{"id":1951,"date":"2018-11-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azure.microsoft.com\/blog\/three-reasons-why-windows-server-and-sql-server-customers-continue-to-choose-azure"},"modified":"2023-07-31T14:27:24","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T21:27:24","slug":"three-reasons-why-windows-server-and-sql-server-customers-continue-to-choose-azure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azure.microsoft.com\/en-us\/blog\/three-reasons-why-windows-server-and-sql-server-customers-continue-to-choose-azure\/","title":{"rendered":"Three reasons why Windows Server and SQL Server customers continue to choose Azure"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past 25 years, companies of every size have trusted Windows Server and SQL Server to run their business-critical workloads. In fact, more than 70 percent of on-premises server workloads today run on Windows Server1<\/sup>. As more customers use the cloud for innovation and digital transformation, the first step is often migrating existing Windows Server and SQL Server applications and data to the cloud. Many of you have shared why you continue to choose Microsoft and stay with the vendor you trust. Below are the three main reasons that we hear.<\/p>\n

Reason #1: Pay less with Azure<\/h2>\n

We understand that moving to the cloud needs to make sense for your bottom line, and we\u2019re committed to making Azure the most cost-effective cloud for your Microsoft workloads.<\/p>\n

The Azure Hybrid Benefit<\/a> for Windows Server and SQL Server and reservation pricing<\/a> have been helping customers save when moving to Azure. We are committed to keeping your server workloads secure and Azure now offers free Extended Security Updates<\/a> for Windows Server and SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2. When you add it all up, AWS is 5 times more expensive<\/a> than Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server. With savings like this, why would you run these workloads anywhere else?<\/p>\n

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\u201cAzure Hybrid Benefit is very important to us for controlling our costs for our long-running, 24\/7\/365 applications. Through the use of Azure Hybrid Benefit, we'll be able to reduce our overall costs by up to 82 percent.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jeff Brady, Sr. Program Manager, Allscripts<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition, Azure cost management<\/a>, free to all Azure customers, helps you monitor and optimize what you spend in Azure. Not only do all these savings help your bottom line, but they also free up the budget you need to innovate with cloud services, create new business value and compete more effectively in your industry.<\/p>\n

Reason #2: Azure delivers unmatched security and compliance<\/h2>\n

When you migrate Windows Server and SQL Server to Azure, you also benefit from the $1B Microsoft has invested to build security into a cloud platform that you can trust to run your most important applications and data. Azure can help you gain security benefits through our operational best practices and a global team of more than 3,500 cybersecurity experts.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of unique Azure security features:<\/p>\n