On 2020-03-30 Alberto Abrao wrote:
Whatever you do, don't forget that activation and licensing are different things. You can have a machine that's activated yet fails an audit, and that'll give you - or your client - a nasty headache.
MS will never audit a tiny company who isn't registered with them for volume licensing. As long as you make a best effort to be legit (i.e. buying a legit unused server with legit Server licenses and CALs), you'll be fine.
It's common to find some sites selling keys that would activate the server and work no problem, yet if the client ever gets audited... well...
Yes, the worst thing you can do is pay online for pirated or shady licenses. I would only buy physical boxes/license COAs from real Canadian companies, never digital-only stuff from online-only fly by nighters.