Running Windows Server and SQL Server in Azure is more cost-effective than running it in AWS. Below are cost comparisons so you can see how the savings stack up.

Compare the costs of running Windows Server VMs

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Other cloud service providers may claim to have similar savings to the Azure Hybrid Benefit, but you’ll need to repurchase your Windows Server license on those clouds. And only Azure offers free extended security updates for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2.

What’s being compared?

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Compare SQL Server running as a PaaS service

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Only Azure offers savings across both platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) for SQL Server. With the Azure Hybrid Benefit, you can use existing licenses with Software Assurance to pay a reduced rate on Azure SQL Database (PaaS). This is not included in SQL Server license mobility rights for other clouds.

What’s being compared?

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Compare SQL Server running on a Virtual Machine (IaaS)

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Only Azure offers savings across both platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) for SQL Server. With the Azure Hybrid Benefit, there is no need to repurchase software licenses—use existing licenses with Software Assurance to save on Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS).

With the Azure Hybrid Benefit you pay only the reduced compute rate (SUSE Linux Enterprise Basic rate) for the Windows Server VM. You’ll need to repurchase Windows Server on other clouds. And only Azure offers free extended security updates for SQL Server and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2.

What’s being compared?

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For more information about Azure, contact us today or visit our Azure services page.

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