We will put this part in here, not to tell you how MIM 2016 is licensed but rather to tell you that it can be complex. Depending on which parts you are using—and, in some cases, how you are using them—you need to buy different licenses. MIM 2016 will continue to use both Server licenses and Client Access Licenses (CALs).

In almost every MIM project, the licensing cost has been negligible compared to the benefit of implementing it (for example, adding up the operational cost of provisioning a single user or resetting a password while considering typos, the accounts not done on time, or those left active that should have been disabled). There are strong reasons for having identity management in every business, and if you are reading this book, we would expect you to have already come to the conclusion that identity management will save you money. But even so, make sure you contact your Microsoft licensing partner or your Microsoft contact to clear any questions you might have about licensing.

Also, note that at the time of writing this book, Microsoft has stated that you can install and use Microsoft System Center Service Manager for MIM Reporting without having to buy SCSM licenses.

Read more about MIM Licensing at http://aka.ms/MIMLicense.