Offering a hosted Office solution requires the appropriate licensing of the entire software solution stack. The software solution stack includes Windows Server, Remote Desktop Services, and Microsoft Office.
Windows Server
You must license Windows Server in support of your Hosted Office solution. Windows Server is licensed in the following two licensing models in the SPLA program:
Per Processor: Web, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions
A Windows Server processor license is required to be assigned to each physical processor on the servers running the Hosted Office service.
Remote Desktop Services
A SAL for Remote Desktop Services (“RDS”) is required for each unique end user authorized to access the hosted Office service. Device SALs are not available. From the Services Provider Use Rights (SPUR):
“You must acquire a Windows Server Remote Desktop Services SAL for each user that directly or indirectly is authorized to access the server software to host a graphical user interface (using the Windows Server Remote Desktop Services functionality or other technology).”
Note that the Windows Server RDS SAL is required for delivering a graphical user interface even if you are not using RDS services.
Microsoft Office
A SAL for Microsoft Office is required for every unique end user who is authorized to access the hosted Office service. Device SALs are not available. The following editions of Microsoft Office are available through the SPLA program:
- Office Standard
- Office Professional Plus
K04 – Rental Amendment
The second option for the Service Provider to offer Microsoft Office would be through the K04 Rental Amendment.
Office Products must be physically installed on the Rental PCs and may not be used or run within virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware systems. The Device Software Products may not be installed on servers and/or delivered from a datacenter, regardless of whether the data center is owned, leased or otherwise outsourced by Customer or End User. The Device Software Product may not be accessed from another device.
“Rental PC” means a personal computer fully owned by or leased to Customer, which is rented/leased to an End User. A Rental PC must be physically supplied to the End User.
