Azure Hybrid Benefits for SQL Server

09-04-2026 14:25Microsoft Azure offers highly flexible services. For example, you can run a SQL database for only three hours—while technically possible, this is not common. In practice, most organizations require their SQL Server environments on a continuous basis, typically every day. For these predictable workloads, Microsoft provides more cost-effective pricing options by allowing customers to commit to longer-term usage. For the software component, this is where Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB) comes into play. By reusing eligible existing SQL Server licenses, organizations can license SQL services in Azure and reduce licensing costs by up to 80%. This article explains how it works >>>