Do you still need Windows licences
to stream apps to a browser?
A browser tab makes the user side simple, which tempts people to think licensing got simpler too. It did not. The application still runs on Windows, so Windows and the application's own licences still apply. This guide covers what to check, not a ruling, because the answer depends on your agreements.
By the Onscryn team · Published · 5 min read
What does not change
The application runs on a Windows server that you provide, in your office or with a cloud provider. A Windows Server licence applies to that server, and people or computers connecting to it generally need the matching access licences.
Onscryn works with your existing Microsoft licences. When you connect a server it tells you in plain words which ones you need, but it does not replace them.
Three licences to separate
It helps to keep them apart, because different companies own each one.
- Windows Server for the machine the app runs on, from Microsoft.
- Access licences for the people or devices that connect to it, also from Microsoft. This is where Remote Desktop licensing comes in.
- The application's own licence, from its vendor, which may have its own rules about hosted use and concurrent seats.
| Licence | From | What it covers | Ask them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server | Microsoft | The machine the application runs on | Which edition and licence does a server hosting this app need? |
| Access licences | Microsoft | The people or devices that connect to that server, including Remote Desktop licensing | Which apply to our employees, and to contractors? |
| The application | Its vendor | Using the app itself, which may have its own rules for hosted use and concurrent users | Is hosted or remote use allowed, and how are users counted? |
| Onscryn | Onscryn | Streaming, sign-in, data controls, recording and automation, priced by people using apps at once | See the pricing page |
Questions to ask before you roll out
Put these to Microsoft, your licensing reseller and the application's vendor in writing.
- Which Microsoft licences does a Windows server hosting this app for our people need?
- Do contractors and outside staff need their own, or can they be covered another way?
- Does the vendor's licence allow the app to be used on a hosted server, and how are concurrent users counted?
- Which of these costs are per person, per device or per server?
Where Onscryn's own pricing fits
Onscryn plans are priced by how many people use apps at the same moment, not by how many people you invite. That is a separate cost from Microsoft and the application vendor, so it is worth putting all three side by side when you compare options.
Do not skip this step
Licensing is the part of a rollout that is least visible and most expensive to get wrong. Settle it before you invite the first user, and keep the written answers with your rollout notes.
Related features
Questions.
No. Onscryn works with your existing Microsoft licences. We tell you which ones apply when you connect a server.