SQL Server Azure Arc PAYG Calculator

Workload

Cores per server

Servers

Minimum 4 cores are billed per server/VM (all editions).

Edition

Hours per month

730 hours = 24/7 operation

SQL Server version

SQL Server 2022 / 2025 (supported)

Azure services (optional)

Defender for Servers /server/month

Defender for SQL servers on machines $15/instance/month

On Arc-enabled servers Defender for SQL is billed per SQL Server instance (one instance per server assumed).

Azure Monitor · Log Analytics $2.99/GB

GB/month

5 GB free/month included (West Europe list price)

Microsoft Sentinel $5.59/GB

GB/month

Simplified pricing, includes Log Analytics ingestion (West Europe)

Azure Update Manager $5/server/month

Free with Defender for Servers Plan 2 or Windows Server SA / subscription / PAYG

Azure Policy · Machine Configuration $6/server/month

Windows Server has Software Assurance, a subscription or Arc PAYG

Update Manager and Machine Configuration are then included at no cost.

Partner incentives YoY Azure growth (new tenant, or the tenant's total Azure consumption grows)

Growth Accelerator is paid on the year-over-year increase of the tenant's total Azure consumption.

Customer segment

FA4A path

Pre-sales: Majors & SMC-Corporate → Core M&M; SMB → SMB Assessment+POV.

Discount

Applied to Azure Arc PAYG (and selected Azure services). Traditional licenses are shown at Microsoft list (ERP) price.

Licensing models compared

Annual SQL license cost · options with rights equivalent to Arc PAYG

Licensing model	Annual (Y1)	3-year total	Relative