
Many organizations invest in Visual Studio for development and often overlook the full range of benefits that come with a subscription. From developer tools and training to cloud services and support, Visual Studio offers more than just an IDE. Among the most valuable of these benefits is the Azure credit—an opportunity to explore and experiment with cloud solutions at no additional cost.
A client recently approached Visus, LLC unaware of the cloud access included in their Visual Studio subscription. We guided them through the available benefits and helped them unlock a powerful resource: the Azure credits available through Visual Studio Dev Essentials and Enterprise subscriptions.
The free Visual Studio Dev Essentials plan offers a $200 Azure credit and 12 months of access to selected services—ideal for development, testing, or building a proof of concept. Even more impactful is the benefit provided to Visual Studio Enterprise subscribers: $150 in recurring monthly Azure credits. This allotment supports a range of services, enabling teams to run virtual machines, databases, and web apps without dipping into additional budget.
By activating these Azure benefits, the client gained access to cloud services that would have otherwise gone untapped. This not only enhanced their development capabilities but also accelerated their ability to test and deploy new ideas in a cost-effective manner.
The lesson is simple: review your Visual Studio subscription benefits regularly. The Azure perks alone can offer immense value and support innovation across your organization. Explore all the benefits at https://my.visualstudio.com/Benefits and ensure your team makes the most of the tools already at its disposal.