So when choosing an edition, you should once again take a look at your organization’s needs and requirements. In addition to these functions, the Enterprise edition allows an unlimited amount of cores to be utilized without a cost penalty. But generally speaking, the Enterprise edition offers several advanced functions not included in the Standard edition, such as Advanced Data Encryption.
You can observe and compare all the differences between editions in Microsoft’s SQL Server Guide. Microsoft SQL servers are primarily offered in two editions, Standard and Enterprise. Now that we’ve covered the licensing models we need to talk about the different editions. Microsoft Server SQL Editions and Features That’s a lot to keep in mind when taking a decision, but don’t worry, I’ve got just what you need! Just follow the decision tree below and see where you end up, simple as that! Furthermore, Server + CAL licensing usally ends up being substantially cheaper for smaller organizations. In comparison, the Server + CAL model might feel a bit complex, but it’s easy to manage for smaller organizations. Therefore core-based licensing is generally cheaper for large organizations. Plus, keep in mind that the number of employees and SQL servers usually don’t grow in a linear fashion. They might have a hard time tracking the number of CALs needed for their SQL servers. Imagine a large global organization with users and devices across the world. Moreover, core-based licensing is usually better for large companies as it is easier to manage. This is essentially an almost impossible task to keep track of. That’s because the Server + CAL model would require your organization to purchase a user/device CAL for every external user/device accessing the SQL server.
Core-based licensing is usually the only choice when SQL servers are being accessed externally (outside the company network). Choosing a SQL licensing model: Per Core or Server + CAL?ĭeciding on a licensing model can be a difficult task as both options have their own set of benefits.