What's New

AWS Transform now includes TCO assessment capabilities for Amazon RDS for SQL Server, enabling organizations to estimate and compare costs when migrating on-premises SQL Server databases to the managed RDS service. AI-powered agents analyze existing on-premises environments, generate right-sized instance recommendations, and support what-if scenario modeling across multiple pricing and configuration options. This addition expands AWS Transform's existing migration assessment portfolio, which already covers EC2, FSx, S3, SQL Server on EC2, and virtual desktops.

How It Works

• Inventory ingestion: Upload on-premises SQL Server environment data from multiple supported formats, including RVTools exports, CMDB exports, AWS Transform Discovery Tool exports, Migration Evaluator Quick Insights files, MPA format files, and other third-party discovery tool outputs.
• AI-powered analysis: AWS Transform's AI agents parse the inventory data, profile workload characteristics (CPU, memory, storage, I/O), and generate optimal RDS for SQL Server instance recommendations tailored to each workload's requirements.
• Licensing model support: Assessments cover both Bring Your Own Media (BYOM), where customers apply existing SQL Server licenses, and License Included (LI) options, allowing direct cost comparison between the two models.
• Cost optimization layers: Recommendations incorporate Database Savings Plans (up to 20% savings vs. On-Demand) and flag eligibility for the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP), which provides migration credits and support.
• What-if scenario modeling: Users create and compare multiple cost scenarios by adjusting variables such as target AWS Region, resource utilization assumptions, and pricing terms (On-Demand, Savings Plans, Reserved).
• Integrated assessment: RDS for SQL Server assessments can be combined in the same what-if analysis alongside EC2, FSx, S3, SQL Server on EC2, and virtual desktop cost models for a holistic migration business case.
• Cloud Value Proposition pillars: Beyond raw TCO, assessments can be enriched with staff productivity, operational resilience, business agility, and sustainability metrics drawn from the AWS Cloud Value Framework.
• Deliverable generation: After reviewing and refining results through an interactive chat interface, users can generate executive presentations and detailed reports directly from the AWS Transform console.

Why It's Important

• Reduces migration uncertainty: SQL Server licensing complexity is one of the most significant barriers to cloud migration; AI-driven TCO modeling removes guesswork and gives finance and infrastructure teams defensible cost projections before committing to a migration.
• Accelerates business case creation: Automated right-sizing and scenario comparison compress what traditionally takes weeks of manual spreadsheet work into a guided, repeatable workflow inside a single console.
• Captures hidden savings: By surfacing Database Savings Plans discounts and MAP credits within the assessment, organizations avoid leaving cost reduction opportunities on the table during planning.
• Supports dual licensing strategies: Explicit BYOM vs. LI comparison lets customers with existing SQL Server Enterprise Agreements quantify whether re-using licenses or switching to AWS-managed licensing is more economical for each workload.
• Enables data-driven stakeholder alignment: Multi-scenario side-by-side comparisons and exportable executive reports give CIOs and CFOs the evidence needed to approve migration programs with confidence.
• Holistic cloud value framing: Incorporating staff productivity, resilience, agility, and sustainability pillars elevates the conversation beyond pure infrastructure cost, addressing the full business case expected by executive sponsors.

How It's Different

• Managed RDS vs. self-managed EC2: Unlike SQL Server on EC2 assessments (already in Transform), the RDS for SQL Server assessment models the fully managed service cost structure, including automated backups, patching, and Multi-AZ, rather than treating the database as a lift-and-shift IaaS workload.
• AI-driven right-sizing vs. manual sizing: Traditional migration tools require manual instance mapping; AWS Transform's AI agents automatically match on-premises workload profiles to optimal RDS instance classes, reducing human error and over-provisioning.
• Integrated multi-service what-if: Competitors and standalone TCO calculators typically assess one target service in isolation; AWS Transform allows a single scenario to mix RDS, EC2, FSx, S3, and virtual desktops, reflecting real-world heterogeneous migrations.
• MAP eligibility surfaced automatically: Most TCO tools do not account for AWS program credits; Transform explicitly identifies MAP eligibility and folds those offsets into the cost model.
• Flexible inventory ingestion: The tool accepts a broad range of input formats (RVTools, CMDB, Migration Evaluator, MPA, custom templates) without requiring a dedicated discovery agent deployment, lowering the barrier to starting an assessment.
• Chat-based interactive refinement: Unlike static spreadsheet models, Transform allows users to refine assumptions and re-run scenarios through a conversational AI interface, making iterative analysis accessible to non-technical stakeholders.

When to Prefer It

• Early-stage migration planning: Use when an organization needs a rapid, credible cost estimate before committing budget or resources to a formal SQL Server migration program.
• License optimization decisions: Use when evaluating whether to leverage existing SQL Server licenses (BYOM) or transition to AWS License Included pricing, particularly for customers with upcoming Software Assurance renewal dates.
• Large or complex SQL Server estates: Use when managing dozens or hundreds of SQL Server instances where manual sizing and cost modeling would be prohibitively time-consuming or error-prone.
• Executive business case development: Use when a CIO or CFO requires a structured, multi-dimensional value analysis (cost, productivity, resilience, sustainability) rather than a simple infrastructure cost comparison.
• Multi-workload migration waves: Use when SQL Server databases are being migrated alongside other infrastructure (VMs, file shares, object storage) and a unified cost model across all target services is needed.
• MAP credit qualification: Use when an organization suspects it may qualify for AWS Migration Acceleration Program credits and wants to quantify those offsets as part of the financial justification.
• Scenario sensitivity analysis: Use when stakeholders need to stress-test assumptions (e.g., different utilization rates, regions, or commitment terms) before finalizing a migration architecture decision.

Availability

• GA status: Generally available as of June 8, 2026; no preview or beta designation indicated.
• Supported regions: Available in all AWS Regions where AWS Transform is offered, which currently includes US East (N. Virginia), Europe (Frankfurt), Europe (London), Asia Pacific (Mumbai), Asia Pacific (Sydney), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), Asia Pacific (Seoul), and Canada (Central).
• Access point: Accessed via the AWS Transform console under the Migration Assessment section; requires an active AWS Transform workspace.
• Pricing model: AWS Transform migration assessments are not separately priced as a standalone service; standard AWS Transform service terms apply. The assessed RDS for SQL Server costs reflect On-Demand, Database Savings Plans, and MAP credit scenarios.
• Input format flexibility: Supports RVTools, CMDB exports, AWS Transform Discovery Tool exports, Migration Evaluator Quick Insights, MPA format, partner discovery tools, and the AWS Transform Assessment Data template.
• Limitation – workspace region: Each assessment job is tied to the AWS Transform workspace region; to assess a different target region, a separate workspace in that region must be used.
• Limitation – cross-region data processing: Data may be processed in a different region from where AWS Transform is used; customers with strict data residency requirements should review the cross-region processing documentation before use.

Related Resources

• https://aws.amazon.com/executive-insights/content/business-value-on-aws/
• https://docs.aws.amazon.com/transform/latest/userguide/getting-started.html
• https://docs.aws.amazon.com/transform/latest/userguide/transform-app-assessments.html
• https://docs.aws.amazon.com/transform/latest/userguide/regions.html