Greetings! This is my first to post, so please bear with me.
Here is my scenario:
My company has a number of Windows servers (company-owned hardware & OS licenses) in a server farm. My company has purchased User & RDS User CALs for all employees to be able to RDP into each server. Server licenses & CALs are all retail purchases,
no Volume Licensing, no Software Assurance.
The company has also purchased a VL w/SA Microsoft Office w/100 seats. I have installed Office on our servers for our users' use.
I know this configuration is compliant with Microsoft's License Agreements as we own the hardware and directly purchased the licenses.
However, in addition to the server farm, my company has an account with AWS and wants to create several multi-user (via RDP) servers. Also, my company wants to install Office on the servers for our users.
Here is my problem:
I cannot find clear concise documentation from either Microsoft or AWS confirming the licensing requirements for my AWS scenario.
I've found many blogs saying one could use the regular User/RDS User CALs purchased via VL or Retail.
Alternately, I've found several other blogs talking about User/RDS User SALs (Subscriber Access Licenses) as the requirement since Windows is licensed from Microsoft via AWS through SPLA (Subscriber Provider License Agreement).
Are SALs included in my monthly payments to AWS? Where do I buy SALs? Does anyone have official documentation from AWS on this topic? The software vendor from which I purchased my company's VL Office has never heard of SALs.
Additionally, I have not been able to find clear documentation regarding the use of Office on an AWS Windows instance. I know AWS supports LM (Licensing Mobility) for users with certain Volume Licensing agreements but LM only applies to Server Applications.
Microsoft Office is a desktop application.
Where can I buy Office for AWS instances? How do I license my users to be able to use Office on an AWS instance?
I've contacted Microsoft and was redirected to AWS. I've contacted AWS but no one seems to know the answers. Is no one else asking these questions? Is no one else using AWS Windows-based servers in a multi-user environment over RDP?
Any input on this topic would be very much appreciated.