perform certain functions, such as file and print sharing. The CAL is not a software product; rather it is a license that gives a user the right to access the services of the server. A CAL may license the user, device, server, or processor as follows:

  • Per user – This CAL allows a unique user to access Microsoft server software from many devices, such as a work computer, a home computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA), without having to acquire CALs for each device. This CAL makes sense for employees who require roaming access using multiple devices.
  • Per device – This CAL allows any user to access Microsoft server software through the licensed device. This CAL makes sense if, for example, your company has multiple-shift workers who share devices.
  • Per server – This CAL is associated with a specific server and features concurrent-use licensing (i.e., the organization must have at least as many CALs dedicated to the server as the maximum number of computers that will connect to that server at any time).
  • Per processor – With per processor licensing, no CALs are needed. The right to access the server is covered by the server license itself. Anyone, at any time, from anywhere, using any device that has the proper permission from the server owner, can access the licensed Microsoft application(s).

CAL Suites
Because user adoption and acceptance of new technology and mobility can never be entirely predictable, your organization must be ready to make new technologies and capabilities available when your people need them. Toward that goal, Microsoft has bundled CALs for its most popular applications. The cost savings give your organization the flexibility to adapt to technology demands by i) granting end user rights to an array of software tools, ii) extending the value of your Microsoft investment with products and services that integrate into your existing infrastructure platform, and iii) enabling your organization to deploy multiple Microsoft server products in your enterprise as you require – without waiting to negotiate new agreements.

CompuCom consultants will work with your IT staff to select either of two CAL Suites available:

  • The Core CAL Suite provides four innovative technologies from Microsoft that can be used to establish a solid IT infrastructure that provides your people with identity management, directory services, enterprise communication (e-mail, calendar functions, and scheduling), collaborative workspaces, and asset management functionality.
  • The Enterprise CAL Suite empowers your organization to meet the full range of tomorrow’s challenges using 11 of the newest software breakthroughs to attain compliance, real-time collaboration, security, communication, desktop management, and other goals.



Client Access License (CAL) Suites FAQ 

1. What is the Enterprise CAL Suite? Does it take the place of the existing Core CAL Suite?

  • The Enterprise CAL Suite and the Core CAL Suite will exist together and make up the Server CAL Suite portfolio.
  • The Enterprise CAL Suite will be a superset of the Core CAL Suite, and will enable you to take full advantage of the communication and collaboration capabilities Microsoft offers in a security-enhanced and well-managed way.
  • The Enterprise CAL Suite is focused on communication, collaboration, and compliance, and enables presence functionality and synchronous communications (IM), enterprise content management, information rights management, client security, server and Web security, client and server real-time monitoring and updates, conferencing, Web-based forms solutions, and business data connectors.

2. What is included in the Core CAL Suite and the Enterprise CAL Suite?

  • Core CAL Suite—Windows Server CAL, Exchange Server 2007 Standard CAL, Office SharePoint Server 2007 Standard CAL, System Center Configuration Manager Configuration Management License (CML).
  • Enterprise CAL Suite—Core CAL Suite plus Exchange Server 2007 Enterprise CAL, Office SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise CAL, Office Communications Server 2007 Standard CAL, Office Communications Server 2007 Enterprise CAL, Windows Rights Management Services, System Center Operations Manager Client Operations Management License (OML), and Forefront Security Suite.

3. Why would I want to purchase a CAL Suite instead of individual product CALs?

  • Flexibility and control—The suites give you the flexibility to deploy multiple Microsoft server products in your enterprise as your business needs require.
  • Simplified licensing—The suites are the most simple and cost-effective way to acquire and manage licenses.
  • More value for your money—Purchasing the suites enables you to extend your IT budget by getting advanced capabilities at a lower price than if you purchased the individual CALs.

4. How do I know if the Core CAL Suite or the Enterprise CAL Suite is right for me?

  • The Core CAL Suite provides core infrastructure for an organization, while the Enterprise CAL Suite extends an organization’s infrastructure to support user collaboration, communication, and compliance scenarios with enhanced security.
  • If you have two or more Enterprise CAL Suite products on your three-to-five-year IT road maps, for economic reasons alone the Enterprise CAL Suite will probably make sense for your business.

5. What are the differences between the Standard and Enterprise CALs available for Office  SharePoint Server, Exchange, and Office Communications Server in the CAL Suites?

 

  • Today Standard CALs are necessary for users to access Office SharePoint Server, Exchange, and Office Communications Server. With the exception of the Office Communications Server Standard CAL, these Standard CALs are found in the Core CAL Suite. Enterprise CALs will be available for these products with the launch of the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and all three Enterprise CALs are included in the Enterprise CAL Suite.
  • Enterprise CALs were added to allow more flexibility in purchasing. They provide incremental and unique functionality that capitalizes on existing server investments.

6. How does the Enterprise CAL Suite relate to the Enterprise Desktop platform offering?

  • The Enterprise CAL Suite, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 comprise the Enterprise Desktop platform offering.

7. Can I buy CAL Suite components individually?

  • All Enterprise CAL Suite components are available as separate SKUs on an Enterprise Agreement, Select, or Open basis as additional products.

8. How can I get support for specific licensing questions not related to the Microsoft CAL Suites?

  • Please contact your CompuCom Microsoft Licensing Specialist at
  • Or in the United States you can call (800) 426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M.—6:00 P.M. Pacific Time to speak directly to a Microsoft Customer Service agent about the program options best suited to meet your needs.