Azure Speed up for Databases helps organizations modernize their databases and construct AI-ready capabilities.
Database modernization: Why now?
We constantly hear frequent realities from leaders: knowledge infrastructure is a vital accelerator for AI adoption, and plenty of organizations haven’t been in a position to absolutely notice the worth of their knowledge. 60% of AI tasks unsupported by AI-ready knowledge will likely be deserted.1 Modernization is a key enabler of AI readiness, with 75% of organizations that migrated to Azure reporting considerably lowered limitations to AI and machine studying.2
This highlights a transparent alternative. Organizations that modernize with absolutely managed, AI-optimized databases can unlock sooner efficiency, real-time insights, and the power to construct clever functions and brokers at scale.
At present, I’m excited to introduce Azure Speed up for Databases—an providing designed to assist organizations modernize their databases and construct AI‑prepared capabilities on Azure, sooner and with larger confidence. Save as much as 35% (vs. pay-as-you-go) with the financial savings plan for databases, obtain supply funding and Azure credit, and profit from zero-cost supply help. Azure Speed up for Databases brings collectively knowledgeable steering, investments, financial savings, and skilling right into a single providing, serving to groups transfer from legacy constraints to programs able to help real-time, clever functions.
Why Azure Speed up for Databases?
Azure Speed up for Databases is constructed for organizations modernizing at scale whereas getting ready each their platforms and groups for what comes subsequent. Modernization initiatives are sometimes advanced, requiring time, funding, and coordination throughout groups, whereas legacy environments can depart knowledge fragmented and troublesome to operationalize for AI.
Azure Speed up for Databases is designed to simplify this journey. It brings collectively Microsoft Cloud Speed up Manufacturing unit supply help, Azure specialised accomplice experience, versatile financial savings and investments, AI-enhanced tooling and assessments, and role-based skilling right into a cohesive expertise.
The aim is simple: to assist organizations transfer sooner, cut back friction, and switch database modernization right into a sturdy, AI-enabling technique.
What you are able to do with Azure Speed up for Databases
With Azure Speed up for Databases, clients can:
Entry trusted specialists
Modernization outcomes rely upon execution as a lot as technique. With the precise experience in place, organizations can cut back threat and transfer ahead with larger confidence.
- Interact with Microsoft’s Cloud Speed up Manufacturing unit for zero-cost supply help.3
- Faucet into Azure’s specialised accomplice ecosystem for deep technical and trade experience.
- Use assessments and AI-enhanced tooling to information modernization and new improvement.
Unlock financial savings and investments
This removes monetary limitations so clients can modernize sooner, with extra predictable economics and extra flexibility to maintain momentum as wants evolve.
- Entry financial savings as much as 35% (vs. pay-as-you-go) with Financial savings Plan for Databases.
- Advance your undertaking with supply funding.
- Decrease preliminary prices with Azure credit.4
How the Financial savings Plan for Databases works
The financial savings plan for databases5 provides a versatile, spend-based pricing mannequin that adapts to evolving database wants. Prospects decide to a set hourly spend, and financial savings are mechanically utilized to essentially the most invaluable utilization every hour on choose companies. This helps cut back the complexity of managing a number of reservations and helps scaling with out managing particular person SKUs, areas, or configurations. When utilization exceeds the dedication, pay-as-you-go pricing applies—serving to prices stay predictable as utilization grows.
Empower expert groups
Modernization succeeds when groups can function and innovate confidently. This helps organizations construct sturdy functionality—not simply full a undertaking.
- Construct succesful and assured groups with free, on-demand, self-paced skilling content material.
- Develop abilities with on‑demand, knowledgeable‑led coaching.
- Domesticate technical specialization with 50% reductions on certification exams.6
One instance is Thomson Reuters, which modernized its tax preparation platform by migrating greater than 18,000 databases, totaling over 500 terabytes of knowledge, to Azure SQL Managed Occasion. The aim was not solely to handle efficiency and scalability challenges throughout peak tax season, however to ascertain a extra resilient and dependable knowledge basis for the long run.

Operating on Azure has helped enhance utility efficiency and scalability for 7,000 tax companies and 70,000 customers. With a contemporary, fully-managed platform in place, Thomson Reuters is now higher positioned to scale companies and help continued innovation. The migration was accelerated by Microsoft’s Cloud Speed up Manufacturing unit, the zero-cost supply advantage of Azure Speed up, which offered hands-on engineering help, automation, and structured execution to assist cut back threat and streamline the transition at scale.

Azure Speed up for Databases is designed to help this type of modernization progress, to allow them to construct a stronger knowledge basis for AI.
Get began with Azure Speed up for Databases
Modernizing your database property is a vital step in getting ready for AI. Azure Speed up for Databases is designed to make that step extra achievable by bringing collectively the assets, experience, and investments wanted to maneuver ahead with confidence.
To be taught extra, go to the Azure Speed up for Databases web page and discover financial savings, in addition to entry expert-led assets.
Be part of us on the Migrate & Modernize Summit (April 23 and on demand) to be taught extra about modernizing your database property.
For extra particulars, join along with your Microsoft account staff.
1Lack of AI-Prepared Knowledge Places AI Initiatives at Danger
2The Whole Financial Impression™ Of Migrating To Microsoft Azure For AI-Readiness. Commissioned examine.
3Zero‑value supply help for eligible clients by Microsoft‑funded applications. Availability and eligibility standards apply.
4Eligible clients might obtain supply funding (for partner-led companies) and Azure credit by authorised Azure Speed up applications. Funding is topic to utility, undertaking scope, and regional availability.
5Prospects might even see financial savings estimated to be between 0% and 35%. The 35% financial savings estimate relies on one Azure SQL Database serverless working for 12 months at a pay-as-you-go fee versus a lowered fee for a 1-year financial savings plan. Based mostly on Azure pricing as of March 2026. Costs are topic to vary. Precise financial savings might range based mostly on location, database service, and/or utilization.
6Skilling advantages are topic to eligibility, approval, and availability.
