Updated: October 16, 2026
What’s new in this update: On October 12, 2026, Microsoft announced its first Azure consumption promotions for the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. Five offers cover database modernization, Microsoft Fabric, and Microsoft Foundry workloads, with discounts of up to 30%. Microsoft says the promotions become available on November 2, 2026. Details come from Microsoft’s October 2026 Partner Center announcements.
Microsoft has made investments in three types of Azure projects: transferring SQL Server from outdated hardware, beginning with Fabric, and developing using Foundry. The company refers to these five promotions as time-limited Azure discounts for particular CSP customer segments, which is why we are keeping records of them in a single location.
The page gives a list of each offer, together with its intended audience and the points to consider before making a decision. We will keep updating it as Microsoft releases the eligibility rules and the end dates.
What’s the reason for taking advantage of these Azure promotions?
These promotions give organizations a reason to start projects they have been putting off:
- Lower the cost of the first months on Azure for database, analytics, and AI workloads
- Move SQL Server workloads off aging on-premises infrastructure with a smaller bill during the transition
- Try Microsoft Fabric before committing to a larger capacity plan
- Build on Foundry with a discount on the app hosting and data services underneath it
- See every discount on your invoice and usage files, not buried in a blended rate
Active Promotions at a Glance
To go to the details of a promotion, please select a promotion name.
| Promotion | Discount | Who it’s for | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Database Modernization | Up to 30% off | Customers migrating on-premises SQL Server workloads to Azure | Nov 2, 2026. End date to verify |
| Fabric for Microsoft 365 Customers | Up to 20% off | Eligible Microsoft 365 customers new to Fabric | Nov 2, 2026. End date to verify |
| Fabric for Azure Database Customers | Up to 20% off | Azure database customers with no prior Fabric spend | Nov 2, 2026. End date to verify |
| App PaaS for Foundry Customers | Up to 15% off | Microsoft Foundry customers | Nov 2, 2026. End date to verify |
| Data Services for Foundry Customers | Up to 15% off | Microsoft Foundry customers | Nov 2, 2026. End date to verify |
The same applies to pay-as-you-go (PAYG) usage; since each discount is stated as ‘up to’, the rate you end up with will depend on whether you are eligible, a fact that we will verify before giving you a quote.
Azure Database Promotion
Azure Database Modernization
This is the biggest discount in the range, intended for those SQL Server organizations which have been carrying on the “we’ll get to it” list; SQL Server 2016 is now no longer supported, thus giving the discussion a deadline that it didn’t have a year ago.
- Promotion: Up to 30% off eligible Azure database PAYG usage.
- Eligibility: Customers migrating on-premises SQL Server workloads to Azure. Microsoft determines eligible customers and services. Confirm both before quoting.
- Requirement: Redeemed per eligible customer in Partner Center during the redemption window. Discounted usage then applies automatically for the promotion period.
- Validity: Available November 2, 2026. Promotion period and redemption window to verify in Partner Center.
Our take: A discount on pay-as-you-go usage is not always the cheapest way to run a database that never sleeps. Steady production workloads often price better on reservations, so model both before assuming the promotion wins. The promotion’s best use is during migration, when sizing is still settling and PAYG flexibility matters. Ask us if it combines with Azure Hybrid Benefit for your licenses. That’s something to verify, not assume.
Microsoft Fabric Promotions
Fabric for Microsoft 365 Customers
This offer discounts Microsoft Fabric pay-as-you-go capacity for Microsoft 365 customers who have never used Fabric. It gives them a lower-cost way to try Fabric before committing to more capacity.
- Promotion: Up to 20% off Microsoft Fabric PAYG capacity.
- Eligibility: Eligible Microsoft 365 customers who are new to Fabric.
- Validity: Available November 2, 2026. End date to verify.
Fabric for Azure Database Customers
Built for organizations that already run databases on Azure but have no prior Fabric spend, this offer lowers the pay-as-you-go cost of adding Fabric capacity.
- Promotion: Up to 20% off Microsoft Fabric PAYG capacity.
- Eligibility: Azure database customers with no prior Fabric spend.
- Validity: Available November 2, 2026. End date to verify.
Our take: Both Fabric offers are for first-time buyers, so existing Fabric spend rules you out. If a team has already started a trial capacity on a corporate card or separate subscription, check that before planning around the discount. Also, be clear on what the discount rewards: capacity you actually use. A pilot with a defined workload and owner will benefit more than idle capacity while people decide what to build.
Microsoft Foundry Promotions
App PaaS for Foundry Customers
For organizations already using Microsoft Foundry, this offer reduces the pay-as-you-go cost of eligible Azure App PaaS services, the application hosting side of an AI build.
- Promotion: Up to 15% off eligible Azure App PaaS PAYG usage.
- Eligibility: Microsoft Foundry customers.
- Validity: Available November 2, 2026. End date to verify.
Data Services for Foundry Customers
Also for Microsoft Foundry customers, this offer takes up to 15% off eligible Azure data services, which covers the data layer behind an AI project.
- Promotion: Up to 15% off eligible Azure data services PAYG usage.
- Eligibility: Microsoft Foundry customers.
- Validity: Available November 2, 2026. End date to verify.
Our take: These two discount the Azure services around an AI project (app hosting and data services). Microsoft’s announcement doesn’t mention model usage, so confirm that before sizing the savings. These supporting services are often underestimated when budgeting an AI build. Confirm which services Microsoft counts as “eligible” first.
How the Promotions Are Applied
Microsoft’s process is straightforward, and the billing side is where customers benefit most:
- Your CSP partner views current promotions in Partner Center or through the Eligibility API.
- The partner redeems the promotion for an eligible customer during the redemption window. Discounted usage then applies automatically for the promotion period.
- Each discount shows up line by line in usage and reconciliation files, tagged with a promotion identifier and a discount source field.
That last step matters to finance teams. You can see what the promotion saved on each line instead of guessing. Microsoft also says the promotions don’t change existing CSP operations, so your subscription structure does not need to change to use one.
What to Do Before November 2
- Inventory your SQL Server estate. List versions, owners, and anything still on SQL Server 2016. Those are your strongest candidates.
- Check your Fabric history. Find any existing Fabric spend, including pilots, before assuming you qualify as new.
- Model PAYG against reservations. Savings are estimates until the workload runs. Avoid signing a migration plan that only works at the promotional rate.
- Plan for the day the promotion ends. Build the post-promotion run rate into your business case.
- Ask for eligibility confirmation in writing. We verify it in Partner Center before we quote.
Microsoft is also holding a free SQL Modernization Day livestream on October 20, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT. It’s a useful way to get your database team aligned before the promotions open.
Disclaimer: Promotions are offered by Microsoft and are subject to eligibility, availability, and change. Discounts are “up to” and savings are estimates, not guarantees. Specific details and qualifications may vary by customer, region, and subscription type. Contact our team to confirm qualification and identify the best discount for your organization.
Azure and Licensing Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When do the Azure CSP promotions start?
A. Microsoft is saying that the promotions will be available on November 2, 2026. However, the redemption periods and the lengths of the promotions differ depending on the offer, so you should check the dates for your customer in Partner Center before making any plans.
Q. Do I need to change my Azure subscription to get a promotion?
A. There is no plan to restructure the subscription. Microsoft has stated that the promotions do not affect existing CSP operations. The promotion is redeemed by your CSP partner on your organization’s behalf and discounted usage then automatically applies during the promotion period.
Q. Do the promotions cover reservations and pre-purchase plans?
A. The offers that were announced on October 12 relate to pay-as-you-go usage. The announcement made by Microsoft in July referred to a more general capability which also includes reserved instances and pre-purchase plans, so further offers could still be introduced. We will amend this page if they are.
Q. How will I see the discount on my bill?
A. Discounts are shown one by one in the usage and reconciliation files, they are identified by a promotion identifier and a discount source field, and your finance team can match them to specific usage instead of having to use a blended rate.
Q. Can I get the Fabric discount if I already tried Fabric?
A. Most likely not. One of the offers is aimed at customers who are new to Fabric, while the other is directed at those who use Azure databases and have no previous spending on Fabric. You should first look into any available pilots or trial capacities and then ask us to verify your eligibility.
Q. Is a 30% discount guaranteed?
A. Not at all; all discounts are stated as ‘up to’ and the rate will vary according to eligibility and the specific services concerned. Treat the amount of savings as an estimate until the promotion is confirmed in Partner Center.
Plan Your Azure Savings Before November 2
Customers who are ready from the very first day are rewarded through promotions: this involves having their workloads inventoried, their eligibility verified, and having a post-promotion cost model prepared. If you would like a second opinion on your SQL Server migration plan or your Fabric and Foundry roadmap, TrustedTech’s team can determine which offers you are eligible for and provide a cost model. You can speak to an Azure advisor or get a quote.
Azure Spend Analysis: Clear Insights Into Your Effective Rate
A promotion only helps if you know what you’re paying today. Many providers don’t show per-resource pricing, which makes it hard to tell whether a discount is a real saving or just a smaller number on top of a high rate. TrustedTech’s free Azure Rate Check shows the effective rate behind each line of a CSP-billed Azure subscription, so you can compare it with the market before you act on any offer.
The Rate Check report covers:
- Per-resource effective rate: What you pay for each resource, compared with current market or MSRP pricing.
- Side-by-side rate comparison: Your current cost next to TrustedTech’s Managed Partner CSP rate.
- Billing path review: Whether you’re billed through CSP, an MSP, or Microsoft Direct (pay-as-you-go), and what a switch would involve.
- Subscription-level breakdown: Spend by subscription, an estimated monthly savings figure, and the subscriptions worth prioritizing.
The check makes no changes to your environment and causes no downtime. You don’t need to upload an invoice, and the report comes with a live walkthrough call. Savings are estimates based on your current rates, not guarantees.
Free Azure Rate Check
Get clarity on your Azure bill
See your effective rate, line by line. Request a customized Rate Check Report, or preview a sample report first.
