Everything about Microsoft Azure Hybrid Benefit

What is Azure Hybrid Benefit?

The license benefit known as Azure Hybrid Benefit enables you to accomplish more with less. Utilizing your on-premises Windows Server and SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance enabled on Azure will lower the cost of running your workloads in the cloud. Now, subscriptions to Red Hat and SUSE Linux are also eligible for the incentive.

Which licenses are eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit?

SQL Server and Windows Server licenses with active Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses. These include:

• Windows Server Datacenter edition with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.
• Windows Server Standard edition with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.
• SQL Server Enterprise Edition core licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.
• SQL Server Standard Edition core licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.

If you do not have Software Assurance, it is available for purchase with new licenses at list prices or with qualifying subscription licenses.

The offer is available in all Azure regions.

Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server

What does Azure Hybrid Benefit offer for Windows Server on Azure Virtual Machines?

You may maximize the benefits of your Windows Server Software Assurance by using Azure Hybrid Benefit. Each set of  8 core Datacenter or Standard edition licenses, entitles you to one virtual server in Azure with a maximum of 8 cores. If the virtual server has more than 8 cores, you need to assign more sets of 8 core licenses. Licenses for the datacenter edition enable concurrent use in Azure and on-premises. Standard edition licenses must be assigned either on-premises or in Azure. During server migration to Azure, you will have a maximum of 180 days of concurrent use rights.

What does this benefit offer for Windows Server in Azure Dedicated Host?

Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server in Azure Dedicated Host can be used in three ways:

• Windows Server Standard edition
  You may assign core licenses with active Software Assurance to the individual virtual servers running on the dedicated host.
• Windows Server Datacenter edition for virtual machines
  You may assign core licenses with active Software Assurance to the individual virtual servers running on the dedicated host. These licenses can be assigned to on premise servers at the same time..
• Windows Server Datacenter edition for a physical host
  When you license the cores at the host level with Datacenter licenses with active Software Assurance, you may run an unlimited number of virtual Windows servers on the licensed dedicated host. If you choose this option, you cannot use the Datacenter licenses for on premise servers at the same time.

Learn more about Azure Dedicated Host.

Read more about the costs.

Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server

What does Azure Hybrid Benefit offer for SQL Server on Azure?

Azure Hybrid Benefit allows you to use SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses for SQL Server on Azure:

• vCPU-based service tiers of Azure SQL Database (excluding serverless).
• Azure SQL Managed Instance.
• SQL Server in Azure Virtual Machines.
• SQL Server Integration Services.

Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server also provides:

• The ability to move your licenses to a fully managed platform-as-a-service (PaaS) product. Azure is the only cloud that provides this ability.
• Four cores in the cloud for every one-core on-premises for Enterprise edition customers using Azure SQL Database (General Purpose and Hyperscale service tiers, excluding serverless), Azure SQL Managed Instance (General Purpose service tier), SQL Server Standard Virtual Machines, or Azure Data Factory and SQL Server Integration Services (Standard).
• 180 days of dual-use rights to apply to current deployment (on-premises or third-party cloud) and in Azure to allow for data migration.

For a hosted solution with maximum savings, combine Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server.

Visit the Product Terms site for more details.

What is the virtualization benefit, and is it available with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server?

The virtualization benefit available with Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server applies to highly virtualized workloads on-premises. The benefit is only available for Azure SQL Database (General Purpose and Hyperscale service tiers, excluding serverless), Azure SQL Managed Instance (General Purpose service tier), SQL Server Standard Virtual Machines, Azure Data Factory and SQL Server Integration Services (Standard). With it, you can convert one core of SQL Server Enterprise edition with active Software Assurance to receive up to four vCores or four vCPUs. For example, if you have four core licenses of SQL Server Enterprise edition, you can receive up to 16 vCores of SQL Database General Purpose. This makes moving virtualized applications highly cost-effective.

What does the benefit offer for SQL Server in Azure Dedicated Host?

If you are eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit, you can apply it to Azure Dedicated Host under the same terms and conditions as individual virtual machines. Additionally, if you have Software Assurance with SQL Server Enterprise Edition and license Azure Dedicated Host at the host level, you will get unlimited virtualization rights. If you are migrating existing workloads to Azure Dedicated Host, you will have 180 days of concurrent use of your licenses on-premises and in Azure during migration. Learn more about Azure Dedicated Host.

Read more about the licenses and costs