{"product_id":"windows-server-2022-essentials","title":"Windows Server 2022 Essentials — Licence Key","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWindows Server 2022 Essentials — the server for small businesses\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWindows Server 2022 Essentials is the edition built for organisations with fewer than 25 users. Its main advantage fits in one line: \u003cstrong\u003eit needs no Client Access Licences (CALs)\u003c\/strong\u003e. Where the Standard edition requires a CAL for every user or device, Essentials covers your whole team with a single server licence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a practice, agency or workshop of ten to twenty people, the saving is real and the licensing admin disappears. Genuine key delivered by email, activation directly with Microsoft's servers, perpetual licence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLimits to know before you buy\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEssentials has hard limits, and it's better to know them up front. The licence is capped at \u003cstrong\u003e25 users and 50 devices\u003c\/strong\u003e, on a single server with one processor of up to 10 cores. It cannot run additional server roles in virtual machines the way Standard can, and it cannot be a node in a failover cluster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your headcount is close to 25 or you expect to grow, look at \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/windows-server-2022-standard\"\u003eWindows Server 2022 Standard\u003c\/a\u003e with the matching CALs instead: the upfront cost is higher, but you won't have to replace everything in two years. Going over the Essentials cap is not a grey area — the server refuses additional connections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Windows Server 2022 Essentials does\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActive Directory\u003c\/strong\u003e — central user accounts, Group Policy, single sign-on\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFile and print server\u003c\/strong\u003e — central shares, group permissions, encrypted SMB 3.1.1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecure remote access\u003c\/strong\u003e — remote work on internal resources\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecured-core server\u003c\/strong\u003e — hardware-based protections inherited from the higher editions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSMB over QUIC\u003c\/strong\u003e — file access over TLS 1.3 without a VPN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWindows Defender and SMB encryption\u003c\/strong\u003e — built-in protection, no extra licence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAzure hybrid integration\u003c\/strong\u003e — backup and disaster recovery to the cloud\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEssentials vs Standard vs Datacenter\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #d7dcdd;\"\u003eCriterion\u003c\/th\u003e\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #d7dcdd;\"\u003eEssentials\u003c\/th\u003e\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #d7dcdd;\"\u003eStandard\u003c\/th\u003e\u003cth style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border-bottom:2px solid #d7dcdd;\"\u003eDatacenter\u003c\/th\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eUsers\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003e25 maximum\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eUnlimited (with CALs)\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eUnlimited (with CALs)\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eCALs required\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eVirtual machines\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003e1 (host or VM)\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003e2 per licence\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eUnlimited\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eFailover clustering\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eTypical profile\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eMicro-business, practice, workshop\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eSMB, light virtualisation\u003c\/td\u003e\u003ctd style=\"padding:8px;border-bottom:1px solid #e4e8e9;\"\u003eData centre\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSystem requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProcessor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.4 GHz 64-bit, one socket, up to 10 cores\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMemory:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended in production\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisk space:\u003c\/strong\u003e 32 GB minimum, more depending on your data\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNetwork:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gigabit Ethernet adapter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirmware:\u003c\/strong\u003e UEFI 2.3.1c with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnd of extended support:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 October 2031\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat you receive\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour Windows Server 2022 Essentials licence key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe download link for the Microsoft ISO\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe transfer of usage rights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour digital invoice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA step-by-step installation and activation guide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo I really need zero CALs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. No Client Access Licence is required up to 25 users and 50 devices. That is the main cost argument for this edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat happens if I go over 25 users?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap is technical: beyond it, extra connections are refused. You then need to move to the Standard edition with CALs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I virtualise with Essentials?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly in a very limited way: the licence covers either installation on the physical hardware or a single virtual machine, not both. For real virtualisation you need Standard or \u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/windows-server-2022-datacenter\"\u003eDatacenter\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan Essentials be a domain controller?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Active Directory Domain Services is included and works normally within the edition's limits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long is it supported?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft provides extended support until 14 October 2031.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs the key genuine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It activates directly with Microsoft's servers, with no third-party software, and is replaced free of charge if activation fails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAround your server\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo equip the connected workstations, see our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/windows-11\"\u003eWindows 11 licences\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/office\"\u003eMicrosoft Office licences\u003c\/a\u003e. For server backup, the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/easeus\"\u003eEaseUS\u003c\/a\u003e range covers system imaging and restore. All server editions are grouped in the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/server-cal\"\u003eWindows Server \u0026amp; CAL\u003c\/a\u003e collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yeslicense","offers":[{"title":"5 Users","offer_id":46483312181447,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"10 Users","offer_id":46483312214215,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20 Users","offer_id":46483312246983,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"50 Users","offer_id":46483312279751,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/3420\/6919\/files\/Windows-Server-2022-Essentails.png?v=1777699280","url":"https:\/\/yeslicense.org\/en\/products\/windows-server-2022-essentials-licence-key","provider":"Yeslicense","version":"1.0","type":"link"}