CAL — Client Access License
Category: licensing
A license that authorizes a user or device to access a Microsoft server product (Windows Server, Exchange, SharePoint, SQL Server in the Server+CAL model). The server license covers the server software itself; the CAL covers who connects to it.
CALs come in two flavors: User CAL (follows the person across all their devices) and Device CAL (tied to one machine, covers anyone who logs in).
Example & usage
30 staff each using a laptop and a phone → 30 User CALs.
5 shop-floor terminals shared by 20 shift workers → 5 Device CALs.
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