
Why you should license your Azure DevOps Server 2022 with User and Device CAL
The Microsoft Azure DevOps Server 2022 Client Access License (CAL) grants you access to a suite of robust collaboration tools, including Azure Boards, Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, Azure Test Plans, and Azure Artifacts Feeds. CALs are necessary for both internal and external users or devices, except for certain management and work item functionalities. With Azure DevOps Server 2022 CAL, you gain the essential access required to maximize the capabilities of this development platform, enabling the delivery of software projects.
Details of services offered by collaboration tools in Azure DevOps Server 2022
Azure Boards
Visualizes work items as cards and easily updates statuses with a simple drag-and-drop motion, similar to moving sticky notes on a whiteboard. This feature enables you to implement Kanban practices, providing a clear visualization of your team’s workflow. Other core functionality of Azure Boards are Backlogs, Sprints, Queries, Analytic views and Delivery Plans.
Azure Repos
Azure Repos offers a suite of version control tools designed to help you manage your code effectively. Regardless of whether your software project is large or small, implementing version control early is highly beneficial.
Version control systems are vital software tools that allow you to track changes made to your code over time. As you modify your code, you can instruct the system to capture a snapshot of your files. This snapshot is then permanently stored, enabling you to retrieve it whenever necessary. Leveraging version control is essential for preserving your work and ensuring seamless coordination of code changes across your team.
Azure Pipelines
Azure Pipelines, a component of Azure DevOps, automates the building, testing, and deployment of code projects. It integrates continuous integration, continuous testing, and continuous delivery, enabling seamless code delivery to any destination. Supporting all major languages and project types, Azure Pipelines ensures efficient and reliable development workflows.
Azure Artifacts Feeds
Azure Artifacts feeds serve as organizational tools that enable you to store, manage, and share packages while maintaining access control. These feeds are versatile, accommodating various package types
What are the types of Microsoft Azure DevOps Server 2022 Client Access Licenses?
Microsoft Azure DevOps Server 2022 Client Access Licenses (CALs) offer flexible licensing options, available on a per-user or per-device basis. User CALs are particularly cost-effective and ideal for scenarios where users operate multiple devices. A User CAL grants an individual the ability to access Azure DevOps Server 2022 from any device, enhancing productivity without restrictions.
Device CALs offer a cost-effective solution ideal for scenarios where multiple users share a single device. By licensing the device, these CALs permit multiple users to access Azure DevOps Server 2022 from that specific device. Additionally, certain functionalities, like management and creating, reading, or modifying work items, do not require Azure DevOps Server CALs.
Some challenges accompanying the use of Microsoft Azure DevOps Server 2022
Licensing and cost
Azure DevOps Server 2022 requires purchasing both a server license and a client access license (CAL) for each user or device accessing the platform. Moreover, you must bear the costs of hardware, maintenance, and server security, which can elevate operational expenses and complexity.
Scalability and Performance
A significant challenge with Azure DevOps Server 2022 lies in its scalability and performance. As project size and complexity increase, scaling your servers—either up or out—may become necessary to manage the workload and traffic. However, scaling up can be costly and constrained by hardware limits, while scaling out may lead to network latency and synchronization issues. Additionally, regular monitoring and optimization of server performance are essential to prevent bottlenecks and downtime.
Security and Compliance
Another challenge of Azure DevOps Server 2022 is ensuring security and compliance. Being a self-hosted platform, you bear the responsibility for safeguarding your data and infrastructure against evolving threats and regulations. This involves protecting your servers from unauthorized access, malware, and data breaches, while also adhering to the applicable laws and policies specific to your industry and region.
Talk to our team of Microsoft licensing experts about using Azure DevOps Server 2022 CAL
There are options to consider just in case using Azure DevOps Server 2022 is costly to your organization’s operations. You may want to consider reducing costs by considering using Azure DevOps Services or hybridizing your environment, but will the alternative really fit your solution. The cost factor should not be your only consideration as an organization. Our team will help you look at your organization’s in-depth depth to suggest the best recommendations.
Our team over the years, as a result of working with various organizations in different industries, has been able to observe best practices and standards we can share with you. This will fall in line with your efforts to stay complaint and avoid fines.
We will go a step further to check your licensing position as an organization and can guide you with any Microsoft audit preparation, negotiations on CAL license purchases or share with you guidelines after thorough observation have been done of your IT estate.