This process uses a Key Management Service (KMS) host that each computer will need to access via the Northwestern network periodically to validate. Once successfully activated through a connection to the KMS, periodic reauthorization should occur in the background and users should not have to manually process activation requests to the KMS host. To use Windows on a departmental computer, users must activate the software through a Volume Activation (VA) process. Northwestern provides access to a variety of Microsoft software, including Windows, through a volume licensing agreement with the vendor.
