Introduction
Microsoft SPLA is a licensing program that allows service providers to offer hosted Microsoft software services to customers, including eligible Windows Server workloads. For businesses evaluating hosted Windows VMs, SPLA matters because licensing is part of the infrastructure decision, not a detail to think about later.
Raff Technologies is now a Microsoft SPLA Partner, which means Raff LLC can provide hosted Microsoft software licensing through its SPLA agreement where applicable. This is especially important for customers using Windows VMs for business applications, Remote Desktop access, Microsoft-based workloads, testing environments, or production services that need a clearer licensing path.
Microsoft describes the Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement, commonly known as SPLA, as a program for service providers and software companies to license eligible Microsoft products and provide software services or hosted applications to end customers. In this guide, you will learn what SPLA means, how it applies to hosted Windows VMs, when it matters, what it does not cover, and how to think about Windows VM licensing on Raff.
What Microsoft SPLA Means
Microsoft SPLA, or the Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement, is designed for providers that deliver software services to customers using Microsoft products. Instead of every end customer separately managing every eligible Microsoft software license for a hosted environment, a service provider can license eligible Microsoft products through SPLA and provide those hosted services to customers.
In simple terms, SPLA is a licensing framework for hosted Microsoft software.
That distinction matters because cloud hosting changes the licensing model. When you run Microsoft software on your own hardware, the licensing questions are different from when a third-party provider hosts software services for you. A hosted Windows VM is not only a virtual server; it is a Microsoft software environment running inside a provider’s infrastructure.
Microsoft’s SPLA guidance explains that service providers and independent software vendors can license eligible Microsoft products on a monthly basis during a three-year agreement term to provide software services and applications to end users. Microsoft also states that SPLA provides license rights to host specific Microsoft products as outlined in the Microsoft Service Provider Use Rights, or SPUR.
You can read Microsoft’s official SPLA overview here:
Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement
You can also review Microsoft’s SPLA guidance and SPUR terms here:
Microsoft SPLA Licensing Guidance
Microsoft Services Provider Use Rights
For customers, the practical takeaway is this: SPLA gives a hosting provider a structured way to license eligible Microsoft software for hosted services.
Why SPLA Matters for Hosted Windows VMs
Hosted Windows VMs need licensing clarity because Windows Server is licensed software, not just an operating system image. If you are using a Windows VM for production, business applications, Remote Desktop access, or Microsoft-based workloads, the license path should be clear before the workload becomes important.
This is different from many Linux workloads.
With Linux, the operating system is usually open source, and the licensing conversation is often simpler. You still need to think about application licenses, database licenses, support, security, and compliance, but the base OS does not usually create the same Microsoft licensing questions.
Windows Server is different.
A hosted Windows VM may be used for:
- Business applications that require Windows
- Remote Desktop access
- .NET or IIS workloads
- Microsoft SQL Server workloads
- legacy Windows-only software
- testing and staging environments
- administration tools
- internal company systems
- client-specific software environments
In those cases, the provider should be able to explain how Microsoft licensing works.
If a provider cannot clearly explain whether a Windows VM is running under an evaluation license, SPLA, BYOL, or another valid licensing path, the customer is left with uncertainty. That uncertainty affects procurement, compliance, audit posture, and whether the workload is suitable for production.
Licensing clarity becomes part of infrastructure quality.
A Windows VM is not only CPU, RAM, storage, and RDP access. It is also the operating model behind those resources.
The Main Windows Licensing Paths
Windows Server licensing in hosted environments usually falls into a few practical paths. The right path depends on the workload, the customer’s existing licenses, and whether the VM is for testing or production.
| Licensing path | Best for | Production-ready? | Who handles licensing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation license | Testing, demos, learning, non-production trials | No | Microsoft evaluation terms |
| SPLA through provider | Hosted production workloads without customer-owned licenses | Yes, where applicable | Service provider |
| BYOL with eligible licenses | Customers with qualifying licenses and rights | Yes, if eligible | Customer, with verification |
| Unsupported or unclear licensing | Risky deployments | No | Not recommended |
The important point is that these paths are not interchangeable.
A 180-day Windows Server evaluation license can be useful for testing and learning, but it is not the right basis for production business workloads. SPLA is often the cleaner path when you want the provider to supply eligible Microsoft software licensing for hosted services. BYOL can work in some cases, but only when the customer’s licenses and rights support that deployment model.
Raff’s Windows licensing page explains the three paths on Raff: 180-day evaluation, SPLA monthly through Raff, and BYOL with Software Assurance where eligible. You can read that page here:
Windows Server Licensing on Raff: Evaluation, SPLA, and BYOL Explained
How SPLA Differs from BYOL
SPLA and BYOL solve different problems.
SPLA is provider-led licensing. The hosting provider uses its SPLA agreement to license eligible Microsoft products for hosted services. This is useful when the customer does not already have eligible licenses or wants the provider to handle the hosted licensing path.
BYOL, or bring your own license, is customer-led licensing. The customer uses licenses they already own, but those licenses must be eligible for the hosted environment. In Microsoft licensing, eligibility can depend on product type, Software Assurance, License Mobility, subscription rights, deployment model, and specific use terms.
The practical difference is responsibility.
With SPLA, the provider supplies the licensing path for eligible hosted Microsoft software services.
With BYOL, the customer needs to confirm that their existing Microsoft licenses can legally move into the hosted environment.
That is why BYOL should not be treated casually. Owning a Microsoft license does not automatically mean it can be used in every hosted scenario. A license that works on-premises may not always work the same way in a third-party cloud environment.
For many small teams, SPLA is simpler because it avoids the need to interpret existing Microsoft licensing rights before deploying. For larger organizations with established Microsoft agreements, BYOL may make sense if the licenses are eligible and properly documented.
How SPLA Applies on Raff
Raff LLC is a Microsoft SPLA Partner, which means Raff can provide hosted Microsoft software licensing through its SPLA agreement where applicable. For customers evaluating Windows VMs, this gives Raff a clearer licensing foundation for eligible Microsoft workloads.
On Raff, Windows workloads may involve different paths depending on the use case:
- Evaluation licensing for testing, demos, and non-production environments
- SPLA licensing for eligible hosted production Microsoft workloads
- BYOL for customers with qualifying Microsoft licenses and proper rights
This matters because not every Windows VM is used the same way.
A developer testing an application may need a temporary Windows Server environment. A business running a production Windows application may need a licensed hosted Microsoft software environment. A customer with existing Microsoft agreements may want to understand whether BYOL is possible. A team using Remote Desktop may need to think about user access and RDS licensing.
The product may look like one thing — a Windows VM — but the licensing question depends on what the VM is used for.
Raff’s Windows VM product gives customers Windows Server environments with RDP access and administrator control. Raff currently supports Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025, and the Windows VM page explains that Windows Server can be deployed and configured quickly with a 6-month evaluation license included to get started.
You can review the product page here:
For customers who are still comparing infrastructure options, it is also useful to review general VM plans:
What SPLA Does Not Mean
SPLA is important, but it should not be misunderstood.
SPLA does not mean every Microsoft product is automatically included in every Raff service. It does not mean every workload has the same licensing requirements. It does not mean customers should ignore their own compliance, usage, application, or contractual responsibilities.
It also does not mean Microsoft separately endorses Raff beyond the SPLA relationship.
The accurate statement is that Raff LLC is a Microsoft SPLA Partner and can provide hosted Microsoft software licensing through its SPLA agreement where applicable.
This wording matters.
Overstating the relationship creates confusion. Understating it misses an important trust signal. The right approach is to explain SPLA precisely and honestly.
A customer should understand that SPLA provides a hosted licensing framework, but the correct licensing path still depends on the product, workload, users, deployment model, and customer scenario.
Licensing Questions to Ask Before Production
Before you use a hosted Windows VM for production, ask a few practical licensing questions.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is this workload testing or production? | Evaluation licensing may be suitable for testing, but production needs a proper license path. |
| Who provides the Microsoft license? | The answer may be SPLA through the provider or BYOL through the customer. |
| Does the workload require more than two RDP users? | Multi-user Remote Desktop often introduces RDS licensing considerations. |
| Are you running SQL Server? | SQL Server has its own licensing rules and editions. |
| Are you installing Microsoft 365 Apps or Office? | Office and Microsoft 365 Apps have specific hosted and shared activation requirements. |
| Do you already own eligible Microsoft licenses? | Existing licenses may or may not be usable in a hosted environment. |
| Do you need audit documentation? | Business workloads should have a clear licensing posture. |
The earlier you answer these questions, the easier the deployment becomes.
A common mistake is to treat licensing as something to solve after the server is already running. That creates risk. For production Windows workloads, licensing should be part of the planning process, not a cleanup task.
Common Hosted Windows VM Scenarios
Different Windows VM use cases require different licensing thinking.
Development and Testing
If you are testing an application, learning Windows Server, building a proof of concept, or evaluating whether a workload runs correctly, an evaluation license may be enough. This is useful when the workload is non-production and temporary.
The key word is non-production.
If real business operations depend on the workload, move to a production-ready licensing path such as SPLA or eligible BYOL.
Business Applications
Many businesses still rely on Windows-based applications. These may include accounting software, industry-specific applications, management tools, legacy systems, or internal applications that require Windows Server.
For these workloads, licensing clarity matters because the VM may become part of daily operations.
If a team depends on the application, the server should not be treated like a lab environment.
Remote Desktop Access
Remote Desktop can be simple or complicated depending on the number of users and how the system is used.
Two administrative RDP sessions are not the same as a multi-user remote desktop environment. When multiple users connect regularly, RDS licensing may become relevant.
If your team is planning a shared Windows environment, review the licensing path before deployment.
SQL Server Workloads
SQL Server introduces another layer of licensing. SQL Server Express may be suitable for small or development workloads, but Standard or Enterprise editions have different requirements.
If SQL Server is part of your hosted Windows VM plan, treat SQL Server licensing as its own decision.
Microsoft 365 Apps or Office
Microsoft 365 Apps and Office licensing can be especially confusing in hosted desktop scenarios. Installing retail Office on a shared Windows Server environment is not the same as using Microsoft 365 Apps with the right activation model.
If your workload requires Office applications, confirm the supported licensing and activation approach before installing anything.
Why Licensing Clarity Is a Trust Signal
Licensing clarity is a trust signal because it shows that the provider understands the operational responsibility behind the VM. A cloud provider is not only selling compute; it is providing the environment where customers run real work.
For Linux VMs, customers often focus on performance, package support, networking, storage, and cost.
For Windows VMs, those still matter, but licensing becomes part of the trust layer.
A provider should be able to answer:
- What Windows Server versions are available?
- Is the default license evaluation, SPLA, or BYOL?
- Can SPLA be used for production workloads?
- How does the customer move from testing to production?
- Are there extra licensing requirements for RDS, SQL Server, or Office?
- What should the customer clarify before relying on the VM?
Raff becoming a Microsoft SPLA Partner strengthens this trust layer. It means Raff can discuss hosted Microsoft software licensing through its SPLA agreement and provide a clearer path for Windows VM customers.
This is part of a broader infrastructure principle: serious cloud infrastructure includes the invisible parts too.
Backups, networking, support, pricing, uptime, and licensing all affect whether customers can trust the platform.
Raff-Specific Context
On Raff, Windows VM customers can start with a practical hosted Windows Server environment and then choose the right licensing path as the workload becomes clearer. Raff Windows VMs are designed for users who need RDP access, administrator control, business application hosting, development environments, or Windows-based workloads without maintaining physical hardware.
The Windows VM product page states that Raff can deploy Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025 with full administrator access and RDP. It also explains that a 6-month evaluation license is included to help customers get started.
For production workloads, Raff’s SPLA status gives customers a clearer path: Raff LLC can provide hosted Microsoft software licensing through its SPLA agreement where applicable.
That combination is important.
Testing should be easy.
Production should be clear.
Licensing should not be vague.
If you are evaluating a Windows VM on Raff, start by deciding whether the workload is for testing or production. Then decide whether SPLA through Raff or eligible BYOL is the right path.
For infrastructure planning, you can review:
Windows Server Licensing on Raff
Decision Framework: Which Licensing Path Fits?
Use this simple framework before deploying a hosted Windows VM.
| Situation | Recommended path |
|---|---|
| You are testing, learning, or building a proof of concept | Start with the evaluation license |
| You are running a production workload and want Raff to provide licensing | Use SPLA through Raff where applicable |
| You already own eligible Microsoft licenses with the right rights | Review BYOL eligibility |
| You need multiple Remote Desktop users | Review RDS licensing before deployment |
| You need SQL Server Standard or Enterprise | Review SQL Server licensing separately |
| You need Microsoft 365 Apps or Office | Confirm supported shared activation requirements |
| You are unsure | Ask before production deployment |
The simplest rule is this: evaluation is for testing, SPLA is often the practical path for provider-hosted production workloads, and BYOL only works when the customer’s license rights support the hosted scenario.
Best Practices for Hosted Windows VM Licensing
1. Decide the workload type before deployment
The first question is whether the workload is testing, development, staging, or production. This determines whether an evaluation license is appropriate or whether you need a production-ready license path.
Do not wait until the workload becomes important before asking this question.
2. Treat Microsoft applications separately
Windows Server, SQL Server, RDS, and Microsoft 365 Apps can each introduce different licensing requirements. A licensed Windows Server environment does not automatically solve every Microsoft application licensing question.
List the Microsoft products you plan to use before you deploy.
3. Avoid vague BYOL assumptions
BYOL can be valuable, but only when the licenses are eligible for the hosted scenario. Do not assume that owning a Microsoft license automatically gives you the right to run it in any cloud environment.
Confirm eligibility before relying on BYOL.
4. Plan for Remote Desktop usage
Remote Desktop licensing can change when more than administrative access is involved. If multiple users will connect regularly, review RDS requirements before building the environment.
This prevents surprises after users already depend on the server.
5. Use SPLA when you want provider-managed licensing
SPLA is useful when you want the hosting provider to supply eligible Microsoft software licensing for hosted services. For many small teams and businesses, this is simpler than interpreting existing license agreements.
SPLA does not remove all customer responsibilities, but it can make the hosted licensing path clearer.
6. Keep licensing and infrastructure in the same conversation
Licensing should be discussed together with VM size, storage, backups, networking, access, and support. For business workloads, these decisions are connected.
A properly licensed but poorly backed-up server is still risky. A well-configured server with unclear licensing is also risky.
Good infrastructure planning includes both.
Conclusion
Microsoft SPLA matters for hosted Windows VMs because it gives service providers a licensing framework for eligible Microsoft software services. For customers, that framework creates a clearer path when Windows Server, Remote Desktop, SQL Server, or other Microsoft-based workloads move into a hosted cloud environment.
Raff LLC is now a Microsoft SPLA Partner, which strengthens Raff’s ability to support hosted Microsoft software licensing through SPLA where applicable. This matters most for customers who need Windows VMs for real business work, not only testing.
The right licensing path depends on the workload. Use evaluation licensing for non-production testing. Use SPLA through Raff when you need provider-supplied licensing for eligible hosted Microsoft software services. Use BYOL only when your existing Microsoft licenses support the hosted deployment model.
If you are evaluating a Windows VM, start with the workload and the licensing path together. That will help you avoid surprises later.
For your next step, review Raff Windows VMs, compare available Raff VM options, or read the detailed Windows Server Licensing on Raff page before moving a Microsoft workload into production.
This guide was prepared for Raff customers evaluating hosted Windows workloads and Microsoft licensing options on Raff cloud infrastructure.