Exchange Server 2016 Standard User CAL
Price on request
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Manufacturer number | 381‐04398 |
| Product number | CAL2016EX_STD_US |
100% original licences
audit-proof – we assume liability
Fast delivery
Delivery of licences within a few hours via our own download portal
100% security
through TÜV-certified licence transfer
Prompt support
Reliable thanks to our experienced team of experts
Features
- User-based access rights: Allows a specifically assigned user to access an unlimited number of Exchange Server instances within the organisation – regardless of which or how many end devices they use to do so.
- Full functional access under the standard server licence: Enables the use of core Exchange functions, including email, calendar, contacts and task management, as well as mailbox access via Outlook, Outlook on the Web (OWA) and mobile devices (Exchange ActiveSync).
- Cross-platform access Supports access via Windows PCs, mobile devices and browser-based clients alike.
- Broad application compatibility: Suitable for users who access mailboxes and calendars via Outlook clients, web browsers or mobile email apps.
- Audit security: Helps ensure proper licensing and protects against under-licensing during audits.
Advantages
- Device independence: A licensed user can access Exchange from any number of end devices – particularly cost-effective for mobile working styles, home working and BYOD scenarios.
- Easy scalability: New users can be integrated into the existing infrastructure quickly and easily by purchasing additional User CALs.
- Unlimited number of servers: A licensed user may access any number of Exchange server instances within the organisation, provided these are correctly licensed.
- Assignment via the user account: The licence is tied to a uniquely identifiable user, which facilitates traceability, particularly where users have multiple or frequently changing end devices.
- Investment protection for existing infrastructure: Thanks to the downgrade right, the CAL can also be used in environments still running an older version of Exchange and remains usable following a subsequent migration to Exchange Server 2016.
Special Features
- User focus: Ideal for organisations where users access the system from multiple or changing devices, or where the number of devices exceeds the number of users (e.g. employees with a PC, laptop, smartphone and tablet).
- Version compatibility: The Exchange Server 2016 Standard CAL grants access to Exchange Server 2016 as well as – via the downgrade right – to older versions (e.g. 2013, 2010 and earlier). Access to newer versions such as Exchange Server 2019 requires a corresponding 2019 CAL.
- Mailbox and calendar access: Enables users to make full use of personal mailboxes, shared calendars, distribution lists and public folders – from any device they use.
- Extension option: If required, the Standard CAL can be extended with the Enterprise CAL add-on to enable features such as In-Place Hold, eDiscovery, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) or Information Rights Management (IRM).
Areas of application
- Mobile and cross-device working: Users who work on several devices (PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet) simultaneously or regularly change their place of work.
- Working from home and remote working: Employees who access both personal and shared mailboxes from home or whilst on the move.
- BYOD environments: Organisations that allow access via personal devices brought in by staff or a variety of personal devices.
- Scenarios with a high density of devices per user: Environments in which the number of computers and mobile devices significantly exceeds the number of staff.
Requirements
- Licensing model: Server + CAL model. In addition to the User CAL, a separate server licence must be purchased for each instance of the Exchange Server that is running. The Standard CAL covers the basic mailbox and communication functions; the Enterprise CAL add-on is also required for advanced compliance and security features.
- Allocation: The CAL is permanently allocated to a named user, who may access the system from any number of end devices. Reallocation to another user is generally permitted after 90 days at the earliest (exceptions apply, for example, in the event of an employee’s permanent departure).
- Note on multiplexing: If users access the Exchange Server indirectly via middleware, web front-ends, pooling mechanisms or third-party applications, a separate CAL is still required for each of these users. Multiplexing does not reduce the CAL requirement.
- Legal validity: The current Microsoft Product Terms (formerly Product Use Rights) are always decisive for legally compliant licensing. This product description is for guidance only and does not replace individual licensing advice.
Conclusion
The Exchange Server 2016 Standard User CAL is a flexible solution for organisations wishing to licence their email and communications infrastructure on a per-user basis. It offers legal certainty and clear allocation at user level – particularly when staff access Exchange from multiple or changing end devices. If the number of your devices exceeds the number of your users, or if your users work remotely and across multiple devices, the User CAL provides you with an efficient tool for using Exchange Server 2016 in a legally compliant manner, without having to licence each individual device separately.
Note on the support lifecycle
Mainstream support for Exchange Server 2016 ended on 13 October 2020; extended support ran until 14 October 2025 and has therefore now expired. For new deployments, Microsoft recommends migrating to the Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) or switching to Exchange Online. The Standard User CAL remains a sensible choice, however, for existing environments with a planned migration or for hybrid transition scenarios.
Get a non-binding consultation now.
