Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Many companies are moving their SQL Server databases from on-premises to Azure, allowing them to benefit from cloud elasticity and scalability at the lowest TCO.[1]

You can either:

• move to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance for a fully-managed PaaS database with built-in intelligence
• move to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines for reasons including full control over both the operating system and database

SQL SERVER IN AZURE VMs
In running SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, you can benefit from Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server and SQL Server and three years of free Extended Security Updates for significant cost savings. 

If you choose to self-install SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines instead of choosing a preconfigured pay-as-you-go or bring-your-own-license from the Azure Marketplace, there are two reasons why you should register your SQL VM with our Resource Provider today:

• Feature benefits – unlock auto-patching, auto-backup, monitoring, and manageability capabilities when registering with SQL virtual machines with Resource Provider. Previously, these were only available to SQL VM images from the Azure Marketplace.
• Free management – Registering with the SQL VM resource provider and all manageability modes are completely free. There is no additional cost associated with the resource provider, or with changing management modes.
• Flexible Licensing: You can convert SQL Server license type to PAYG even if you self-installed SQL Server after registering with SQL VM RP. This can bring significant license cost savings for seasonal workloads.  Additionally, registering with SQL VM RP full fills the requirement to register SQL Server Licenses when on-premises Licenses are used on Azure VMs with BYOL (Bring Your Own License) or AHB (Azure Hybrid Benefit) rights. 

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Read more about these benefits & how to register your SQL Server VMs at the blog post here:

• BLOG: Benefit from Resource Provider registration when self-installing SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/sql-server/benefit-from-resource-provider-registration-when-self-installing/ba-p/742794