What is CAL?

With a Client Access License (CAL), you have the possibility to license the accesses of devices or users whose license model provides that the accesses to the server software are to be licensed separately. Examples are Exchange Server 2016, SharePoint Server 2016, and Windows Server 2012.

CALs are assigned either to a user or to a device.

•         User CAL / User CAL: A user CAL authorizes a specific user to use any number of devices. He may therefore access the server software via company PC, private PC, mobile phone etc..

You should pick this license type if a user with more than one device accesses the corresponding server and, for instance, uses his mobile in addition to his PC to retrieve e-mails, or uses a tablet as another device. The same applies if employees are given the chance to use private devices and log on to the network with them.

•         Device CAL / Device CAL: A device CAL licenses a device for use by any number of users who may access instances of the server software with this device.

This license type is optimal if several users work with one device, e.g. PCs at a hotel reception, PCs using team members alternately, PCs from a PC pool, etc.