Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Enterprise: One Server License, Unlimited User CALs
Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Enterprise is the top-tier on-premises database platform from Microsoft, built for mission-critical workloads where uptime, scalability, and advanced analytics matter. This Indigo Software SKU is the Server license model with unlimited User CALs included, which means a single server activation covers any number of named users in your organization. You are not licensing per user. You license the server once, and your entire user base connects.
When Server plus Unlimited User CAL wins over per-core licensing
For most enterprise workloads with a high user-to-core ratio, the Server plus Unlimited User CAL model is cheaper than per-core licensing. If you have 500 users connecting to SQL Server on a 16-core machine, per-core licensing means 16 cores worth of license packs at thousands of dollars per pack. The Server plus Unlimited User CAL approach is one flat license fee for the server, plus included CALs, and that is the whole bill. If your hardware is denser, with 32 to 80 cores per server, our SQL Server 2022 Enterprise 80 Core License uses the per-core model instead.
This SKU is the right fit when:
- Your user count is in the hundreds and growing
- You need Enterprise edition workloads (high availability cluster, advanced compression, in-memory OLTP, partitioning beyond Standard’s limits)
- You are consolidating SQL Server 2017 or 2019 Enterprise Server plus CAL licenses to the 2022 generation
- You need Microsoft Fabric mirroring at production scale
- You are an ISV embedding SQL Server in a vertical application that ships to enterprise customers
- Your hardware is right-sized at 16 to 32 cores rather than running on high-density 80-plus-core hosts
Enterprise edition capabilities that justify the upgrade
| Feature | Standard | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Max cores | 32 | Operating system maximum |
| Always On availability groups | 1 secondary | 8 secondary, 5 synchronous |
| Online indexing | No | Yes |
| Distributed availability groups | No | Yes |
| Resource Governor | Limited | Full |
| In-memory OLTP | Limited | Full |
| Partitioning | Limited | Full |
| Compression | Limited | Full |
| Buffer pool extension | No | Yes |
If your workload needs any single one of these advanced capabilities, Enterprise is the only edition that delivers it.
What is in your order
- Genuine Microsoft retail product key for SQL Server 2022 Enterprise
- Server license with unlimited User CALs included
- ISO download link for installation media
- Electronic delivery to your email within minutes of order
- Lifetime perpetual license, no renewals required
- US-based customer support for activation help
What is new in SQL Server 2022 Enterprise
SQL Server 2022 introduces production-grade modernization features unique to Enterprise edition:
- Always On distributed availability groups across multiple regions for geographic redundancy
- Real-time mirroring to Microsoft Fabric, which eliminates ETL latency for business intelligence dashboards
- Intelligent query processing improvements, including parameter-sensitive plan optimization
- Snapshot backups for nearly-instant point-in-time recovery on Azure-attached storage
- Object storage integration with S3-compatible endpoints
- Optimized locking that reduces lock memory pressure for high-concurrency workloads
- Microsoft Entra ID authentication for credential management
Buy from a Microsoft licensing partner IT teams know
Indigo Software has been a Microsoft licensing partner since 2016, with over 100,000 organizations served and a 4.9 / 5.0 verified rating from 500-plus customer reviews. We source licenses through authorized channels, deliver electronically within minutes, and stand behind every key with US-based customer support.
Order your SQL Server 2022 Enterprise Server License with Unlimited User CALs today. If your workload does not need Enterprise-tier features and a Standard edition multi-instance license fits the deployment, our SQL Server 2022 Standard Multi-Server License is a lower-cost alternative. For the latest generation, see our SQL Server 2025 Enterprise 40 Core License.
