Pricing and Support
This domain covers how Azure is priced, the tools to estimate and optimize cost, and the support and service-level commitments Microsoft offers. Know the calculators, cost levers, and SLA basics.
Factors affecting cost
Cost depends on resource type, region, usage, and networking such as outbound data transfer (egress), which is often billed while inbound is free. Different meters apply to compute, storage, and bandwidth. Turning off or deallocating unused resources reduces spend.
Estimating with calculators
The Pricing Calculator estimates the cost of a proposed set of Azure services before you deploy. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator compares the cost of running workloads on-premises versus in Azure. Both help plan budgets and justify migration.
Reducing cost
Reservations and savings plans discount steady workloads in exchange for a one- or three-year commitment. The Azure Hybrid Benefit reuses existing Windows Server and SQL Server licenses, and Spot VMs run interruptible workloads cheaply. Right-sizing and autoscaling further cut waste.
Support plans and SLAs
Azure offers support plans from Basic (free) through Developer, Standard, and Professional Direct, differing in response times and advisory services. A service-level agreement states the guaranteed uptime for a service; higher availability often requires deploying across Availability Zones or regions. Free services generally have no financially backed SLA.