SQL Server Azure Arc PAYG Calculator | CloudSpark & Microsoft

Workload

Cores per server

Servers

Minimum 4 cores are billed per server/VM (all editions).

Edition

Hours per month

730 hours = 24/7 operation

SQL Server version

SQL Server 2022 / 2025 (supported)

Azure services (optional)

Defender for Servers /server/month

Defender for SQL servers on machines $15/instance/month

On Arc-enabled servers Defender for SQL is billed per SQL Server instance (one instance per server assumed).

Azure Monitor · Log Analytics $2.99/GB

GB/month

5 GB free/month included (West Europe list price)

Microsoft Sentinel $5.59/GB

GB/month

Simplified pricing, includes Log Analytics ingestion (West Europe)

Azure Update Manager $5/server/month

Free with Defender for Servers Plan 2 or Windows Server SA / subscription / PAYG

Azure Policy · Machine Configuration $6/server/month

Windows Server has Software Assurance, a subscription or Arc PAYG

Update Manager and Machine Configuration are then included at no cost.

CloudSpark sharing rate

Share of our Microsoft incentives passed to you as a discount.

Licensing models compared

Annual SQL license cost · options with rights equivalent to Arc PAYG

Licensing model	Annual (Y1)	3-year total	Relative