What you get
- Extended Security Updates (ESU) for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise — 2-core pack, Year 3 ESU coverage.
- Licensed per core in 2-core packs; per Microsoft, virtual machines are licensed by virtual cores with a 4-core minimum per VM, and physical installs by physical cores.
Before you buy
Per Microsoft, SQL Server 2016 reached end of support on July 14, 2026 and ESUs are available until July 17, 2029; billing for on-premises SQL Server 2016 ESUs starts July 15, 2026. Per Microsoft's ESU FAQ, ESUs deliver only security updates rated Critical by the Microsoft Security Response Center — no new features, non-security fixes or general support for the SQL Server version itself — and the server must be on the latest service pack to apply them. Only Enterprise and Standard editions qualify (not Express, Web or Developer). Software Assurance (or subscription licenses) on the covered SQL Server licenses is a prerequisite; customers without it can get ESUs instead through Azure Arc pay-as-you-go or by moving the workload to Azure.
