We are already a SQL Server shop with more than 1200+ instances using Enterprise and Standard Edition for our Production and Non-Production environment. For our Non-Production environment can we install SQL Server Developer Edition.
Is it possible to use Non-Production environment where we don't have any production data, but we periodically do database refresh activity. That means we take data from Production and restore it in Non-Production for testing purpose. Then the application team validates the data and builds applications and tests their efficiency based on that data. To clarify we don't use Non-Production for business activities but we use it for development/testing purpose which contains production data to test the workload.
So is it fine to use Developer Edition (which is free) in the Non-Production environment. If it is possible can you please share the licensing guide which has this statement mentioned in it, so that we can share it with our customers to prove that this is legal to use.