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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 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.

Because licensing compliance depends on entitlements leancosts can’t see, every candidate is framed as “confirm with Software Asset Management first” — applying a benefit you don’t hold, or double-counting one already assigned elsewhere, is a compliance problem, not a saving.

How to act

Section titled “How to act”

The flag flip itself is usually online and instantly reversible (switch back to licence-included). The real gate is the licence-entitlement confirmation, which the pre-check spells out. leancosts drafts the change and the expected drop on the next bill. Follow Act on a cost finding.