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sourceDocument: Australia Asset Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-asset-management

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ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Asset Management

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---

# Configure Cloud Cost Management for Microsoft Azure

# Configure Cloud Cost Management for Microsoft Azure {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read
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![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI  
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## Summary of Configure Cloud Cost Management for Microsoft Azure

The Cloud Cost Management application, available on the ServiceNow Store, enables ServiceNow customers to manage and optimize their Microsoft Azure cloud costs effectively.
It requires Microsoft Azure console administrator permissions and the sysadmin role in ServiceNow.
Note that this application is not supported on mobile devices, and minor discrepancies in billing values may occur due to currency conversions or rounding.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **Application Setup:** Obtain and activate the Cloud Cost Management app and its supporting plugins from the ServiceNow Store. Activation may require assistance from your ServiceNow representative.
* **Role Assignment:** Assign Cloud Cost Management roles to users and groups based on their responsibilities to ensure proper access and task delegation.
* **MID Server Configuration:** Configure MID Servers with Service Principal credentials to enable communication between Discovery and your Microsoft Azure account for accurate CI data access.
* **Cloud Resource Discovery:** Schedule Discovery jobs to keep your CMDB updated with current Azure resource information.
* **Billing Data Management:** Schedule and manage jobs to download and organize billing data and price sheets from Microsoft Azure, which are essential for generating cost-saving recommendations.
* **Cost Optimization Features:**
  * **Rightsizing:** Analyze resource usage to recommend optimal resource sizes, supported by confidence ratings and predicted savings, with the ability to schedule resizing jobs.
  * **Unused Machines:** Identify and schedule power-off or termination of underutilized resources to reduce waste.
  * **Business Hours Management:** Apply policies to start and stop resources according to business hours, helping to minimize costs by shutting down resources when not needed.
  * **Unassigned Resources:** Detect resources not linked to change groups and assist in assigning them properly for appropriate governance during lifecycle stages such as patching and upgrading.

## Expected Outcomes

* Improved visibility into Microsoft Azure cloud resource usage and costs directly within ServiceNow.
* Automated discovery and ongoing synchronization of Azure resources and billing data to maintain accurate and current cost assessments.
* Actionable insights and recommendations for cost savings through rightsizing, identifying unused resources, and enforcing business hour policies.
* Enhanced governance by ensuring all cloud resources are assigned to appropriate change groups, enabling controlled management throughout their lifecycle.
* Streamlined cost management workflows that allow scheduling and automation of cloud resource optimization tasks, reducing manual effort and enhancing operational efficiency.  
The Cloud Cost Management application is available on the ServiceNow Store.

## General requirements and limitations {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__section_fxw_kxc_xkb}

* Cloud Cost Management isn't supported on mobile devices.
* Values in reports might vary slightly from provider billing values due to currency conversion or rounding.
{#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__ul_xtx_pwd_vhb}

## Requirements and limitations for Microsoft Azure {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__section_lpn_kkk_pkb}

You must have Microsoft Azure console administrator
permissions to work in the Microsoft Azure
console

## Download and activate Cloud Cost Management {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__section_mvm_1qy_5lb}

Role required: sys_admin
{#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__table_myg_bq3_lfb__entry__3}

| Step | Description | Action |
|-|-|-|
| Get the app. | Get the Cloud Cost Management app from the ServiceNow Store. | Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) website to get the Cloud Cost Management app and supporting apps. |
| Activate all supporting plugins and applications. | Activate the plugins listed on the ServiceNow Store page for Cloud Cost Management. You might need to request some of the plugins from your ServiceNow representative. | For instructions, see: * [Request as plugin](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_RequestAPlugin&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) * [Activate a plugin](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_ActivateAPlugin&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US) {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__ul_az2_db2_vhb} |
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{#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__table_myg_bq3_lfb}

## Overview: Setting up Cloud Cost Management {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__section_hkr_dqy_5lb}

Here's an overview of your set up process. Detailed instructions appear in the table that follows.

Navigate to WorkspacesCloud Cost Management WorkspaceAdmin. The Admin page enables you to set up a provider and preferences.

After you set up a provider and assign the insights_owner role, the page displays additional setup activities.  
Note:  
The Configure and Run Discovery card appears only if you use the Discovery application to discover cloud resources.

## Setting up Cloud Cost Management {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__section_w4v_cl1_zhb}

{#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__table_zqr_2l1_zhb__entry__3}

| Step | Description | Action |
|-|-|-|
| Assign roles to Cloud Cost Management users and groups. | You assign Cloud Cost Management roles to user groups and to individual users based on user activities and responsibilities. | [Cloud Cost Management roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~HPyr~yrC2WdtCp_jGPGLQ "You assign Cloud Cost Management roles to user groups and to individual users based on user activities and responsibilities.") |
| Configuring MID Servers to access CI data on provider accounts for Cloud Cost Management. | To enable Discovery to communicate with your Microsoft Azure account, you specify your Service Principal credentials while configuring the MID Servers that communicate with your Microsoft Azure account. | [Configuring access to CI data on your Microsoft Azure account](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/~OhdgcBoXR9tFemhFW_7Lg "To enable Discovery to communicate with your Microsoft Azure account, you specify your Service Principal credentials while configuring the MID Servers that communicate with your Microsoft Azure account.") |
| Discover your cloud resources. | You schedule the Discovery process to ensure that the CMDB data on resources remains current. | [Discovering your cloud resources for use](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/_HCYfBkgB6aRswj4CW7FoA "Select the service accounts to discover, the credentials for accessing the accounts, and the MID Servers that scan the resources. If you use the Discovery application, the Discovery Manager wizard simplifies the configuration process for discovering cloud attributes. If you use a different method for discovering resources, you can skip this configuration operation.") |
| Schedule and manage the jobs that download billing data for Cloud Cost Management. | Billing Download jobs download, organize, and store billing data for your payer account on the schedule that you specify. The system analyzes the data to generate reports and to make recommendations for changes in your cloud operations that can lead to cost savings. | [Set up access to Microsoft Azure billing and usage data](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/lp1TmemL0qHhoLAD~rEaKQ "Set up access to Microsoft Azure billing and usage data depending on your agreement type.") |
| Schedule and manage the Cloud Cost Management jobs that download price sheets. | A Price Sheet Download job downloads and stores price sheet data. The Rightsizing and Unused resources processes use price sheet data when generating recommendations. | [Schedule and manage the Cloud Cost Management jobs that download Microsoft Azure price sheets](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/oLE_8_dLqhROiABq9vuNUg "A Price Sheet Download job downloads and stores price sheet data. The Rightsizing and Unused resources processes use price sheet data when generating recommendations.") |
| Configure the Cloud Cost Management features: * Rightsizing * Unused Machines * Business Hours * Unassigned Resources {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__ul_qzz_vst_kjb} | * The feature analyzes resource usage to recommend better sizes for resources that are wasting money by being over-provisioned or underused. A confidence rating and predicted savings support each recommendation. You schedule Rightsizing jobs to resize the resources you specify. * The Unused Machines feature analyzes usage data to identify resources that are wasting money because they are not used. You schedule Unused Machines jobs to power-off or terminate the resources that you specify. * A Business Hours job applies policies to identify resources that are running when they should be powered off, reports them, and can start and stop them on a schedule that you specify. Running only during specified business hours can significantly reduce your cloud spend. * Unassigned Resources policies help you to identify the resources that are not associated with a change group and to assign them appropriately. When a resource is assigned to the correct group, the resource can be appropriately governed even as it goes through stages such as patching, upgrading, and reconfiguring. {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__ul_ecl_nst_kjb} | * [Rightsizing resources](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Y5AZZZM6_2sEhV7D1STv8A "The Rightsizing feature analyzes resource usage to recommend better sizes for resources that are wasting money by being over-provisioned or underused. A confidence rating and predicted savings support each recommendation. Schedule Rightsizing jobs to resize the resources you specify.") * [Unused resources](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/f8xj9dn1C_ajcCcAceg1Gw "The Unused resources feature analyzes usage data to identify resources that are wasting money because they aren’t being used. You can schedule Unused resources jobs to power off or terminate the resources that you specify.") * [Business hours](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/J5ecHlQkWRKx3E_kImlg4w "A Business hours job applies policies to identify resources that are running when they should be powered off, reports them, and can start and stop them on a schedule that you specify. Running only during specified business hours can significantly reduce your cloud spend.") * [Unassigned resources](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PWZiA7S5eHckDpWdIp0ukg#ur-cloudin "Unassigned resources policies help you to identify the resources that aren’t associated with a change group and to assign them appropriately. When a resource is assigned to the correct group, the resource can be appropriately governed even as it goes through stages such as patching, upgrading, and reconfiguring.") {#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__ul_gqr_jst_kjb} |
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{#azure-cloud-insights-setup-guide__table_zqr_2l1_zhb}

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