Power Your Data with SQL Server
Harness the performance and security of SQL Server to efficiently query, manage, and analyze your data with enterprise-grade reliability.
Licensing Options for SQL Server Standard
Option 1: Server + Client Access License (CAL)
Ideal for businesses needing flexible user-based licensing:
-
Each server running SQL Server requires a license.
-
Every user or device accessing the server must have a CAL matching or newer than the SQL Server version (e.g., a 2022 CAL works with SQL Server 2019 or 2017).
-
A single CAL grants access to multiple licensed SQL Servers, including Standard and legacy Business Intelligence or Enterprise Editions.
Option 2: Per-Core Licensing
Best for high-performance environments, virtualized deployments, or scenarios where user-based licensing isn’t practical:
-
Licenses are based on the number of processor cores, ensuring consistent measurement across on-premises, cloud, or hybrid setups.
-
Every physical core in a server must be licensed, with a minimum of four core licenses per processor.
-
Suitable for large-scale, external-facing applications or environments with unlimited user access.
SQL Server Standard vs. Enterprise
Key Features:
| Feature |
Standard |
Enterprise |
| Compute & Storage |
|
|
| Max Cores |
24 |
OS Maximum |
| Max Memory per Instance |
128 GB |
OS Maximum |
| Max Database Size |
524 PB |
524 PB |
| Advanced Analytics & AI |
|
|
| Big Data Clusters (Spark, HDFS) |
✓ |
✓ |
| PolyBase Data Virtualization |
✓ |
✓ |
| Machine Learning Services |
✓ |
✓ |
| Azure ML & Spark ML Integration |
✓ |
✓ |
| Performance & Availability |
|
|
| Free DR Replicas (Azure/On-Prem) |
✓ |
✓ |
| Intelligent Query Processing |
Limited |
Full Support |
| Accelerated Database Recovery |
✓ |
✓ |
| Kubernetes Deployment Support |
✓ |
✓ |
| Security & Compliance |
|
|
| Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves |
✓ |
✓ |
| Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) |
✓ |
✓ |
| Data Classification & Auditing |
✓ |
✓ |
| Vulnerability Assessment |
✓ |
✓ |
Why Choose SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server remains a top-tier database solution, delivering unmatched speed, security, and scalability.
Equip your business with cutting-edge data management—download SQL Server Standard today and unlock powerful tools like Big Data clusters, Azure Machine Learning, and intelligent query optimization.
For seamless deployment, take advantage of free installation support from Microsoft Cloud Solutions Partner, EIT Ware. Elevate your data infrastructure.
