How to use Windows Server Datacenter licenses included in a Microsoft Partner Package for Azure Hybrid Benefit?

Question

Hi everyone,

the company I work for has been a Microsoft partner for some time now and has some Windows Server Datacenter licences that I would like to use for virtual machines in Azure. I have repeatedly come across the so-called Hybrid Benefit when creating virtual machines and have been wondering for some time how I can benefit from this discount.

I have read in various places on the Internet that the licence key must be exchanged after the virtual machine has been created. Unfortunately, this has never worked in my previous attempts. An error was always displayed. In addition to changing the licence key, the Hybrid Benefit should of course be selected in the Azure Portal, which I did.

Other sources say that the Hybrid Benefit option must be selected and the Azure Platform automatically checks in the background whether licences are available.

But how does this check work? Can I use the licences in the Partner Package? Do I have to take any steps for this?

Many thanks for your help.

Erik