Microsoft Azure SLA Credits

What is Microsoft Azure's SLA for Virtual Machines and key services?

Azure Virtual Machines carry tiered SLA guarantees based on deployment architecture. VMs deployed across two or more Availability Zones in the same region are guaranteed 99.99% monthly uptime. VMs in an Availability Set or deployed to two or more instances in the same region carry a 99.95% guarantee. Single-instance VMs using Standard SSDs are guaranteed at 99.5%, while single-instance VMs on Standard HDDs carry a 95% guarantee, a significant gap that is often overlooked in enterprise deployments. Azure SQL Database Premium tier carries a 99.99% guarantee. Azure App Service is guaranteed at 99.95%.

How do I file an Azure SLA credit claim?

Azure SLA credit claims must be filed within two months of the incident date. Claims are submitted through the Azure portal or directly to Microsoft Support. You must provide documentation demonstrating the SLA was not met, including timestamps and affected service details. Microsoft has up to 45 days to evaluate and process the claim after submission. Credits are applied to your future Azure invoices. Azure also requires that the service configuration meets eligibility prerequisites. For example, Virtual Machine SLAs apply only when the VM is deployed in a supported redundant configuration, not as a standalone single-instance deployment.

Do free or trial Azure services qualify for SLA credits?

No. Azure's SLA and associated credit entitlements apply only to paid service tiers. Free services, trial subscriptions, and services designated as Preview or Early Access are explicitly excluded from Azure's SLA guarantees. Additionally, features or capabilities within a paid service that are individually designated as pre-GA (preview) may also fall outside SLA coverage. Enterprises should audit their Azure service portfolio to confirm which workloads are operating under enforceable SLA terms, particularly in complex hybrid environments.