Activating the application using Kaspersky Security Center

Activation is the process of activating a license that allows you to use a fully functional version of the application until the license expires.

If you plan to use Kaspersky Endpoint Security in Light Agent mode to protect virtual environments, you do not need to activate the application after installation. You activate Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security for Virtualization Light Agent on the Protection Server (a component of Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security for Virtualization Light Agent) by adding a license key to the SVM. For more details, refer to the Help for Kaspersky Hybrid Cloud Security for Virtualization Light Agent.

The process of activating Kaspersky Endpoint Security involves adding an application license key.

You can add license keys to the application through Kaspersky Security Center in the following ways:

By adding the key to the Kaspersky Endpoint Security installation package.
This method allows adding an application key in the properties of the installation package when deploying Kaspersky Endpoint Security. The application will be activated automatically after installation.
Using the Add key task.
This method allows you to add a license key to a specific device or the devices included in an administration group. You can create and run an Add key task using Kaspersky Security Center Web Console or the Administration Console.
By distributing a license key stored on Kaspersky Security Center Administration Server to the client devices.
This method lets you automatically add a key to the client devices that are already connected to Kaspersky Security Center, and to new client devices. To use this method, first add the key to the key storage on Kaspersky Security Center Administration Server.

You can use Kaspersky Security Center Administration Console or Kaspersky Security Center Web Console to create tasks for adding a key to the application, adding a key to the key storage, and distributing the key to the client devices.

If you are using the application under a license that does not include the Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum functionality, after activating the application, you need to add an EDR Optimum key.

Activation using Kaspersky Security Center Web Console

Before creating an Add key task or distributing a key, add the key to Kaspersky Security Center Administration Server key storage.

To add a key to Kaspersky Security Center key storage using the Web Console:

In the Web Console main window, select Operations → Kaspersky Licenses.
Click Add.
In the window that opens, select how to add the key to the repository:
- Enter the activation code to add a key using an activation code.
- Add a key file to add a key using a key file.
Depending on the key adding method you selected at the previous step, do one of the following:
- Enter the activation code and click Submit.
- Click the Select key file button and in the window that opens, select the file with the key extension.
Click Close.

The added key will appear in the list of keys.

To add a key to the application via the Web Console using an Add Key task:

In the main window of the Web Console, select Assets (Devices) → Tasks.
The list of tasks opens.
Click Add.
The Task Wizard starts.
Configure the task settings:
1. In the Application drop-down list, select the application name: Kaspersky Endpoint Security.
2. In the Task type drop-down list, select Add Key.
3. In the Task name field, enter a brief description, such as Activation of Kaspersky Endpoint Security.
4. In the Devices to which the task will be assigned section, select the task scope. Click Next.
Select devices according to the selected task scope option. Click Next.
The Kaspersky Security Center key storage window opens.
If you have previously added a key to Kaspersky Security Center key storage, select the key from in the list and click Next.
If the required key cannot be found in the key storage, click the Add key button.
1. In the window that opens, select how to add the key to the repository:
  - Enter the activation code to add a key using an activation code.
  - Add a key file to add a key using a key file.
2. Depending on the key adding method you selected at the previous step, do one of the following:
  - Enter the activation code and click Submit.
  - Click the Select key file button and in the window that opens, select the file with the key extension.
3. Read the information about the key and click Close.
4. The added key will appear in the list of keys. Select it from the list and click Next.
Read the information about the license and click Next.
Complete the wizard.
A new task will be displayed in the list of tasks.
Select the check box next to the task. Click the Start button.

In the properties of the Add Key task, you can add a reserve key to the device. The reserve key becomes active when the license associated with the active key expires or when the active key is deleted. Availability of a reserve key allows you to avoid application functionality limitation when your license expires.

If you are adding a reserve key but no active key has been added to the application yet, the task ends with an error.

To add a key to the application using the Web Console by distributing a key stored on the Administration Server to the devices:

In the Web Console main window, select Operations → Kaspersky Licenses.
Open the key properties using the link with the name of the application for that the key is intended to.
On the General tab, select the Automatically distribute a license key to managed devices check box.
Click Save.

The license key is automatically distributed to the appropriate client devices. During the automatic distribution of a key as an active or a reserve key, the licensing limit on the number of devices (set in the key properties) is taken into account. If the licensing limit is reached, distribution of this key to the devices stops automatically. You can view the number of devices to which the key has been added and other information in the key properties on the Devices tab.

You can control license usage using Kaspersky Security Center Web Console in the following ways:

View the License key usage report (Monitoring & Reporting → Reports).
View the statuses of the managed devices (Assets (Devices) → Managed devices). If the application is not activated, the device will have the status and the Protection disabled status description.
View the key properties (Operations → Kaspersky licenses).

Special considerations for the activation process in Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console

A trial version is provided for the Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console. The trial version is a special version of Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console designed to familiarize a user with the features of Cloud Console. In this version, you can perform actions in a workspace for a period of 30 days. All managed applications, including Kaspersky Endpoint Security, are automatically activated under Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console trial license. However, you cannot activate Kaspersky Endpoint Security using its own trial license when the trial license for the Cloud Console expires. For more details about Cloud Console, please refer to Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console documentation.

The trial version of Kaspersky Security Center Cloud Console does not allow you to subsequently switch to a commercial version. Any trial workspace will be automatically deleted with all its contents after the 30-day period expires.

Page top