Forum Discussion
Clarification on Exchange Server SE Edition and Licensing
Hi everyone,
We are planning to implement Microsoft Exchange Server on premises. Recently, we noticed that Exchange Server 2019 is approaching its end of life, and we don’t see any pricing information for the new Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE).
In this situation, what is the best approach?
Do we need to purchase Exchange Server 2019 first and then upgrade to the SE version?
If so, how does the pricing for the Subscription Edition work?
Will there be an additional cost (for example, a yearly subscription) after upgrading?
We would really appreciate any clarification or guidance on this matter.
Thank you
4 Replies
One thing I’ve noticed is that CSP partners cannot sell Software Assurance licenses, and there is also no subscription-based licensing for Exchange Server like there is for SQL Server. This makes Exchange Server licensing a bit confusing. From what I understand, CSP customers can only purchase Exchange Server 2019 from their partners and then upgrade to the SE edition. However, there is one concern — the Hybrid License. It might have an impact if we set up a hybrid environment with Microsoft 365 without Software Assurance. I understand that there are no technical challenges in doing so, but it may not be fully compliant with Microsoft’s licensing terms. I truly hope Microsoft provides clear and consistent licensing options across all channels, including CSP. Nowadays, it seems the focus is mainly on existing Exchange customers, but there should also be a proper path for new customers who wish to implement Exchange Server without an EA agreement.
Great question, this is something many IT teams are asking right now. From what Microsoft has shared so far, Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) will move to a subscription-based licensing model instead of perpetual licenses.
As per our discussion with the partners, they mentioned that they haven’t received the price list for SE in their portal. They also stated that upgrading to SE requires a server license with Software Assurance (SA). I agree with this, but I am still a bit confused about the following:
If I purchase Exchange 2019 with SA for 1 year with 20 user CALs and upgrade to SE, what happens after 1 year? Will the SE license expire and require renewal?
In most Exchange environments, organizations often buy a minimum number of user CALs (e.g., 10–20) even if the actual number of users is much higher (100+), and it works. If I buy only 10 user CALs for SE, how will it affect access for the remaining users after the upgrade?Your best bet is to talk to your Microsoft licensing partner, but in a nutshell SE requires a server license with Software Assurance for each server and a Client Access License (CAL) for every user or device accessing the server. You can choose between traditional CALs or cloud subscription licenses.
