RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server

Question

The Azure AVD documentation https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/

states: '**RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server is available through September 30, 2025, to Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners only.'

I would like to know if this restriction is also applicable to VM in Azure with RDS access for customers (not AVD)? and if Azure ISV clients can continue to use RDS SAL through SPLA after the September 30, 2025, to expose VM/RDS to customer?

Answer 1

Hi Hussein Alaa,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Platform! Thank you for asking your question here.

It's correct that Azure stated 'RDS SAL user access right for Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server is available through September 30, 2025, to Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners only' but this restriction is not extended to Virtual Machines in Azure with RDS access for customers. In future, if there are any such changes occur Azure will announce it officially.
VMs have different licensing requirements for standard Azure Virtual Machines using Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services (RDS), the requirement for RDS SALs is part of the general licensing framework.
ISVs using SPLA to provide RDS access to customers on Azure VMs will remain unaffected as there’s no public statement in official Microsoft documentation indicating that this right will be discontinued for Azure VMs after September 30, 2025.

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