Overview
As cloud adoption gains more popularity amongst large enterprises, the discussion often brings up the question of Windows workload migration. However, Amazon Web Services (AWS) pioneered cloud technology and services early on. So more often than not, we see large enterprises questioning AWS when it comes to migrating their windows workload and leveraging their licenses. As we discussed in our previous blog post on the Optimization & Licensing Assessment benefits, we’re highlighting in this blog optimizing windows enterprise agreements on AWS.
Why AWS for Microsoft workloads?
Microsoft Workloads have been operational on AWS for over 12 years, longer than any public cloud. Hence, users should feel quite confident since AWS is the most experienced cloud provider with Microsoft applications. Today, customers choose AWS for higher performance and reliability, greater security, and identity services. In addition, more migration support, most profound capabilities, lower TCO, and flexible licensing options. Here are some of the very few Microsoft services that AWS support:
- Active Directory
- .NET
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Windows desktop-as-a-service
- AWS supports all supported versions of Windows Server.
- AWS End-Of-Support Migration Program (EMP)
Reap the Benefits
To start, we decided to provide some solid metrics so our clients can make evidence-based decisions. So here are some interesting numbers:
- Based on performance testing, clients running their workloads on AWS have yielded 2X higher performance for a SQL Server workload than the next largest cloud provider.
- 2X more regions with multiple availability zones than the next largest cloud provider
- 5X more services offering encryption than the next largest cloud provider
- 36% savings using AWS over three years by right-sizing instances with Migration Evaluator
- 442% projected 5-year ROI running Windows on AWS
Licensing Flexibility
Many businesses already have an investment in Microsoft licenses (i.e., Windows Server Operating System and Microsoft SQL Servers). Customers that have opted to migrate to AWS frequently seek to use their current Microsoft licensing investment to decrease the expenses associated with the transfer. Many clients, however, want extra flexibility in how their licenses are distributed on AWS, particularly during migrations or periods of changing workloads.
Through Bring Your Own License, AWS allows you to use your existing investment in Microsoft licenses (BYOL). Customers may use BYOL to install their current Microsoft licenses on AWS while just paying for the underlying computing.
Per-Second Billing Model
In addition to the BYOL model, AWS supports its clients by providing them with a per-second charging model. This licensing model includes Windows operating system and MS SQL Server. Clients who utilize the license-included model (licenses provided by AWS) will be billed on a one-second increment of their product use. That means that an organization can adjust its spending costs according to the amount of work running on its Windows environments.
AWS tools
Furthermore, AWS clients can leverage the AWS License Manager, enabling them to easily manage their software licenses (Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, SAP) across multiple environments (cloud/on-premises). Whatsmore, the AWS license Manager allows admins to create their own custom licensing rules to reflect their licensing agreement.
Migrate, Save Costs
In brief, when migrating Microsoft workloads there are multiple aspects that must be considered. Things such as performance, reliability, security, and overall support are extremely important for large organizations since they are running heavy & complex workloads. When it comes to considering the previously mentioned areas, AWS comes as the clear winner in all categories. With a proven track record of hosting heavy Windows workloads, flexible licensing models, better performance, and lower TCO, organizations can decide with absolute confidence to have AWS as a host for their Microsoft workloads.
BESPIN GLOBAL "an e& enterprise company"
An AWS Premier Tier Services Partner and AWS Managed Service Partner, BESPIN GLOBAL MEA (Middle East and Africa) is a leading provider of automated cloud solutions and consulting services, including cloud adoption, strategy, migration, implementation, Managed Services, DevOps, FinOps and Data & Analytics. Bespin is positioned as a Leader in Gartner’s 2020 Magic Quadrant for Public Cloud Infrastructure Professional and Managed Services, as well as a “Visionary” in Gartner’s 2022 Magic Quadrant for IT Transformation Services.
In late 2022, Bespin Global MEA and e& enterprise formed a joint venture with the aim to assist enterprises in their digital transformation journey and eventually become the largest pure-play public cloud-managed and professional services provider in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan.
Bespin’s cloud FinOps management platform, OpsNow offers an automated end-to-end solution for customers to effectively manage cloud assets and costs, optimize cloud expenses, and automate the implementation of cloud governance policies across multi-cloud environments.