Gartner Research

How to Bring Your Microsoft Licenses to Cloud IaaS Without Causing a Cost and Noncompliance Risk

Published: 05 July 2018

ID: G00355215

Analyst(s): Dolores Ianni

Summary

Microsoft allows the movement of Microsoft licenses to Azure or to a competing cloud IaaS environment but requires continued payment of Software Assurance or subscription fees. Before moving licenses to IaaS, sourcing and vendor management leaders must clarify license use rights and costs.

Table Of Contents
  • Key Challenges

Introduction

Analysis

  • Budget for Microsoft SA or Subscription Fees to Avoid Having to Pay the Higher License Fees in IaaS
    • Savings on Licenses
  • Enforce Strict Policies With SAM and IaaS Administrators to Ensure BYOL Rules Are Followed
  • Compare the Cost of Windows Server Licensing Fees in a Third-Party IaaS Platform Against Using Portability Rights Into Azure
  • Reduce IaaS/PaaS Server Licensing Costs for High-Density VM Core Conversions by Cost Modeling Subscription Alternatives
    • Unlimited VMs On-Premises Converts to High Core Counts in IaaS
    • Microsoft Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server
    • New SQL Server and Windows Server Subscriptions for Azure Can Be Used On-Premises or in Azure Only

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