Windows 10 turns your Microsoft operating system into a service, meaning that new software functionalities are no longer bundled together and made available as a new version, but are provided to the user at much shorter intervals via smaller updates.
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Windows 10 is available in the following editions and offers, in addition to the classic desktop operating systems, solutions for tablets and mobile phones plus intelligent things in tune with the IoT.
Full Packaged Product (FPP) | Preinstalled (OEM) | Volume licensing |
---|---|---|
Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Mobile Windows 10 IoT | Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise Windows 10 Education Windows 10 VDA |
For deployment of Windows 10 as a Service, there are three different options – Current Brand, Current Branch for Business and Long Term Service Branch. The option that a user can utilise depends on their Windows edition, licence type and volume licensing programme.
Option | Validity | Updated through2 |
---|---|---|
Current Branch (CB) | Windows 10 Home
| Windows Update (WU) |
Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise1 Windows 10 Education1 | Windows Update (WU) Windows Update for Business Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) | |
Current Branch for Business (CBB) | Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Enterprise1 Windows 10 Education1 | Windows Update Windows Update for Business Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) |
Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) | Windows 10 Enterprise1 Windows 10 Education1 | Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) |
1 Requires licensing of Windows 10 with Software Assurance
2 Other systems, such as System Centre Configuration Manager, can also be used for configuration management
Windows Enterprise is available under volume licence programmes where customers have the choice between licensing their operating system per device or per user.
When licensing Windows Desktop Systems per device, each licence needs to be assigned to a specific device. There are two licence options here:
Upgrade licence | Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) 2 | |
---|---|---|
Licence type | Open-ended or limited period contract, as per contract | Subscription licence |
Requirements | Basic licence required | No basic licence required |
Installation | Local installation 1 | No local installation, use via VDI or Windows To Go |
1 If the Windows Enterprise Upgrade Licence is purchased with Software Assurance, in addition to local installation rights, the customer also has the right to access a virtual copy of Windows via VDI or Windows To Go (WTG)
2 Includes Software Assurance rights
Per-user licensing is exclusive to Windows Enterprise E3/E5 and Windows VDA and only available in the form of a user subscription licence (USL). This is assigned to a specific user who is then entitles to use Windows Enterprise on as many devices as they want. There are two versions of user licences:
Windows 10 Enterprise per User | Windows VDA per User | |
---|---|---|
Licence type | Subscription licence | Subscription licence |
Requirements | User must be the primary user of a dedicated device, which must have a licence for Windows 7 Pro, 8/8.1 Pro or 10 Pro | The user does not have to have a dedicated Windows device or be the main user |
Installation |
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There are two types of licences that take into account previous investments in SA:
For many companies, software licensing is a real enigma. Will you be charged per server, VM or user? What happens if you no longer need as many licences?
Our experienced Microsoft consultants shed light on these and many other questions. We’re happy to help you choose the right licensing model for your business. Just get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.