Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server lets you stop and start your database instance on demand

Starting today, Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server makes it simple to stop and start your database instances. This lets you save costs by stopping a database instance when it does not need to be running, such as when it is used for development or test purposes. Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server is a managed database service that allows customization of the underlying operating system and includes the ability to bring your own licensed SQL Server media.

Stopping and starting your RDS Custom for SQL Server database instance requires just a few clicks in the AWS Management Console. Alternatively, you can use the AWS Command Line Interface. While your database instance is stopped, you are not charged for database instance hours, however you will continue to be charged for other costs, such as provisioned storage, manual snapshots and automated backup storage within your specified retention window.

You can stop an instance for up to 7 days at a time. After 7 days, it restarts automatically. The stop and start capability is available for database instances running in a Single-AZ deployment.

For more details, please refer to the AWS documentation. To get started with RDS Custom for SQL Server read this blog for a step-by-step guide. Amazon RDS Custom for SQL Server is generally available in the following AWS Regions: US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo), Canada (Central), Europe (Frankfurt, Ireland, London, Stockholm), and South America (São Paulo).