Used SharePoint Server licences
A used SharePoint Server licence from Soft & Cloud reduces your IT costs
Microsoft SharePoint is a powerful and intuitive content management system (CMS) for companies that simplifies the management of digital contacts, applications and content in a corporate context. With a used SharePoint Server licence, you can install and use the platform in your company completely legally without any functional or time restrictions. In addition to the actual SharePoint Server licence, additional Client Access Licences (CALs) are also required, which you can also purchase used from us.
SharePoint Server functions at a glance
Microsoft SharePoint is a web application with which companies can centrally store, share and edit different types of digital content such as documents, images or multimedia files. Content is structured and displayed in SharePoint in so-called sites, which can be linked to each other as required and assigned user-specific rights.
Sites can be used to set up and maintain internal company intranets, into which wikis, forums, team websites or team calendars, for example, can be easily and quickly integrated. SharePoint is natively integrated into Microsoft Teams for this purpose, so that a SharePoint site is automatically created for all group members when a new group is created in Teams, for example.
SharePoint's native data governance functions support users in complying with legal requirements such as the EU GDPR. This is complemented by security features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to better protect digital content from external threats (e.g. hacking, phishing, data theft, etc.). With MFA, users must authenticate their identity in at least two ways, e.g. by entering a password and a code, which is issued to the user via SMS.
What is the difference between a used SharePoint Server licence and the purchase of a new licence?
Microsoft has developed a licence model for its various servers that consists of two components: the actual server licence (e.g. SharePoint Server 2019) and client access licences (CAL). Both are not only sold directly by Microsoft, but can also be sold as used software by companies that do not (or no longer) need their licences.
The prerequisite for this is that the corresponding software is no longer used in the company and the original terms of purchase permit a resale. The ECJ established this back in 2012 in a ruling that was confirmed by the Federal Court of Justice in 2013.
At Soft & Cloud, you will only receive used licences that have been sold to us completely legally and which we resell at particularly favourable conditions. We are the first used software retailer to be certified by the certification body of TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH - once again. Our processes fulfil all requirements, which is why we can guarantee the origin, legality and audit security of all used licences offered by us.
For our customers, this means that they receive, for example, a SharePoint Server licence at a cost that is considerably lower than Microsoft's list prices. These are original licences with which you can use the software for an unlimited period of time and with all functions. Used licences also entitle you to free updates and service packs as well as support services from Microsoft within the scope of the licence agreements.
In addition to the lower costs for acquisition and operation, used licences offer another advantage: with used licences you can also use and operate older software versions that are no longer offered by Microsoft.
Buy used licences for SharePoint Server
At Soft & Cloud, companies can buy used licences for Microsoft products legally and particularly cost-effectively, thereby significantly reducing their IT costs. We offer you both the respective Microsoft SharePoint Server licence, with which the server instance is licensed, as well as the access licences (CALs). These so-called Client Access Licences are required for each user (User CAL) or each device (Device CAL) that accesses the SharePoint server and uses its services.
In addition to the current version of SharePoint (SharePoint Server 2019), you can also buy licences for older software versions from us at a reasonable price. If you need a used licence for SharePoint Server 2016, for example, simply contact our Soft & Cloud licence consultants. Because even if we don't currently have a SharePoint Server 2016 licence listed in our webshop, we can usually procure the required used licence for you within a short time on request.
Incidentally, when purchasing used volume licences, you can also acquire downgrade rights with which you can licence older versions of the software - for example, from SharePoint Server 2019 to SharePoint Server 2016 or 2013. Our Soft & Cloud licence consultants will be happy to inform you personally if you are interested.
Microsoft offers two different models for using and licensing SharePoint: SharePoint Server as an on-premise installation and as a SaaS application in the Microsoft cloud:
SharePoint Server - On-Premise
On-premise means ‘in your own environment’ and means that the software is installed and operated in the company on its own server hardware. Companies must provide and operate the necessary hardware and licence the software. On-premise installations offer several advantages compared to using the application in the Microsoft cloud: The local installation makes it possible to comply with internal company security guidelines and retain full control over your own data. This is particularly relevant for companies that have to (or want to) fulfil stricter data protection requirements or require special protection for their sensitive data.
In addition, on-premise installations do not incur any running costs, so companies retain cost control and can plan and budget investments precisely. This is because the use of cloud-based software incurs monthly costs, and Microsoft also adjusts the prices of its subscription models at regular intervals. On the other hand, server and access licences only need to be purchased once for installations on your own hardware in order to be able to operate and use the software permanently without any further costs.
On the other hand, using software such as Microsoft SharePoint Server on your own hardware not only requires investment in IT hardware and infrastructure: with local installations, companies are responsible for installing updates and patches themselves and must also organise backups of their data themselves.
Alternative: Using SharePoint in the Microsoft cloud
Microsoft offers SharePoint individually or as part of Microsoft 365 Business Standard as a cloud application. This is a paid subscription model for which monthly or annual costs are incurred for the entire period of use. Companies that do not operate their own server hardware can use SharePoint flexibly and with little technical effort. Updates or upgrades are provided automatically by Microsoft so that the cloud application is always up to date.
Another advantage is the high scalability, which does not require any investment in additional or better hardware. However, only very limited adjustments can be made to SharePoint or the utilities, applications etc. used with it in the cloud. Companies that use interfaces to other IT systems for automatic data exchange, for example, therefore have considerably more options available with a local installation.
With Microsoft 365 Hybrid Cloud, SharePoint can also be operated and used in a hybrid environment consisting of Microsoft Cloud and a local SharePoint server. This allows the functions, services and features of both environments to be used - however, in addition to the running costs for using the cloud service, the acquisition costs for the server and access licences are also incurred. All the more reason to opt for original, used licences from Soft & Cloud, which are considerably cheaper.
For small and medium-sized companies, a combination of on-premise installations and cloud applications is therefore often the best choice. Where necessary, software is operated on the company's own hardware and licensed locally, while cloud solutions are used where possible or sensible, as they are superior to in-house installations in terms of scalability and flexibility.
Frequently asked questions and answers
What is a SharePoint server and how does it work?
A SharePoint server is an intuitive information and collaboration platform that companies can use to create intranets, for example. All content is stored centrally on the server and organised in the form of sites or communities so that different users can access, change or edit it together. The centralised platform simplifies collaboration in teams, departments and across the company.
What is SharePoint used for?
SharePoint from Microsoft is a web-based content management system with which digital contacts, applications and content can be managed easily, conveniently and in a legally compliant manner. The platform facilitates collaboration in teams and makes it easy to set up internal company social networks and intranet portals through which users can exchange and jointly edit data and documents regardless of their location.
Where is SharePoint hosted?
SharePoint is offered in two versions: SharePoint Online is a cloud-based version that is hosted on Microsoft servers and billed monthly or annually as a subscription. SharePoint 2019 is an on-premise solution that companies can operate on their own servers; in addition to server licences, access licences (CALs) are also required.
How long will SharePoint be around?
The current version SharePoint Server 2019 will be supported by Microsoft until at least 14 July 2026 and will be supplied with patches and updates free of charge until this date. After the end of the support period, SharePoint Server 2019 (as well as older versions) can continue to be used, but Microsoft will no longer release patches for security vulnerabilities discovered after this date.
