Kurt Shintaku's Blog

This is for SQL Server 2012 licensees that don’t have Software Assurance:

• SQL Server 2012 is going out of support soon – meaning it won’t get security updates, unless Extended Security Updates are obtained (usually a separate, annual subscription)
• By moving to Azure Dedicated Hosts in Microsoft’s cloud, your SQL Server 2012 will receive Extended Security Updates (ESUs) at no cost

Here’s the recently announced details on how customers can migrate their SQL Server 2012 installations to Azure Dedicated Hosts to get ESUs at no additional cost while in Azure:

Migrating your on-premises infrastructure and architecture to the cloud may seem like a daunting task, especially if you don’t have Software Assurance for your on-premises licenses. While this may seem difficult and challenging, there is a pain-free way to bring your existing on-premises licenses to the cloud through Azure Dedicated Host. Not only does Azure Dedicated Host provide you with your own private cloud on Azure, but it also allows you control over host maintenance and lets you continue using your existing licenses, and offers continued support for applications that would not otherwise be supported on other clouds. For example, when you run your Dedicated Host on Azure you can take advantage of free SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2012 Extended Security Updates, only in Azure.

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The following blog post will take you on a deep dive into moving SQL Server licenses to Azure Dedicated Host, its infrastructure benefits, and why it is the easiest way to bring your existing on-prem licenses to the cloud.

• BLOG: Move SQL Server licenses without Software Assurance to Azure
  https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2021/08/30/move-sql-server-licenses-without-software-assurance-to-azure/