When migrating SQL Server workloads to the cloud, many organizations assume they need SQL Server Enterprise Edition to meet high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) requirements. But as Dave Bermingham, Senior Technical Evangelist at SIOS Technology, explains in this TFiR interview, that assumption could be costing businesses far more than necessary.

Rethinking SQL Server HA with Standard Edition

“One of the most effective ways is to use SQL Server Standard Edition whenever possible,” says Bermingham. Rather than relying on Always On availability groups — which require the more expensive Enterprise Edition — organizations can instead build SQL Server failover cluster instances (FCIs) using Standard Edition.

This setup still delivers HA/DR, but without the licensing overhead. Tools like SIOS DataKeeper and other shared storage options can make this architecture viable, ensuring performance and resiliency even at the Standard tier.

Leverage Cloud Licensing Benefits

Beyond architecture decisions, Bermingham urges teams to take full advantage of cloud licensing flexibility. Both Azure Hybrid Benefit and AWS License Mobility allow companies to bring existing on-prem SQL Server and Windows Server licenses into the cloud environment.

“In the case of Azure, its benefits allow you to bring existing licenses to the cloud, so you’re not paying an hourly fee for them,” he notes. AWS offers similar flexibility, helping organizations avoid unnecessary pay-as-you-go charges.

Smart Licensing = Cloud Cost Savings

If SQL Server is part of your cloud architecture, revisiting your licensing strategy could lead to significant cost savings. Watch the full video on TFiR to hear Bermingham’s complete breakdown and practical guidance for enterprise teams.