How to Save up to 80% in Azure Virtual Machine Costs

With an understanding of the Hourly Rate of Virtual Machines (VM’s) in Microsoft Azure, we can now explore the three specific ways to optimize and save costs.

Step 1 - Right Size VM’s
In the most simple terms, Rightsizing is the action of identifying the best long term fit for VM Instance (Type, Series, Size). Ideally, this would be finding a perfect match of resource capacity vs. actual needs. However, this can be especially difficult when initially deploying VM’s because there is no historical data to show resource utilization vs. capacity. In such cases, we recommend narrowing potential VM’s to a few good options then testing these for a few days at a time while monitoring utilization vs. capacity. In cases where VM’s have been running for weeks or months already, Rightsizing should be much more precise as long as historical data is analyzed. In reviewing resource utilization vs. capacity while also factoring real-world feedback from users and future growth/changes, the appropriate VM size can be selected.

Step 2 – Utilize Azure Hybrid Benefits
When looking at the hourly cost of a Windows Virtual Machine in Azure, there is the Compute Cost and the Operating System (OS) Cost. The OS cost is essentially renting the Operating System software at an hourly rate. Azure Hybrid Benefits provides an OFF switch for the Windows OS cost (also applies to other OS types i.e., SQL). To flip the OFF switch, you are essentially declaring that you will be bringing your own approved Windows Server license, Windows OS WITH Software Assurance, or Subscription. If you do not already own or subscribe to Windows Server, then an analysis should be done to evaluate the potential long term cost savings of the Bring-Your-Own model vs. Pay-as-you-Go. Ultimately the size of the VM and the runtime hours determine the long term ROI in this model.

Step 3 – Reserve VM Instances
The other half of the hourly cost of a Windows Virtual Machine in Azure is the Compute Cost. Reserved Instances are a term commitment (1 or 3 years) to use a specific VM type. In exchange for the commitment, Microsoft offers a fixed discounted price for the use of that VM. Since the rate is fixed for the entirety of the term, there is no longer an hourly compute cost. Additionally, it is a use-it or lose-it model, so there are no additional cost savings for turning OFF virtual machines.

Now that we’ve covered these 3 steps for cost optimization let’s look at an example. Let’s assume that we have already gone through a right-sizing exercise and settled on the D8v3 VM size in East US datacenter and this VM is running 24X7:

You can see that 80% cost savings is truly attainable, but this assumes that you already own Windows Server with SA/Subscription AND that the runtime of the VM is 24X7 (never turned off). If you need to purchase new Windows Server licenses and/or your VM will be scheduled to turn on/off automatically, additional analysis is needed to calculate cost savings and ROI. Be on the lookout for a future blog to walk through some of these additional nuances.