SQL Server Runtime Licensing through CSP ?

Question

SQL Server Runtime Licensing through CSP ?

SM 0

We have a customer requesting a quote for Microsoft SQL Server Runtime licensing for an Azure-based deployment.

Could you please clarify:

What exactly is SQL Server Runtime licensing, and when is it required?
Is SQL Server Runtime licensing available through the Microsoft CSP program, or is it only available through an ISV (Independent Software Vendor)?
If the deployment is on Azure, should we recommend standard SQL Server licensing instead of SQL Runtime licensing?

Any guidance or official Microsoft documentation would be appreciated.

Below is the cx requirement:

We are evaluating Microsoft SQL Runtime licensing requirements and would appreciate a quote for the appropriate SQL Runtime licenses .

Could you please provide:

Available SQL Runtime license options
Pricing details and licensing model
Lead time for procurement and activation

Please let us know if you require any additional information regarding the deployment size or environment to provide an accurate quote.

Thank You

Peram Venkateswara Reddy 260 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-21T09:22:42.47+00:00
Hi @SM , Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

"SQL Server Runtime" is not a standalone SKU that customers purchase directly from Microsoft. It refers to a restricted-use SQL Server license that is embedded inside an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) application and distributed under the Microsoft ISV Royalty Licensing Program.

Under this model:

The ISV integrates SQL Server as the backend of their Unified Solution (for example, an ERP, accounting, or line-of-business product).

The embedded SQL Server can only be used by that specific ISV application — end customers cannot use it to run other applications or build new databases/tables against it.

The Runtime license is acquired by the ISV through a Microsoft Authorized Distributor, and the cost is bundled into the ISV product price paid by the end customer.

You would only need SQL Runtime licensing if you are deploying a specific third‑party ISV product that requires it as its embedded database engine. For all other SQL Server workloads, standard commercial licensing applies.

Is SQL Server Runtime available through Microsoft CSP?

No. SQL Server Runtime is not part of the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) catalog. It is exclusively available via the ISV Royalty Licensing Program, which is sold only through Microsoft Authorized ISV Distributors — not CSP partners.

Through CSP, what is available for SQL Server is:

SQL Server Standard / Enterprise – as subscription (1-year or 3-year) or perpetual licenses.

Follow up Questions for you:

Are you trying to deploy SQL Server for your own applications on Azure? → I Recommend one of the standard options above (PAYG (Pay as you Go) via Marketplace image, or CSP subscription + Azure Hybrid Benefit).

Are you trying to deploy a specific ISV/third-party product that requires an embedded SQL Server? → In that case, the ISV vendor supplies the Runtime license; it cannot be quoted through CSP.

For your Ref:

SQL Server Licensing Guidance (Microsoft) [microsoft.com]

Pricing guidance for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines – Microsoft Learn [learn.microsoft.com]

Microsoft ISV Royalty Licensing Program [microsoft.com]

Hope this helps clarify the licensing path. If you can share the specific application/workload that you are planning to run on Azure, we can point you to the exact license SKU that fits.
Peram Venkateswara Reddy 260 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-22T16:40:49.31+00:00

Hi @SM Just following up to see if your issue has been resolved or if you had a chance to review my earlier comment?

1 answer

Your answer

Peram Venkateswara Reddy 260 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-22T16:40:49.31+00:00

Hi @SM Just following up to see if your issue has been resolved or if you had a chance to review my earlier comment?

Answer 1

hi SM & thx for sharing urs issue here at Q&A portal,

SQL Server Runtime licensing is a specialized licensing model intended for ISVs that embed SQL Server as part of their own software solution. It isn't a general-purpose licensing option for customers deploying SQL Server workloads themselves, even if those workloads run in Azure. For a customer deploying SQL Server on Azure VMs, the recommendation is typically to use the standard SQL Server licensing options available for Azure: Pay-as-you-go licensing included with SQL Server on Azure VM images. Azure Hybrid Benefit if the customer already owns eligible SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance or qualifying subscription licenses.

Runtime licensing is generally obtained through Microsoft's ISV programs rather than the CSP program as a standalone SKU. If the customer is simply running their own application on Azure, SQL Runtime licensing would normally not be the appropriate choice.

For pricing, procurement, and lead times, a CSP partner or Microsoft licensing specialist will need to determine the appropriate SQL edition (Express, Standard, or Enterprise), licensing model (per-core or Azure PAYG), and whether Azure Hybrid Benefit applies before providing a quote. If the customer's scenario is that they are an ISV distributing a commercial application that embeds SQL Server, rather than deploying SQL Server for their own use, could you clarify that? The licensing guidance is different for embedded/Runtime scenarios

rgds,

Alex

&

If my answer was helpful pls mark it and additional thx if u follow me at Q&A portal

and at my blog https://ctrlaltdel.blog/

SM 0 Reputation points

2026-07-24T10:39:49.0866667+00:00

Hello Alex,
Thanks for your reponses.

Client confirmed the SKUs , Please find the following:

1.SQL CAL Runtime 2022 ALng Embedded

SQL CAL Runtime 2022 ALng Embedded Maintenance

Appreciate your response on this. Thank You

SQL Server Runtime Licensing through CSP ?

Is SQL Server Runtime available through Microsoft CSP?

For your Ref:

1 answer

Your answer