Google Cloud and AWS execs slam Microsoft over changes to cloud licensing
.jpg)
Senior execs from Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have slammed Microsoft over changes to how it charges customers using its software on other public clouds.
Microsoft announced that it would be changing how its customers can use their on-prem licences on the dedicated servers from four cloud providers: AWS, Alibaba, Amazon and Google, plus Microsoft itself.
It twinned the move with the announcement of its Azure Dedicated Host service.
Until now, customers have been able to use the same on-premise licence when moving a workload to a dedicated host in the public cloud, without paying any additional fees. This is because the single-tenant host is treated the same as a traditional outsourcing provider.
But customers will now have to pay additional fees from 1 October if they want to run Microsoft software on dedicated services from the listed providers.
For some services, customers will be required to buy Microsoft's Software Assurance package, or procure the software through the Service Provider License Agreement. They will not be able to bring their own licences.
There are however discounts available for customers wanting to move from on-prem to Microsoft's own Azure Dedicated Host, which has irked its competitors.
Google Cloud president Robert Enslin slammed Microsoft on Twitter, accusing it of "vendor lock-in" and "taking its greatest hits from the ‘90s to the cloud".
AWS CTO Werner Vogels, meanwhile, accused Microsoft of "yet another bait and switch".
Vogels' colleague, AWS VP Sandy Carter, published a blog on LinkedIn, accusing Microsoft of taking a leaf from the "old guard software vendor playbook".
She said that Microsoft has made a number of tweaks over recent years that have hampered AWS customers.
"While these changes might not seem as restrictive as yet another threat of a software audit, this isn't the first time Microsoft has made 'subtle' changes to its licensing that are slowly chipping away at your options," she said.
"In 2018, Microsoft removed customer's rights to bring your SQL Server licences to AWS and use them with our managed service, Amazon Relational Database Service.
"Microsoft wants you to believe that this is just "removal of outsourcing rights", but Microsoft is looking to restrict what computer you can use. And what cloud."
Microsoft's rationale
At the moment, Microsoft customers are allowed to use the same licence if they want to move a workload from an on-prem environment to hardware managed by a traditional outsourcing firm.
Until now, this had also translated to single-tenanted public cloud servers - but Microsoft said this should not be the case because "dedicated hosted cloud services by major public cloud providers typically offer global elastic scale, on-demand provisioning and a pay-as-you-go model, similar to multi-tenant cloud services."
"The emergence of dedicated hosted cloud services has blurred the line between traditional outsourcing and cloud services and has led to the use of on-premise licences on cloud services," it said in a blog.
"As a result, we're updating the outsourcing terms for Microsoft on-premise licences to clarify the distinction between on-premise/traditional outsourcing and cloud services and create more consistent licensing terms across multi-tenant and dedicated hosted cloud services."
Customers now wanting to run Microsoft software on single-tenant cloud servers of AWS, Alibaba, Microsoft and Google will have to pay additional fees on top of the standard licensing. No other providers will be affected.
However, customers moving from on-prem to Microsoft's own dedicated cloud server offering can save money by using its Azure Hybrid Benefit.
Microsoft says customers can save up to 40 per cent on Azure Virtual Machines and 55 per cent on Azure SQL Database when running Windows Server virtual machines.
source channelweb
Industry: Cloud Computing
Latest Jobs
-
- Cyber Security Technical Presales Consultant | UK | Managed Services SOC / Pentesting etc
- England
- N/A
-
Experienced Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant to support organisations across the UK. This role focuses on delivering advisory, high level solution design, and security uplift services that improve security outcomes, address operational challenges, and enable informed technology decisions within complex and regulated environments. The position blends technical pre sales expertise with a consultative approach, working closely with technical, operational, and commercial stakeholders to shape effective and scalable cybersecurity solutions such as Managed Services SOC / Pentesting etc The individual must be able to achieve UK Security Clearance. Key Responsibilities Provide technical pre sales support across cybersecurity solutions and services for organisations operating across multiple industry sectors Engage stakeholders to understand security challenges, risks, compliance requirements, and operational pain points Deliver advisory guidance and recommendations to strengthen security posture and organisational resilience Translate customer requirements into clear, outcome focused technical and commercial solution designs Act as a trusted technical advisor throughout the sales and early delivery lifecycle Produce clear technical documentation, recommendations, and customer facing materials suitable for regulated environments Collaborate closely with sales, delivery, and technical teams to align solutions with customer needs Experience and Skills Proven experience in technical pre sales or cybersecurity consultancy Experience working across multiple industries, ideally within regulated or complex environments Broad knowledge of cybersecurity technologies, managed services, and risk based approaches Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non technical stakeholders Confident operating in a client facing, consultative role UK based role with remote working Occasional travel for customer engagement as required
-
- Cyber Security Technical Presales Consultant | UK | Managed Services SOC / Pentesting etc
- England
- N/A
-
Experienced Technical Pre Sales Cybersecurity Consultant to support organisations across the UK. This role focuses on delivering advisory, high level solution design, and security uplift services that improve security outcomes, address operational challenges, and enable informed technology decisions within complex and regulated environments. The position blends technical pre sales expertise with a consultative approach, working closely with technical, operational, and commercial stakeholders to shape effective and scalable cybersecurity solutions such as Managed Services SOC / Pentesting etc The individual must be able to achieve UK Security Clearance. Key Responsibilities Provide technical pre sales support across cybersecurity solutions and services for organisations operating across multiple industry sectors Engage stakeholders to understand security challenges, risks, compliance requirements, and operational pain points Deliver advisory guidance and recommendations to strengthen security posture and organisational resilience Translate customer requirements into clear, outcome focused technical and commercial solution designs Act as a trusted technical advisor throughout the sales and early delivery lifecycle Produce clear technical documentation, recommendations, and customer facing materials suitable for regulated environments Collaborate closely with sales, delivery, and technical teams to align solutions with customer needs Experience and Skills Proven experience in technical pre sales or cybersecurity consultancy Experience working across multiple industries, ideally within regulated or complex environments Broad knowledge of cybersecurity technologies, managed services, and risk based approaches Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non technical stakeholders Confident operating in a client facing, consultative role UK based role with remote working Occasional travel for customer engagement as required
-
- New Business Sales lead | UK - Cyber Security | New Logo sales
- United Kingdom
- Uncapped OTE
-
New Business Sales lead | UK - Cyber Security | New Logo sales UK Remote An established EMEA technology organisation is hiring a senior New Business Sales lead to take ownership of UK growth. An opportunity built for someone ready to take advantage of competitors who have taken their eye off the ball and turn that into sustained market share. This role is for someone proven. A self-starter who does not need micromanagement, knows how to win market share, and wants the backing of a larger business while building success their own way. You will lead and shape new logo acquisition, define and execute go-to-market strategy with regional leadership, and drive growth across cybersecurity, digital transformation, Microsoft modernisation etc. This is a new business sales role, with budget and full sales lifecycle responsibility. The goal being to build a wider a sales function beneath you as revenue scales. Experience across Financial services, manufacturing, industrial etc helpful. UK-based, remote-first, client-facing when needed. Competitive base salary with uncapped earnings.
-
- Business Development | Healthcare | Warm accounts | UK
- England
- N/A
-
Business Development | Healthcare | Warm accounts | UK Healthcare Cyber Security UK Based An experienced Business Development Manager is required to drive new cyber security revenue across a warm healthcare account base. This role is focused on new business and account growth, engaging healthcare organisations to understand risk, priorities, and operational challenges, and positioning appropriate cyber security solutions and services. Key Responsibilities Drive new business sales into a warm healthcare account base Develop and close new opportunities across healthcare organisations Build senior level relationships with IT, security, and procurement stakeholders Own the full sales lifecycle from first conversation through to close Work closely with technical pre sales and delivery teams Experience Required Proven B2B new business sales experience within cyber security or technology Healthcare sector experience desirable Strong consultative sales and closing capability Ability to achieve UK Security Clearance is required UK based with flexibility to travel What’s on Offer Warm accounts with new business focus Clear revenue ownership Competitive base salary with uncapped commission