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VS Subscription Applicability for Azure Hybrid Benefit

Chethan S 96 Reputation points
2022-09-14T14:20:40.3+00:00

Your FAQ on hybrid licensing states, "SQL Server and Windows Server licenses with active Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses" for the question "Which licenses are eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit?".

Does "qualifying subscription licenses" include VS license i.e., if I have VS Enterprise can I avail Hybrid benefit?

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  1. kobulloc-MSFT 26,811 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator
    2022-09-15T00:30:36.327+00:00

    Hello, @Anonymous !

    While Visual Studio Enterprise gives you $150 in monthly credits to use on dev/test in Azure, it does not qualify for the Azure Hybrid Benefit as it does not contain a qualifying production license with Software Assurance.

    Which licenses are eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit? Does Visual Studio Enterprise qualify?
    The intent of the Azure Hybrid Benefit is to allow you to use your on-premises Windows Server or SQL Server licenses on Azure and pay only for the infrastructure costs as the license is covered by Software Assurance. In the case of SQL Server, you have 180 days until you must exclusively use that SQL Server license on Azure. Taking the following quote from the Azure Hybrid Benefit Frequently Asked Questions:

    Which licenses are eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit?
    SQL Server and Windows Server licenses with active Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.

    This should be read as:

    SQL Server and Windows Server licenses that also have either active Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.

    That means that foundationally you need to have a Windows Server or SQL Server license and additionally an active Software Assurance or a qualifying subscription license. If you have a qualifying Windows Server or SQL Server license but your Software Assurance has expired, for example, you would not qualify for the Azure Hybrid Benefit until you reactivate your Software Assurance. The Windows Server Azure Hybrid Benefit documentation is more explicit:

    All you need to qualify for the benefit is Software Assurance for your Windows Server licenses that is currently active.

    The list of Windows Server and SQL Server licenses includes:

    • Windows Server Datacenter edition with Software Assurance.
    • Windows Server Standard edition with Software Assurance.
    • 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.

    What do I get with Visual Studio Enterprise?
    Visual Studio Enterprise does include $150 Azure dev/test credits to experiment with different Azure services each month (including SQL Databases). Muddying the waters a bit, there is an extensive list of software available for dev/test which includes a long list of SQL Server SKUs however the list of software and services for production use is what we are interested in here, and that is much more succinct in covering Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office Professional Plus 2019 rather than SQL Server.

    So while Visual Studio Enterprise gives you $150 in monthly credits to use on dev/test in Azure, it does not qualify for the Azure Hybrid Benefit as it does not contain a qualifying production license with Software Assurance.

    Additional Reading:

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