Azure Hybrid Benefit update: Expanded rights for Microsoft SQL Server
August 1, 2020
We’re expanding the rights for Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server so you can address more scenarios in your organization. These new rights will let you access a broader pool of SQL Server services on Azure, whether you have an investment in SQL Server Standard licenses or SQL Server Enterprise licenses. The extra flexibility provides new opportunities to reduce costs and access advanced Enterprise features. All SQL Server Software Assurance and subscription customers may benefit from the expanded scope of Azure Hybrid Benefit.
The two changes to the Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server are:
- Previously, editions of Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services were compatible with only the matching editions of eligible SQL Server licenses (Standard edition or Enterprise edition). Effective with the August 2020 Product Terms, we’ve expanded the rights as follows:
- Under eligible Standard edition licenses, Azure Hybrid Benefit may cover SQL Server Enterprise Virtual Machines and Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services Enterprise edition
- Under eligible Enterprise edition licenses, Azure Hybrid Benefit may cover SQL Server Standard Virtual Machines and Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services Standard edition
- Under eligible Standard edition licenses, Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server is not only applicable to options for Azure SQL Database (Elastic Pool and Single Database) – General Purpose, Azure SQL Database (Elastic Pool and Single Database) – Hyperscale, and Azure SQL Managed Instance (Instance Pool and Single Instance) – General Purpose, but for these added options as well:
- Azure SQL Database (Elastic Pool and Single Database) – Business Critical
- Azure SQL Managed Instance (Instance Pool and Single Instance) – Business Critical
The below table shows how many vCore/vCPU licenses you get in Azure for different Azure Data Services for each core SQL Server license. The changes are highlighted in bolded, italicized text. For full details, see the August 2020 Product Terms.
Qualified License |
Microsoft Azure Data Service1 |
Ratio of Qualified Licenses to Azure vCores |
|---|---|---|
| SQL Server Enterprise (Core) |
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance, Elastic Pool and Single Database) – General Purpose
|
1 Core License:4 vCores
|
|
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance, Elastic Pool and Single Database) – Business Critical
|
1 Core License:1 vCore
|
|
|
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance and Single Database) - Hyperscale
|
1 Core License:4 vCores
|
|
|
Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services (Enterprise)
|
1 Core License:1 vCore
|
|
|
Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services (Standard)
|
1 Core License:4 vCores
|
|
|
SQL Server Enterprise Virtual Machines
|
1 Core License2:1 vCPU
|
|
|
SQL Server Standard Virtual Machines
|
1 Core License:4 vCPUs
|
|
| SQL Server Standard (Core) |
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance, Elastic Pool and Single Database) – General Purpose
|
1 Core License:1 vCore
|
|
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance, Elastic Pool and Single Database) – Business Critical
|
4 Core License:1 vCore
|
|
|
Azure SQL Database (Managed Instance and Single Database) - Hyperscale
|
1 Core License:1 vCore
|
|
|
Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services (Standard)
|
1 Core License: 1 vCore
|
|
|
Azure Data Factory SQL Server Integration Services (Enterprise)
|
4 Core Licenses:1 vCore
|
|
|
SQL Server Standard Virtual Machines
|
1 Core License2:1 vCPU
|
|
|
SQL Server Enterprise Virtual Machines
|
4 Core Licenses2:1 vCPU
|
1. Azure Hybrid Benefit is not available in the serverless compute tier of Azure SQL Database.
2. Subject to a minimum of four Core Licenses per Virtual Machine.
To learn more about the cost savings opportunities of Azure Hybrid Benefit, please visit the Azure Hybrid Benefit website.