As more and more businesses are shifting towards cloud computing, it’s important to consider the costs associated with running cloud-based workloads. Cloud computing services offer many benefits such as scalability, flexibility, and reduced maintenance, but they can also be expensive.
This is where the Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB) comes in. The Azure Hybrid Benefit is a licensing benefit that allows customers to use their existing licenses to save money when they move their workloads to Azure.
What is Azure Hybrid Benefit?
Azure Hybrid Benefit is a licensing benefit that is offered to customers who have already purchased Microsoft software licenses. These licenses can be used to run workloads on-premises or in the cloud. By using the Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers can save money by using their existing licenses to run workloads in Azure.
For example, if a customer has purchased a Windows Server license, they can use that license to run a Windows Server virtual machine in Azure. By using the Azure Hybrid Benefit, the customer can save up to 40% on the cost of running the virtual machine.
How Does Azure Hybrid Benefit Work?
To take advantage of the Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers need to have active Software Assurance (SA) or Subscription licenses for eligible products. The eligible products include Windows Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server, System Center, and Dynamics 365. Customers can use the Azure Hybrid Benefit for virtual machines, SQL Database, and Azure Kubernetes Service.
Once the customer has eligible licenses with active SA or Subscription, they can apply the Azure Hybrid Benefit to their Azure workloads. This is done by simply selecting the option to use Azure Hybrid Benefit during the creation of the resource in the Azure portal.
The Azure Hybrid Benefit can be applied to both Windows Server and SQL Server workloads. For Windows Server workloads, the customer can choose to bring their own license (BYOL) or use the license included with the virtual machine. For SQL Server workloads, the customer can choose to bring their own license (BYOL) or use the license included with the Azure SQL Database service.
Benefits of Azure Hybrid Benefit
There are several benefits to using the Azure Hybrid Benefit. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Cost Savings – The Azure Hybrid Benefit allows customers to save money by using their existing licenses to run workloads in Azure. This can result in savings of up to 40% on the cost of running virtual machines and Azure SQL Database.
- Flexibility – With Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers can choose to use their licenses on-premises or in the cloud. This provides flexibility in where workloads are run and how they are managed.
- Simplified Management – By using Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers can simplify management of their licensing and workloads. This is because they can use the same licenses and management tools they are already familiar with.
- Reduced Risk – By using Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers can reduce the risk of non-compliance with licensing agreements. This is because they are using their existing licenses in a compliant way.
- Improved Security – Azure Hybrid Benefit allows customers to run workloads in Azure while maintaining control over their data. This can improve security and compliance with regulatory requirements.
In conclusion, Azure Hybrid Benefit is a powerful licensing benefit that can help businesses save money and simplify management of their workloads. By using existing licenses for eligible products, customers can save up to 40% on the cost of running virtual machines and Azure SQL Database. Azure Hybrid Benefit also provides flexibility, simplified management, reduced risk, and improved security. If you are considering moving your workloads to Azure, be sure to take advantage of the Azure Hybrid Benefit to get the most out of your existing licenses.
Hoping to be useful…