WSU offers Named User Licensing (NUL) and Shared Device Licensing (SDL) for Adobe Creative Cloud. Departments can also purchase a standalone license (VIP license) for Adobe if WSU’s current licensing agreement does not meet required software needs.

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Questions This Article Answers

Does WSU have Adobe licensing?

What licensing is available for Adobe Creative Cloud?

Do employees have Adobe licensing?

Do students have access to Adobe products?

What type of license do students have for Adobe?

Named User Licensing (NUL)

NUL is available to all civil service employees, administrative professional employees, and staff employees.

With this license, eligible users can download Adobe Creative Cloud by following these instructions: How To Install Adobe Creative Cloud Products

If a user does not have admin rights to the WSU-owned computer, local IT desktop support can assist with the software installation.

Please be aware that each unit’s Area Technology Officer (ATO) determines if users are permitted to install Adobe software on personal devices with this license.

Shared Device Licensing (SDL)

All students, student workers, hourly/timeslip employees, affiliates, and courtesy employees (including emeritus staff) are eligible to use Adobe Creative Cloud with SDL.

SDL is only valid on a WSU-owned computer located on a physical WSU campus connected to the WSU network (i.e., an on-campus computer lab or office). If using a WSU-owned computer with a SDL installation of Adobe for off-campus fieldwork, or if using a WSU computer with Adobe SDL in an extension office, Global Protect VPN must be installed and connected.

Users accessing a SDL installation of Adobe will be prompted to sign in with their WSU credentials when using an Adobe application.

Adobe software with SDL can only be installed by local IT desktop support using an installer package. Local IT desktop support admins can install Adobe Creative Cloud with SDL through the Adobe Admin Console (AAC). In the AAC, IT admins can build their own SDL installer packages or use one of the pre-existing SDL packages if it includes all necessary components for their end users.

VIP Licensing

Departments can purchase a standalone license (VIP license) for users requiring full Adobe software access or users not currently covered under WSU’s Adobe licensing agreement.

Current VIP license options include a Named User License for Adobe Creative Cloud or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, providing software access to a single user. A Shared Device License for Adobe Creative Cloud is also available for purchase if the parameters of WSU’s Adobe SDL do not meet a department’s needs.

To purchase a VIP license, departments can visit WSU's CDW-G Premium Page, select WSU Adobe VIP Licensing on the left menu, select the desired license, and complete the purchase. An IT staff member should then email Crimson Service Desk at crimsonservicedesk@wsu.edu, informing the team of the new purchase, to finalize staff access to the Adobe services.

If a department does not want to purchase an individual VIP license, the next recommended choice would be installing Adobe software with SDL on a WSU-owned computer located on a physical WSU campus connected to the WSU network.

If a specific user scenario or requirement is not listed in this document, please contact Crimson Service Desk via email at crimsonservicedesk@wsu.edu or phone at 509-335-4357 to determine which Adobe licensing option will work best.

User Groups and Assigned Adobe Licenses

Below is a complete list of all user groups and the Adobe Creative Cloud license that is available to them through WSU’s current licensing agreement.