Oracle’s latest cloud maneuver has more layers than it first appears. While headlines focus on its deepening partnership with hyperscalers like Amazon and Microsoft, what’s happening behind the scenes speaks volumes about how the company intends to hold onto its most valuable revenue stream—support tied to perpetual licenses.
Oracle Database@AWS is now available across various U.S. regions, and you can really see Oracle steering customers toward leveraging existing licenses—or even purchasing new perpetual ones. While there’s technically a “license included” option that streamlines initial setup, the practical reality is different.
Oracle’s communications, pricing models, and incentives are all clearly optimized for the Bring Your Own License (BYOL) path. If you dig into the details, it’s obvious: BYOL is the approach Oracle wants users to adopt, and the structure of their offering reflects that preference. Analysts say that’s no accident.
Instead of leaning into modern subscription models, Oracle appears to be building a future on familiar ground: high-margin support contracts linked to perpetual software ownership. Licensing experts note that this strategy ensures Oracle keeps tapping into a $20 billion annual support business. In the words of one consultant, the company wants to keep that free cash “flowing as long as possible.”
To access Oracle Database@AWS, customers must negotiate directly with Oracle before activating a deal through AWS Marketplace. This process creates a complex dance of cloud freedom and contract entanglement. While the infrastructure may sit in AWS data centers, the reins are still firmly in Oracle’s hands.
Some industry observers see this as a clever retention tactic. Most large Oracle clients already hold licenses, making BYOL a more cost-effective choice. But there’s a catch: these deployments fall under Oracle Cloud Infrastructure’s licensing terms, not AWS’s. That technicality could work in the customer’s favor—or create confusion.
As Oracle embeds itself deeper into rival cloud ecosystems, it isn’t loosening its grip. It’s adapting, methodically, to make sure customers never wander too far without dragging their licenses—and their support payments—with them.
