Licensing optimization
Cloud compute and database prices often bundle an OS or engine licence into the per-hour rate. If you already own eligible licences (Windows Server or SQL Server with Software Assurance, a RedHat/SUSE subscription, a bring-your-own- licence entitlement), you can apply them and stop paying that surcharge a second time.
What we look for
Section titled “What we look for”- A VM, SQL Database/Managed Instance, or RDS instance billing the licence- included rate where the workload is eligible for Azure Hybrid Benefit or BYOL.
- Linux/Windows and SQL editions whose licence cost is a meaningful, separable slice of the bill.
The gate: one declaration, not a guess
Section titled “The gate: one declaration, not a guess”Your licence entitlements live in your licensing portal, which leancosts cannot read. So we do not guess. Every licence finding runs through one gate before it reaches you:
| What we have | What we do | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Measured entitlement headroom (AWS License Manager) | Claim it, chip Licence verified | 80 |
| You declared you own the licence | Claim it, chip Licence declared | 75 |
| You declared you own none | Withhold it silently: you answered | — |
| You have not said | Withhold it, and tell you what it is worth | — |
A withheld finding keeps its estimated saving, but it is money held back pending your answer, never money on the table. It is never added to any total the product shows you.
How to answer
Section titled “How to answer”Declare it once, for the whole estate. See Declare what your workloads need.
| Declaration | Applies to |
|---|---|
| Windows Server licence | Virtual machines |
| Linux (RedHat / SUSE) subscription | Virtual machines |
| SQL Server licence | Managed databases |
| Oracle licence | Managed databases |
Three ways to write it: the banner on the Savings Register and the Hunters page
(one question per product, Yes, we own them or No), the Requirements
page, or the MCP tool set_requirements from your agent.
All three are writes, so all three need the governance.admin permission; the
banner is not shown at all to someone who does not hold it.
There is no core count and no expiry on the declaration. Yes or no is the honest statement; a count goes stale the day it is typed.
How to act
Section titled “How to act”The flag flip itself is usually online and instantly reversible (switch back to licence-included). leancosts drafts the change and the expected drop on the next bill. Follow Act on a cost finding.