Top5 Oracle licensing risks on AWS

Hi all,

Today we are hosting an event on "Oracle licensing optimization on AWS".

In this blog post, we are going to share some information on Oracle licensing in the cloud, specifically on AWS.

Oracle licensing options on AWS

AWS RDS for Oracle

This option is if you do not own a license or do not want to Bring your own Oracle licenses to AWS. This option is only available for Oracle Database Standard Edition. There are few benefits with this model, but it may suit smaller organizations they only have a requirement for standard edition and do not wish to purchase licenses from Oracle.

AWS EC2

This is AWS Computing cloud, you create an instance and depending on the size you look at the number of vCPUs and use Oracle calculation 2 equals 1 processor license for enterprise products. It is 4 for standard edition products. You will then need to own or purchase the license from Oracle and use it as "Bring Your Own License".

Now what are the most common license compliance issues we see after organizations have migrated to AWS?

Top 5 Oracle licensing compliance issues in AWS:

1. Using more than 8 vCPUs for Oracle Database Standard Edition One or Two on an AWS instance. This is a violation of Oracle's cloud licensing policy and requires licensing with the Enterprise Edition.
2. Counting named user plus licenses incorrectly for Oracle Database SE2 deployments. Even if you only have 5 users, a minimum of 10 user licenses per 8 vCPUs is required.
3. Using Oracle Enterprise Management options on Standard Edition databases. These options, such as the Diagnostic and Tuning pack, are only available for Enterprise Edition databases and their use without proper licensing can be detected during an Oracle audit.
4. Using Oracle Enterprise options without a license, the most common is the use of data pump features that triggers advanced compression usage.
5. Not reviewing your Oracle licensing agreements when using Bring-Your-Own-License (BYOL) on AWS. There may be limitations or restrictions on how you can use and deploy Oracle software on AWS, so it is important to review your Oracle Ordering Document before deployment.

To summarize, many of the same license compliance issues apply to AWS that apply to onpremise deployments.

Frequently asked questions about Oracle on AWS:

Is it possible to deploy Oracle ULA software on AWS?

• It is possible, but there are restrictions on the number of licenses that can be taken with you when the Oracle ULA expires. The specific terms of your contract will determine what happens when the ULA expires.

Can I bring my Oracle EBS licenses and use them on AWS?

• It is generally possible, but you should review your contract for any restrictions. It is important to ensure compliance with user and privilege requirements, as Oracle may audit your deployment if it is on AWS instead of OCI or Fusion.

Do the database licensing policies also apply to Weblogic licensing?

• Yes, the number of vCPUs is counted the same way for Weblogic standard as for enterprise products.

Can I deploy Java on AWS?

• Yes, the number of vCPUs is counted the same way as for enterprise licensing. (core-based)

What is AWS CPU optimization?

• This is a feature that allows AWS customers to tailor EC2 instance shapes to their specific requirements. It is useful for Oracle SQL workloads that are not CPU-intensive, as it can help to lower Oracle licensing costs by building custom instances. However Oracle does not agree that this is an acceptable way of limiting the CPUs you need to license.

If you want to learn more we host our event "Optimizing Oracle on AWS" later today. It is live here on LinkedIn.

Are you moving your Oracle deployments to AWS and want expert help?

Our service, Oracle Licensing Optimization on AWS, is designed to help businesses navigate the complex world of Oracle licensing on the AWS platform. We provide a service that includes:

1. Oracle Licensing Assessment: Our team of experts will conduct a thorough analysis of your current Oracle licensing setup on AWS to identify any potential compliance issues or areas for optimization.
2. Contract Review: We will review your Oracle licensing agreements to fully understand your rights and ensure that you are utilizing your licenses to their fullest potential.
3. License Optimization on AWS: Based on the results of our assessment and contract review, we will provide recommendations for optimizing your Oracle licenses on AWS. This may include strategies for reducing costs, consolidating licenses, or deploying licenses more efficiently.
4. License Compliance Verification on AWS: Our team will conduct regular compliance checks to ensure that your Oracle licenses are being used in accordance with your agreements. This includes monitoring for any unlicensed usage and identifying any potential compliance risks.

Overall our service will help you to ensure that you are using your Oracle licenses optimally and in compliance with AWS policies, and also help you to reduce the costs of your Oracle licenses on AWS. We provide ongoing support, and regular check-ins to help you stay compliant and get the most out of your licenses.

If you want to know more contact us