Octobits Blog – The right Microsoft Azure subscription types will let you access specific services, keep your costs down, and make sure your cloud environment can grow and change with your business.
Just as different vehicles cater to varying needs and budgets, Azure subscriptions offer a range of options tailored to diverse cloud requirements.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a student trying out the cloud, a startup testing a new application, or an enterprise setting up a complex cloud infrastructure.
So, let’s take a look at the ins and outs of Azure subscriptions now.
Types of Azure Subscriptions
Microsoft Azure has a range of subscription options to suit different needs, from individual developers to large enterprises.
Here’s a detailed look at the different options you can choose from to find the best fit for your requirements.
Free Subscription
The Azure Free Account is a great place to start for individuals and small businesses. It includes a bunch of free services for the first 12 months, plus over 25 that are always free.
This subscription is designed to help users test out Azure’s features without any extra costs.
You get 750 hours of B1S virtual machine Linux, 750 hours of B1S virtual machine Windows, and other resources like 5 GB of Azure Blob Storage, among others.
For a quick overview of the Azure AD subscription lifecycle process, please refer to “Lost in Microsoft Azure AD Subscription Lifecycle Process? Let’s Simplify.”
Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Subscription
The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) subscription model is great for businesses that want to be able to manage their cloud spending flexibly.
This model means users only pay for the Azure services they use each month, so there’s no need to pay for anything upfront.
This is a great option for companies with variable workloads, as costs go up and down with usage.
So, if a company runs a batch processing job that needs extra compute power only sometimes, the PAYG model means they only pay for the resources they use at those times.
Plus, PAYG gives you access to loads of Azure services with free monthly quotas, which helps you manage costs.
In practice, the PAYG model is really useful for businesses with unpredictable or seasonal workloads.
For instance, e-commerce companies often get a lot more traffic during holiday seasons.
With PAYG, they can scale up their resources to meet demand and then scale back down again, paying only for the extra capacity they use.
Enterprise Agreement (EA) Subscription
This subscription is all about making a long-term commitment to spending at least a certain amount on Azure over three years. In return, you get some pretty good discounts and benefits.
EA subscriptions can be tailored to suit your needs, which is really useful for managing lots of cloud resources across different departments and regions.
For instance, a big company could use an EA to make managing its cloud infrastructure easier, saving money and having one bill for everything.
EA customers also get loads of support, including proactive monitoring and dedicated account management, so they can get the most out of their cloud environments.
Azure EA customers can also use tools like Azure Cost Management and Azure Policy to manage their cloud deployments and keep costs down.
Student Subscription
This programme is designed to give students the tools they need to learn and develop skills using Azure’s extensive cloud services.
When students sign up, they get $100 in Azure credits, which they can use for one year. They can renew them every year as long as they’re still eligible.
This subscription gives you access to over 25 services, including Azure Virtual Machines, SQL Databases, and Azure Blob Storage.
For instance, students can use virtual machines to practise server management, learn database management with Azure SQL Database, or store large datasets with Azure Blob Storage.
These resources are really useful for hands-on learning and developing real-world skills in cloud computing.
Plus, Azure for Students also includes other useful services like Azure DevOps, which helps you manage code repositories and CI/CD pipelines more efficiently.
Dev/Test Subscription
The Dev/Test subscription is all about development and testing environments. It offers reduced rates on various Azure services, but excludes production environments.
This subscription is available to Visual Studio subscribers and lets development teams create and test apps at a lower cost.
For instance, teams can set up virtual machines, deploy databases, and run containerised applications at discounted rates.
The Dev/Test subscription is perfect for software development teams who need to test new features and apps before they go live.
Plus, you get access to Azure DevOps and Visual Studio tools, which makes it easier to work in an integrated way on development and testing.
Comparing Subscription Types
To figure out which Azure subscription is right for you, think about your specific needs, budget, and future growth plans.
Because each subscription type is designed to meet different needs and offer unique benefits.
The free subscription is a great place to start for beginners and small-scale projects.
It gives you access to loads of services for free, including 750 hours of Linux and Windows virtual machines and 5 GB of Azure Blob Storage for the first 12 months.
However, it comes with limited resources and doesn’t have a Service Level Agreement (SLA), so you can’t be sure of uptime.
The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) subscription is great for managing costs, especially for organisations with unpredictable or seasonal workloads.
However, it’s important to keep an eye on things to make sure you don’t end up with unexpected costs, and the pricing structure can be pretty complex.
With the Enterprise Agreement (EA), you make a commitment to spend a minimum amount on Azure over a three-year period.
This means you get some great discounts and benefits, like volume pricing and enhanced support.
This subscription makes it easier to manage because it puts all your cloud services in one place. It’s great for businesses that use a lot of cloud services.
However, it does require a big upfront investment and it’s quite complex to administer.
The Student subscription is ideal for students who want to develop and test apps while learning cloud computing skills.
It includes all the essential services you need, like virtual machines and SQL databases, so you can get practical, hands-on experience.
The Visual Studio Dev/Test Subscription is for subscribers only and doesn’t include production environments.
This subscription is a great, cost-effective way for development teams to test applications before they go live.
You also get access to Azure DevOps and Visual Studio tools, which is great for creating and testing different apps.
We also suggest you take a look at the Microsoft Azure Offer Details page for a more detailed comparison. So you can make decisions based on what’s best for you.
For another reference, you can take a look at “Here’s How to Cancel Microsoft Azure Subscription Without the Drama.”
How to Know Your Azure Subscription Type
To find out what kind of Azure subscription you have, just log into the Azure portal and go to the ‘Subscriptions’ section.
This section gives you all the info you need about your subscription, including the type, billing cycle and what services you can use.
This info helps you understand what you can and can’t do with your current subscription, so you can manage your resources and plan for future needs.
How Octobits Can Be Your Azure Supporting System
Managing multiple Azure subscriptions can be a bit of a headache. That’s why we at Octobits offer SaaS management solutions designed to meet your company’s needs.
Yes, we at Octobits make it easy for you to manage and optimise your Azure subscriptions, so you can make sure you’re using your resources efficiently and keeping costs down.
These include automated monitoring, cost analysis, and optimisation recommendations.
These tools help you keep track of your Azure spending, avoid overages, and make sure you’re staying on the right side of your company’s policies.
In Closing
There’s something for everyone here. Whether you’re a student trying out free services or a large enterprise looking for a custom solution and volume discounts, we’ve got you covered.
Think about your budget, workload and growth plans to work out what’s best for you.
Tools like Octobits can help you manage your Azure subscription, so you can make sure you’re getting the best value for money and using your resources as efficiently as possible.
At the end of the day, the right Microsoft Azure subscription types are the building blocks of your cloud-powered future.
