Can I bring my existing Windows Server license to Azure or AWS?
Yes, Microsoft allows License Mobility and Azure Hybrid Benefit for certain Windows Server licenses with Software Assurance. In AWS or GCP the rules are different and stricter, especially around 'dedicated host' requirements. Read the licensing terms before migrating.
support/saas-en-licenties/byol-windows-server-cloudsteps: 4
Try this first
- Check whether your Windows Server licenses have Software Assurance (SA), only then does Hybrid Benefit qualify for Azure.
- In Azure: activate Hybrid Benefit on the VM setting, that removes the Windows license cost from the hourly rate.
- In AWS or GCP: usually you need Dedicated Hosts to allow BYOL for Windows Server, that is more expensive than a normal instance.
- Document per server which license applies, otherwise in an audit you cannot prove rights.
When to bring us in
If you want a hybrid BYOL setup configured cleanly without licensing issues, we can lay out the structure.
See also
- New hire has an account but cannot reach Outlook or TeamsAn M365 account without a license is an empty shell. Assigning takes a few clicks, but picking the right plan pays off long-term.
- Employee left, but their email must be retainedPulling the license straight away starts a 30-day timer on the mailbox. The right route keeps access to the mail without paying for the license.
- We pay for licenses nobody usesBetween leavers, duplicate plans, and test accounts there is often 10-20% wasted license spend. A usage report exposes it fast.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.