--- title: "SQL Server 2014: Standby Servers Require Software Assurance" description: With the release of SQL Server 2014 one of the first questions that come to mind is licensing. Rather than trying to tackle the whole subject in one go we’ve decided to highlight one of the key change image: https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/Stock%20images/startup%20business,%20software%20developer%20working%20on%20computer%20at%20modern%20office.jpeg --- [![DSP From Ground to Cloud](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/Logos/DSP%20From%20Ground%20to%20Cloud/DSP-Logo-Colour-From-Ground-to-Cloud.svg "DSP From Ground to Cloud")](https://dsp.co.uk) [![DSP From Ground to Cloud](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/2023/Logos/DSP/DSP-Logo-2019-White-600px.png?width=70&height=72&name=DSP-Logo-2019-White-600px.png "DSP From Ground to Cloud")](https://dsp.co.uk) - Services - Consulting Services - [Oracle](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-consultancy) - [Microsoft](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-consultancy) - [Google](https://www.dsp.co.uk/google-cloud-consultancy) - [Architecture](https://www.dsp.co.uk/solution-design-and-architecture) - Managed Services - [Oracle Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-managed-services) - [SQL Server Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-managed-services) - [OCI Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-infrastructure-managed-services) - [Azure Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/azure-managed-services) - [On Premise Apps Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/application-managed-services) - [Cloud Apps Managed Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-applications-services) - Licensing and SAM - [Oracle Licensing](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-licensing-services) - [Software Asset Management](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-software-asset-management-sam) - Application Services - [Application Development](https://www.dsp.co.uk/software-development) - [Application Modernisation](https://www.dsp.co.uk/legacy-software-modernisation) - [Oracle Forms to Oracle APEX](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-forms-to-oracle-apex) - [Application Extensions](https://www.dsp.co.uk/software-customisation) - [Archiving Solutions](https://www.dsp.co.uk/application-archiving-solution) - [Application Hosting](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-apex-hosting-services) - [Development Training](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-apex-training) - Data Science - [AI Strategy](https://www.dsp.co.uk/ai-strategy) - [Responsible AI and Governance](https://www.dsp.co.uk/responsible-ai) - [Agentic AI](https://www.dsp.co.uk/agentic-ai) - [Data Management for AI](https://www.dsp.co.uk/data-management) - [Power BI](https://www.dsp.co.uk/power-bi-services) - [Microsoft Fabric](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-fabric-services) - [Machine Learning](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oci-machine-learning) - Cloud Migration and Management - [Cloud Readiness and Design](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-readiness-assessment) - [Migration to Fusion and Cloud Applications](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-application-modernisation) - [Migration to Cloud Infrastructure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-migration) - [Private Cloud](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-private-cloud-services) - [Database@ Hyperscaler](https://www.dsp.co.uk/multicloud-management) - [FinOps and Optimisation](https://www.dsp.co.uk/optimise-oracle-cloud-infrastructure) - Integration and APIs - [API Management](https://www.dsp.co.uk/api-development-services) - [GoldenGate](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-goldengate-services) - Disaster Recovery and Security - [Disaster Recovery](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-database-disaster-recovery-solutions) - [Security Compliance](https://www.dsp.co.uk/data-security) - [Cloud Security](https://www.dsp.co.uk/cloud-security)   ![Oracle Partner, Microsoft Partner and Google Partner](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/logo-2021/Partner-logos/multiple-vendor/rectangle-2022/Partner-logos-rectangle-Nov21.svg) #### Getting to know us - [About us](https://www.dsp.co.uk/about) - [What we do](https://www.dsp.co.uk/what-we-do) - [Leadership](https://www.dsp.co.uk/dsp-product-leads) - [Careers](https://www.dsp.co.uk/careers) - Technologies - Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - [Oracle Cloud Infrastructure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-infrastructure-services) - [IaaS](https://www.dsp.co.uk/iaas) - [PaaS](https://www.dsp.co.uk/paas-security) - Oracle Database - [Oracle Database](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-database-consulting) - [Autonomous Database](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-autonomous-database-services) - [MySQL and Heatwave](https://www.dsp.co.uk/mysql-services) - [Oracle APEX](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-apex-services) - Oracle Engineered Systems - [Oracle Exadata](https://www.dsp.co.uk/exadata-database-service-consultancy) - [Oracle Database Appliance](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-database-appliance) - Oracle Applications - [Oracle Fusion and Cloud Applications](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-fusion-services) - [Oracle E-Business Suite](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-ebs-services) - [JD Edwards](https://www.dsp.co.uk/jd-edwards-services) - [Peoplesoft](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-peoplesoft-services) - [Hyperion](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-hyperion-services) - Microsoft - [SQL Server](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-consultancy) - [Microsoft Azure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-azure-services) - [Power BI](https://www.dsp.co.uk/power-bi-services) - [Microsoft Fabric](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-fabric-services) - Google - [Google Cloud Platform (GCP)](https://www.dsp.co.uk/google-cloud-partner) - Multicloud and Database Hyperscaler - [Oracle Database@Azure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-databaseazure-partner) - [Oracle Database@GCP](https://www.dsp.co.uk/google-cloud-machine-learning) - [Oracle Database@AWS](https://www.dsp.co.uk/amazon-web-services-aws) - [Oracle Azure Interconnect](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-microsoft-multicloud) - Open Source Database - [PostgreSQL](https://www.dsp.co.uk/postgresql-services) - [MySQL](https://www.dsp.co.uk/mysql-services) - [MariaDB](https://www.dsp.co.uk/migration-from-mariadb-to-mysql) #### Managed Services - [Oracle Database](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-managed-services) - [SQL Server](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-managed-services) - [MySQL](https://www.dsp.co.uk/mysql-support) #### Application Services - [Oracle Applications](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-application-cloud-migration) - [Oracle APEX](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-apex-services) - [Microsoft](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-partnership) - [ISV Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/isv-support-and-services) #### Cloud Services - [Oracle Cloud Infrastructure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-services) - [Microsoft Azure](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-azure-services) - [Google Cloud Platform](https://www.dsp.co.uk/gcp-database) - [Multi-cloud](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-microsoft-multicloud) #### Data Science - [Machine Learning](https://www.dsp.co.uk/machine-learning-consulting-services) - [Business Intelligence](https://www.dsp.co.uk/business-intelligence-services) - [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.dsp.co.uk/artificial-intelligence-consulting-services) #### Consulting Services - [Oracle](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-consultancy) - [Microsoft](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-consultancy) - [Google](https://www.dsp.co.uk/google-cloud-consultancy) - [Cloud Migration](https://www.dsp.co.uk/cloud-migrations) #### Technology Solutions - [Engineered Systems](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-engineered-systems-partner) - [Data Security](https://www.dsp.co.uk/data-security) - [Database Architecture](https://www.dsp.co.uk/solution-design-and-architecture) - [Disaster Recovery](https://www.dsp.co.uk/database-disaster-recovery) - Industries - [Finance](https://www.dsp.co.uk/finance) - [Healthcare](https://www.dsp.co.uk/healthcare-it-services) - [Travel and Transport](https://www.dsp.co.uk/database-solutions-for-travel-and-transport) - [Higher Education](https://www.dsp.co.uk/higher-education) - [Public Sector](https://www.dsp.co.uk/public-sector) - [Manufacturing](https://www.dsp.co.uk/manufacturing) - [Retail](https://www.dsp.co.uk/retail) - [Software Vendors](https://www.dsp.co.uk/isv-support-and-services) ### Recent case study: #### Oracle EBS Cloud Deployment Consolidating and Migrating assets into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. [**![Oracle EBS Cloud Deployment](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/stonewater-logo%20(1).png?width=250&name=stonewater-logo%20(1).png)**](https://www.dsp.co.uk/stonewater)   #### Most Visited Pages - [Oracle Licensing](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-licensing) - [Oracle Cloud Calculator](https://www.oracle-cloud-calculator.com/) - [Oracle Cloud Migration](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-cloud-migration) - [Oracle Exadata Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-exadata-services) - [Artificial Intelligence Services](https://www.dsp.co.uk/artificial-intelligence-consulting-services) #### - - [SQL Server Support](https://www.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-support) - [Oracle Support](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-support) - [Google Cloud Consultancy](https://www.dsp.co.uk/google-cloud-consultancy) - [New Application Development](https://www.dsp.co.uk/oracle-apex-services) - [Azure Virtual Desktop](https://www.dsp.co.uk/azure-virtual-desktop) - Resources - [Gartner ](https://www.dsp.co.uk/complimentary-gartner-download) - [ISG](https://www.dsp.co.uk/isg-oracle-report) - [Blogs](https://www.dsp.co.uk/blogs) - [Case Studies](https://www.dsp.co.uk/case-studies) - [Testimonials](https://www.dsp.co.uk/testimonials) - [Events](https://www.dsp.co.uk/events) - [Webinars](https://www.dsp.co.uk/webinars) - [Insights](https://www.dsp.co.uk/insights) - [Technical Resources](https://www.dsp.co.uk/technical-resources) ### DSP-Explorer acquires leading Oracle Applications Managed Services Provider, Claremont, to further extend its data management capabilities.   [![Read More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3321273/c7e13c9c-65e1-46e7-8541-8da86a4fc305.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3321273/c7e13c9c-65e1-46e7-8541-8da86a4fc305) #### Resources - [Blogs](https://www.dsp.co.uk/blogs) - [Webinars](https://www.dsp.co.uk/webinars) - [Case Studies](https://www.dsp.co.uk/case-studies) - [Testimonials](https://www.dsp.co.uk/testimonials) - About - [About DSP](https://www.dsp.co.uk/about) - [What We Do](https://www.dsp.co.uk/what-we-do) - [DSP Group Board ](https://www.dsp.co.uk/dsp-group-board) - [Careers](https://www.dsp.co.uk/careers) - [Project Harar](https://www.dsp.co.uk/project-harar) - [Customer Area](https://www.dsp.co.uk/contact-us) - [Customer Support Portal](https://dspgroup-ism.ivanticloud.com/) - [Customer Resources](https://www.dsp.co.uk/welcome) - [Contact us](https://www.dsp.co.uk/contact-us) # SQL Server 2014: Standby Servers Require Software Assurance [ Jon Cowling ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/author/jon-cowling) 08-Feb-2016 11:23:15 ### Contents [08-Feb-2016 11:57:04 Tech blog series: SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/tech-blog-series-sql-server-2012-on-windows-server-core) [08-Feb-2016 11:40:00 Microsoft SQL Server Auditing Part II ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-sql-server-auditing-part-ii) [08-Feb-2016 11:21:27 SQL Server 2012 Remote Installations With PowerShell ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-2012-remote-installations-with-powershell) # SQL Server 2014: Standby Servers Require Software Assurance With the release of [SQL Server 2014](https://www.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-licensing/) one of the first questions that come to mind is licensing. Rather than trying to tackle the whole subject in one go we’ve decided to highlight one of the key changes, which focuses around Enterprise Edition. Prior to SQL Server 2014, many organisations were able to deploy a single standby server without licensing SQL Server. Log shipping, mirroring, and even failover clustering was allowed for an unlicensed passive node, provided that the passive node didn’t become the primary for more than 28 days. That’s now gone. If you want to have a standby node, you have to buy software assurance. Read the [SQL Server 2014 Licensing Datasheet](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server/Buy.aspx#fbid=2zKOgZheVEb) and at the bottom of page three, it reads “Beginning with SQL Server 2014, each active server licensed with SA coverage allows the installation of a single passive server used for fail-over support.” The passive secondary server doesn’t need to have a complete SQL Server license, but you must have Software Assurance. In short, Software Assurance (SA) is a yearly fee that customers pay to get access to the latest and greatest versions of products as well as unlock additional features that may have complex deployment scenarios. [Microsoft](https://content.dsp.co.uk/topic/microsoft) [08-Feb-2016 11:57:04 Tech blog series: SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/tech-blog-series-sql-server-2012-on-windows-server-core) [08-Feb-2016 11:40:00 Microsoft SQL Server Auditing Part II ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-sql-server-auditing-part-ii) [08-Feb-2016 11:21:27 SQL Server 2012 Remote Installations With PowerShell ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-2012-remote-installations-with-powershell) [Previous SQL Server 2012 Remote Installations With PowerShell ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-2012-remote-installations-with-powershell) [Next Microsoft SQL Server Auditing Part II ](https://content.dsp.co.uk/microsoft-sql-server-auditing-part-ii) #### Contact Sales Enquiries [+44 (0) 203 880 1686](tel:+4420%2038801686) Technical Support +44 (0) 330 058 8367 [enquiries@dsp.co.uk](mailto:enquiries@dsp.co.uk) #### Follow us #### Office Locations [**London (Head Office)**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fora+-+Chancery+House/@51.5174484,-0.1139686,198m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x48761adea956397d:0xb7585122cbe86fc0!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b4b75bf77fb:0x97c4f0ad56af6d23!8m2!3d51.5174586!4d-0.1129066!16s%2Fg%2F11h_cy7xk5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [Chancery House](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fora+-+Chancery+House/@51.5174484,-0.1139686,19z/data=!3m1!5s0x48761adea956397d:0xb7585122cbe86fc0!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b4b75bf77fb:0x97c4f0ad56af6d23!8m2!3d51.5174586!4d-0.1129066!16s%2Fg%2F11h_cy7xk5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [53-64 Chancery Lane](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fora+-+Chancery+House/@51.5174484,-0.1139686,19z/data=!3m1!5s0x48761adea956397d:0xb7585122cbe86fc0!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b4b75bf77fb:0x97c4f0ad56af6d23!8m2!3d51.5174586!4d-0.1129066!16s%2Fg%2F11h_cy7xk5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [London](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fora+-+Chancery+House/@51.5174484,-0.1139686,19z/data=!3m1!5s0x48761adea956397d:0xb7585122cbe86fc0!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b4b75bf77fb:0x97c4f0ad56af6d23!8m2!3d51.5174586!4d-0.1129066!16s%2Fg%2F11h_cy7xk5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [WC2A 1QS](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fora+-+Chancery+House/@51.5174484,-0.1139686,19z/data=!3m1!5s0x48761adea956397d:0xb7585122cbe86fc0!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b4b75bf77fb:0x97c4f0ad56af6d23!8m2!3d51.5174586!4d-0.1129066!16s%2Fg%2F11h_cy7xk5?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [**Leeds** Richmond House, Lawnswood Business Park, Leeds, LS16 6QY](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/53.8405223,-1.6062773/DSP-Explorer/@53.8404788,-1.6061783,17z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x4879591e5d204ac9:0x4e41b926d72adca!2m2!1d-1.6064847!2d53.8404842) [**Derby**](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cubo+Pride+Park/@52.9142877,-1.4558952,331m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x4879f10728c1eea1:0x877f85530d38bf6!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4879f1072b0e2ebb:0x7c717035ff049b12!2sPride+Pl,+Derby+DE24+8QR!3b1!8m2!3d52.913692!4d-1.4543743!16s%2Fg%2F1th7mf0r!3m5!1s0x4879f16809382b33:0x6fccc05b8500d970!8m2!3d52.914146!4d-1.4544105!16s%2Fg%2F11w4j8v8z2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [Cubo Pride Park,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cubo+Pride+Park/@52.9142877,-1.4558952,331m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x4879f10728c1eea1:0x877f85530d38bf6!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4879f1072b0e2ebb:0x7c717035ff049b12!2sPride+Pl,+Derby+DE24+8QR!3b1!8m2!3d52.913692!4d-1.4543743!16s%2Fg%2F1th7mf0r!3m5!1s0x4879f16809382b33:0x6fccc05b8500d970!8m2!3d52.914146!4d-1.4544105!16s%2Fg%2F11w4j8v8z2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [1 Pride Place](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cubo+Pride+Park/@52.9142877,-1.4558952,331m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x4879f10728c1eea1:0x877f85530d38bf6!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4879f1072b0e2ebb:0x7c717035ff049b12!2sPride+Pl,+Derby+DE24+8QR!3b1!8m2!3d52.913692!4d-1.4543743!16s%2Fg%2F1th7mf0r!3m5!1s0x4879f16809382b33:0x6fccc05b8500d970!8m2!3d52.914146!4d-1.4544105!16s%2Fg%2F11w4j8v8z2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [Derby](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cubo+Pride+Park/@52.9142877,-1.4558952,331m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x4879f10728c1eea1:0x877f85530d38bf6!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4879f1072b0e2ebb:0x7c717035ff049b12!2sPride+Pl,+Derby+DE24+8QR!3b1!8m2!3d52.913692!4d-1.4543743!16s%2Fg%2F1th7mf0r!3m5!1s0x4879f16809382b33:0x6fccc05b8500d970!8m2!3d52.914146!4d-1.4544105!16s%2Fg%2F11w4j8v8z2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) [DE24 8QR](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cubo+Pride+Park/@52.9142877,-1.4558952,331m/data=!3m2!1e3!5s0x4879f10728c1eea1:0x877f85530d38bf6!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x4879f1072b0e2ebb:0x7c717035ff049b12!2sPride+Pl,+Derby+DE24+8QR!3b1!8m2!3d52.913692!4d-1.4543743!16s%2Fg%2F1th7mf0r!3m5!1s0x4879f16809382b33:0x6fccc05b8500d970!8m2!3d52.914146!4d-1.4544105!16s%2Fg%2F11w4j8v8z2?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) ** [Dublin](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Inniscarra,+Main+Street,+Rathcoole,+Dublin/@53.2810032,-6.4764674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu)** [Inniscarra,](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Inniscarra,+Main+Street,+Rathcoole,+Dublin/@53.2810032,-6.4764674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu) [Main Street,](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Inniscarra,+Main+Street,+Rathcoole,+Dublin/@53.2810032,-6.4764674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu) [Rathcoole,](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Inniscarra,+Main+Street,+Rathcoole,+Dublin/@53.2810032,-6.4764674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu) [Dublin](https://www.google.com/maps/search/Inniscarra,+Main+Street,+Rathcoole,+Dublin/@53.2810032,-6.4764674,17z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu) #### About Us DSP is a Data Management and Cloud Platform MSP that delivers enterprise grade support & consulting services for Oracle, Microsoft and Multi-Cloud technologies. ![Oracle Partner](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/logo-2021/Partner-logos/Oracle-logos/Colour/o-prtnr-cmyk-250.png) ![Microsoft Partner](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/Microsoft%20partner%20logos%20-%20July%202023/mic-sol-part-colour@200x.png) ![Google Cloud Partner](https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/logo-2021/Partner-logos/GCP-Logos/Google-Cloud-Partner%20(1).svg) Registered Office: 30 City Road, London, EC1Y 2AB. Company Registration Number: 03898451 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "dateModified" : "2024-10-01", "datePublished" : "2024-10-01", "headline" : "SQL Server 2014: Standby Servers Require Software Assurance", "image" : [ "https://content.dsp.co.uk/hubfs/Stock%20images/startup%20business,%20software%20developer%20working%20on%20computer%20at%20modern%20office.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://content.dsp.co.uk/sql-server-2014-standby-servers-require-software-assurance", "@type" : "WebPage" } } ```