Buy RDS User CALs + access licence – user-based bundle

For businesses whose employees access the server from several devices – for example from the office PC, the laptop at home and a tablet on the go – user-based licensing with Remote Desktop Services User CALs is the most economical solution. With the RDS User CALs + Windows Server bundle from Lizenzindustrie you get the server licence and the matching user-based access licences in one order – at an overall price below that of buying them separately. You will find all versions under Windows Server & Remote.

What is an RDS User CAL?

A Remote Desktop Services User CAL (Client Access Licence) is an access licence for Remote Desktop connections to a Windows server that is assigned to a specific user. The decisive advantage: the licence is tied to a person – not to a device. An employee with a User CAL can access the server from any number of devices without a separate licence being required for each individual device.

This makes User CAL licensing particularly attractive for modern working environments in which employees regularly switch between different devices – the office desktop, the laptop at home, a tablet on the go or their private PC for occasional access outside working hours.

Who are RDS User CALs worthwhile for?

User-based licensing is the more economical choice if the number of your employees is smaller than the number of devices from which the server is accessed:

Home office and hybrid workplaces: employees who work both in the office and from home and use different devices to do so.
Field staff: sales staff and consultants who access central server resources from laptops, tablets and smartphones alike.
Managers and knowledge workers: employees who frequently switch between their workstation PC, a mobile laptop and a private device for occasional tasks.
Businesses with a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategy: if employees are allowed to access company resources with various devices of their own, user-based licensing is considerably easier to manage than device-based licensing.

User CAL or Device CAL – helping you decide

Count two values in your business environment: the number of employees who need Remote Desktop access and the total number of devices from which the server is accessed. If the number of users is smaller than the number of devices, User CALs are the more economical choice. For environments with the opposite ratio – more users than devices, for example with shift work at shared terminals – we recommend the RDS Device CALs + Device Access Licence bundle instead.

What is included in the bundle?

Windows Server – the current server operating system as the foundation for your User CAL environment. The current version, Windows Server 2025, and older versions are also available individually.

RDS User CALs – user-based Remote Desktop access licences in the quantity you need. You will find individual RDS CALs under Remote Desktop Services CAL.

How buying from Lizenzindustrie works

Here is how to order the bundle with user-based RDS CALs: choose the number of User CALs you need, add to your basket and complete your purchase – you will receive all licence keys by email, usually within 5 to 30 minutes after payment is received (daily 9:00–21:00). No physical shipping. You then install the RDS CALs on the Remote Desktop licence server.

✔ Delivery by email – all licence keys usually 5 to 30 minutes after payment is received (daily 9:00–21:00)
✔ Verified licences – with proof of licence for your records
✔ Cheaper than buying the server licence and User CALs separately
✔ User-based – one employee, any number of devices
✔ Ideal for home office & mobile working
✔ Traceable origin – licences from distributors and wholesalers in Europe
✔ Fast support – we help you quickly if you have questions

Not sure how many User CALs your business needs? Our Support & Service team will advise you free of charge.

Frequently asked questions about RDS User CALs

Can an employee with a User CAL really access the server from any device?

Yes – the User CAL is tied to the user's identity, not to a specific device. An employee with a valid User CAL can access the server from their office PC, their laptop, a tablet or any other device without a separate licence being required for each individual device.

What happens when an employee leaves the company?

The User CAL can be permanently reassigned to the new employee who takes over the position. Such a reassignment is permitted under the Microsoft licence terms – switching back and forth between people at short notice, however, is not.

Do I also need User CALs for guest access or external consultants?

Yes – every user who accesses the server via Remote Desktop needs a valid CAL, regardless of whether they are a permanent employee, an external consultant or another guest user.