SQL Server on Amazon RDS: What’s Changed, What Matters, and When It’s the Right Choice

SQL Server on AWS has changed, but most architectures haven’t.
Licensing is more flexible, managed options are more capable, and RDS Custom blurs the line between control and convenience. In this talk, we’ll break down what’s actually new with SQL Server on Amazon RDS, how the latest licensing models change the cost equation, and when RDS, RDS Custom, or EC2 is the right choice. Expect real-world trade-offs, cost traps to avoid, and a clear decision framework you can use the next day.

Understand what’s changed in Amazon RDS for SQL Server, including recent licensing and deployment options.
Evaluate trade-offs between RDS, RDS Custom, and EC2 for SQL Server workloads.
Apply a practical decision framework to optimise cost, control, and operational overhead for SQL Server on AWS.