Software Licensing · AWS
AWS consulting services and AWS licensing that cut cloud waste
Practical AWS licensing help for companies in Canada, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan. We set up your AWS account properly, choose between license included and BYOL, and cut your bill with Savings Plans.
ApexGenTech is an authorised AWS reseller supplying genuine licences, setup and support in Canada, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan.
Overview
What AWS licensing really means
Amazon Web Services does not sell licences in the old sense. You pay for what you use: servers by the hour, storage by the gigabyte, data by the transfer. So when people talk about AWS licensing they usually mean three things. How the software running on AWS is licensed. How you pay for AWS itself. And how you buy third party software through AWS Marketplace.
Each one can save or waste a lot of money. A Windows Server running on Amazon EC2 can include the licence in the hourly price, or you may be able to bring a licence you already own. A steady workload can cost far less under Savings Plans than on demand. A tool bought through AWS Marketplace can land on the same invoice as your servers, which finance teams tend to like.
We help you make those choices with your own numbers in front of you, then keep the AWS account tidy so the bill matches what you expected.
What our AWS licensing help covers:
- New AWS account setup with sensible guardrails
- Consolidated billing across several accounts
- License included Windows Server and SQL Server
- BYOL checks for software you already own
- Savings Plans and Reserved Instances
- AWS Marketplace purchases and private offers
What we supply
AWS licensing services we provide
Every AWS account is different, but the same handful of decisions drive most of the cost.
AWS account setup and structure
We set up your AWS account, or tidy an existing one, with separate accounts for production and testing, budget alerts and access that follows least privilege.
License included on Amazon EC2
With license included, the Windows Server or SQL Server licence is built into the Amazon EC2 hourly price. Nothing to track, nothing to true up, and it stops when the server stops.
BYOL for licences you already own
BYOL means bring your own licence. Some software, including Oracle and Red Hat, can often move to AWS this way. Microsoft’s rules are tighter, so we check your agreements first.
Savings Plans for steady workloads
Savings Plans give a lower hourly rate in return for a one or three year spending commitment. We size the commitment from real usage so you never pay for capacity you do not need.
AWS Marketplace software
AWS Marketplace sells thousands of tools, from firewalls to databases, billed on your AWS account. Private offers let a vendor give you a negotiated price through the same route.
AWS account cost reviews
Each quarter we look for idle servers, oversized instances, old snapshots and storage that should move to a cheaper tier. Small fixes add up fast on AWS.
How it works
How AWS licensing works with ApexGenTech
A simple loop that keeps your AWS account healthy and your bill predictable.
- 1AssessCurrent AWS account, workloads and spend.
- 2DecideLicense included or BYOL, server by server.
- 3CommitSavings Plans sized from real usage.
- 4BuyAWS Marketplace tools on one bill.
- 5WatchBudgets, alerts and monthly reports.
- 6TuneQuarterly review of Amazon EC2 and storage.
Buying options
License included, BYOL and Savings Plans compared
These are the main ways to pay for software and capacity on AWS.
| Option | What you pay | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| On demand | Per second or hour of use, no commitment | New or unpredictable workloads | The highest rate if a server runs all the time. |
| License included | Software licence built into the Amazon EC2 price | Windows Server and SQL Server without spare licences | Usually costs more per hour than BYOL, but needs no tracking. |
| BYOL | Your existing licence plus the AWS capacity | Oracle, Red Hat and some Microsoft licences with the right rights | Vendor rules can require dedicated hosts or forbid it entirely. |
| Savings Plans | A lower rate for a one or three year commitment | Servers and containers that run steadily | You pay the commitment even if usage falls. |
| AWS Marketplace | Software charged on your AWS bill | Security, data and monitoring tools | Check the contract length and renewal terms of each listing. |
AWS and software vendors set these terms and change them from time to time. We confirm the details for your workloads before you commit.
Where we supply
AWS licensing in Canada, the UK, the Gulf and Pakistan
We help companies in six countries buy and run AWS sensibly, taking account of where their data needs to live.
AWS licensing in Canada
AWS accounts for Canadian businesses, with workloads hosted in the Canada Central or Canada West regions when data needs to stay in the country.
AWS licensing in the UK
AWS licensing and cost control for UK companies, using the London region for customer data that must stay in the United Kingdom.
AWS licensing in the UAE
AWS for businesses in the Emirates, with the AWS Middle East region in the UAE available for local hosting.
AWS licensing in Saudi Arabia
AWS account setup and Savings Plans for Saudi companies, with advice on hosting options for data that falls under local rules.
AWS licensing in Qatar
AWS licensing and billing for companies in Qatar, with workloads placed in the nearest suitable Gulf region.
AWS licensing in Pakistan
AWS for Pakistani software houses and enterprises, with help on cost control and billing records for local accounts teams.
Consulting
AWS consulting services that start with your bill
Most AWS bills carry waste: idle instances, oversized databases, missing Savings Plans and licences paid twice. Our AWS consulting services start with a review of your account and end with a written list of changes, ranked by saving and risk.
Our AWS consulting services also cover migration planning, account and security setup, backups, and the licensing questions that come with Windows Server and SQL Server on AWS, such as licence included instances versus bringing your own licence.
What our AWS consulting services cover:
- Cost and usage review
- Savings Plans and right sizing
- Migration planning
- Security and backup setup
- Microsoft and Oracle licensing on AWS
Saving money
Lowering your AWS account bill without slowing anything down
Most AWS accounts we review carry the same waste: test servers left running at night, instances sized for a launch day that never came, storage snapshots nobody remembers taking. None of it is dramatic. All of it is paid for every month.
Fixing that first, then committing to Savings Plans for what is left, usually gives the biggest saving. We do it in that order on purpose. Commit too early and you lock in waste for one or three years.
Our order of work on an AWS account:
- Switch off test servers out of hours
- Right size Amazon EC2 instances from real data
- Move old files to cheaper storage tiers
- Delete forgotten snapshots and volumes
- Then commit with Savings Plans
Microsoft on AWS
BYOL rules for Windows Server and SQL Server on AWS
Bringing your own Microsoft licences to AWS is not as simple as it sounds. Microsoft treats AWS as a listed provider, which limits how many older licences can be moved there without extra rights. In many cases license included on Amazon EC2 is the safer and simpler route, even if the hourly rate looks higher.
We check what your Microsoft agreements actually allow before recommending BYOL. You can read Amazon’s own guidance on the official AWS website, and our Microsoft licensing page explains the Microsoft side of the same question.
Why ApexGenTech
Why work with us on AWS licensing
We build and run software ourselves, including on AWS, so our advice comes from operating real systems rather than reading price lists. We can also help with what sits on top of your AWS account: custom software development, AI integration using cloud AI services, and support plans that keep everything patched.
Security matters as much as cost. Our cybersecurity services include cloud configuration reviews that check your AWS account for open storage, weak access rules and missing logging.
Related licensing
AWS licensing alongside the software you run on it
Most AWS accounts run software from other vendors too. We can manage those licences in the same place.
Microsoft licensingMicrosoft 365, Copilot, Azure, Windows Server, SQL Server, Dynamics 365 and Power BI.
View Microsoft licensing
Oracle licensingOracle Database, Java SE, WebLogic and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
View Oracle licensing
Red Hat licensingRed Hat Enterprise Linux, OpenShift and Ansible Automation Platform.
View Red Hat licensing
VMware licensingVMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere Foundation and vSphere Standard.
View VMware licensing
FAQ
AWS consulting services FAQs
What is AWS licensing?
AWS licensing covers how you pay for AWS itself, how the software you run on it is licensed (license included or BYOL), and software you buy through AWS Marketplace. We help with all three.
Should I choose license included or BYOL on AWS?
License included is simplest: the licence is part of the Amazon EC2 price. BYOL can be cheaper if you already own suitable licences, but vendor rules vary, especially for Microsoft. We check your agreements before you decide.
How do AWS Savings Plans work?
You commit to a set amount of hourly spending for one or three years and pay a lower rate in return. They suit workloads that run steadily. We size them from real usage so you do not over commit.
Can you set up a new AWS account for us?
Yes. We set up a new AWS account, or tidy an existing one, with separate environments, budget alerts, sensible access rules and logging switched on from the start.
Can we buy software through AWS Marketplace?
Yes. AWS Marketplace purchases are charged on your AWS bill, and vendors can offer private pricing through it. We help you compare that with buying direct.
Do you provide AWS licensing in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan?
Yes. We help companies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, as well as Canada, the UK and the UAE, with AWS licensing, billing and cost control.
What do your AWS consulting services include?
Account and cost review, architecture advice, migration planning, security and backup setup, and licensing guidance for Microsoft and Oracle workloads. Our AWS consulting services are scoped per project with a written plan.
Do you offer AWS consulting services for small companies?
Yes. Many clients run only a handful of servers. AWS consulting services for them usually focus on cost, backups and security basics, which is where small accounts lose the most.
How do AWS consulting services lower our bill?
AWS consulting services find idle and oversized resources, match steady workloads to Savings Plans and check that you are not paying twice for Windows Server or SQL Server licences. Each change is listed with its saving before anything is touched.
Get a second opinion on your AWS licensing
Share a recent AWS bill or tell us what you plan to run. We will show you where the savings are and what to do next.