Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard – 24 Core Licence

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard is a powerful relational database platform designed for businesses that need reliable data management, application database services, security, reporting and analytics.

Built for professional and business environments, SQL Server enables organisations to securely store, organise, process and retrieve large volumes of information while providing the database foundation required by many ERP, CRM, accounting, e-commerce, line-of-business and custom applications.

This package provides licensing for 24 cores under the Per Core licensing model. With Per Core licensing, separate SQL Server Client Access Licences (CALs) are not required for users or devices accessing the appropriately licensed SQL Server environment.

What Does Microsoft SQL Server Do?

SQL Server acts as a central database platform for storing and managing business information.

Applications can connect to SQL Server to read, write and process data, allowing organisations to centralise important information rather than storing it independently on individual computers.

SQL Server can be used for applications and workloads such as:

• Business and line-of-business application databases
• ERP and CRM systems
• Accounting and financial applications
• Inventory and warehouse management
• Customer and employee databases
• E-commerce and web applications
• Reporting and analytics
• Data processing and integration
• Internally developed business applications
• Centralised organisational databases

Key Features

Professional Database Management

Create and manage relational databases for business applications, services and organisational information using Microsoft’s established SQL Server platform.

Performance & Scalability

Handle demanding database workloads while providing tools for managing resources and optimising database performance as requirements grow.

Advanced Security

Protect sensitive information using SQL Server security capabilities including authentication, permissions, encryption and access controls.

Business Intelligence & Reporting

Turn stored business information into meaningful reports and insights using SQL Server’s data-processing, reporting and analytics capabilities.

High Availability & Recovery

Use supported availability, backup and recovery technologies to help protect important databases and improve business continuity.

Application Database Platform

Provide the database backend required by compatible ERP, CRM, accounting, web, e-commerce and custom-developed business applications.

Centralised Data Management

Consolidate important organisational information into centrally managed databases with controlled access for authorised applications and users.

Backup & Recovery

Implement structured database backup and recovery processes to help protect business information against accidental loss or system problems.

Administration & Monitoring

Database administrators can manage databases, users, permissions, backups, performance and other SQL Server resources using Microsoft’s SQL Server administration and management tools.

Development Support

Provide developers with a professional database platform for building data-driven desktop, server, web and business applications.

24-Core Licence

This package provides SQL Server 2025 Standard licensing for 24 cores.

It uses Microsoft’s Per Core licensing model, rather than the Server + CAL licensing model.

No SQL Server CALs Required

With the Per Core licensing model, you do not need to purchase a separate SQL Server CAL for every user or device accessing the appropriately licensed SQL Server.

This makes Per Core licensing particularly useful for environments with:

• Large numbers of users
• Large numbers of connected devices
• Changing numbers of employees or users
• Customer-facing applications
• Web-based applications
• Multiple applications accessing the same database server
• Environments where managing individual CALs would be impractical

The underlying physical or virtual environment must still be correctly licensed according to Microsoft’s applicable SQL Server licensing requirements.

Licence Details

• Product: Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard
• Edition: Standard
• Licensing Model: Per Core
• Licensed Capacity: 24 Cores
• SQL Server CALs Required: No
• Architecture: 64-bit
• Delivery: Digital
• Physical Media: None – no physical disc, USB or boxed product is shipped

Who Is This Product Suitable For?

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard is suited to small, medium and larger organisations that require a professional database platform without necessarily requiring the additional capabilities of SQL Server Enterprise.

The 24-Core Per Core licence is particularly suitable for businesses that need to license a substantial SQL Server environment while allowing many users, devices or applications to access the database without purchasing individual SQL Server CALs.

System Requirements

Before installing Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard, ensure that your server and operating environment meet Microsoft’s applicable requirements.

Processor

• Compatible x64 (64-bit) processor
• Minimum processor speed of approximately 1.4 GHz
• Faster multi-core processors are recommended for production workloads

Memory

• Minimum: 2 GB RAM
• Additional RAM is strongly recommended for production environments, larger databases and demanding workloads

Storage

• Approximately 6 GB or more of available storage may be required for installation
• Additional storage is required for databases, transaction logs, backups and application data
• SSD or NVMe storage is recommended for performance-sensitive production workloads

Operating System

• Compatible 64-bit Windows Server operating system supported by SQL Server 2025

File System

• NTFS or ReFS is recommended for applicable SQL Server storage

Display

• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution display for applicable graphical administration tools

Internet Connection

• Internet access may be required for downloading installation components, activation, updates and certain connected functionality

Additional Requirements

• Certain SQL Server features, components and management tools may require additional Microsoft software, drivers or prerequisites.

Hardware Recommendations

The minimum requirements should not necessarily be considered appropriate specifications for a production database server.

Actual hardware requirements depend on factors including:

• Database size
• Number of databases
• Number of concurrent users
• Application workload
• Query complexity
• Transaction volume
• Reporting requirements
• Backup requirements
• Required availability
• Expected future growth

For production environments, additional RAM, modern multi-core processors, fast SSD/NVMe storage and an appropriate backup solution are recommended.

Physical & Virtual Server Licensing

SQL Server licensing requirements can differ depending on whether SQL Server is deployed on a physical server or within virtual machines.

This package provides 24 cores of SQL Server 2025 Standard Per Core licensing, but customers should confirm that 24 cores provide sufficient licensing coverage for their particular physical or virtual deployment.

The number of licences required depends on the server configuration and Microsoft’s applicable SQL Server licensing and Product Terms.

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Standard – 24 Core provides a powerful database platform for organisations that need professional data management, security, performance and scalability, with the convenience of Per Core licensing and no requirement to purchase individual SQL Server CALs.