Configure Cloud Cost Management for Microsoft Azure

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Configure Cloud Cost Management for Microsoft Azure

    The Cloud Cost Management application for Microsoft Azure, available on the ServiceNow Store, enables organizations to monitor, analyze, and optimize their Azure cloud spending. It requires Microsoft Azure console administrator permissions and the sysadmin role in ServiceNow. The app is not supported on mobile devices and may show slight variations in report values due to currency conversions or rounding.

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    Key Setup Steps

    • App Installation: Obtain the Cloud Cost Management app and supporting plugins from the ServiceNow Store and activate all necessary plugins.
    • Role Assignment: Assign specific Cloud Cost Management roles to users and groups based on their responsibilities to ensure proper access and functionality.
    • MID Server Configuration: Configure MID Servers with Service Principal credentials to enable Discovery to interact with your Azure environment and retrieve configuration item (CI) data.
    • Cloud Resource Discovery: Use the Discovery application to schedule and maintain current CMDB data on Azure resources.
    • Billing Data Management: Schedule and manage jobs to download, organize, and store Azure billing and usage data, which the system analyzes to generate cost-saving recommendations.
    • Price Sheet Management: Schedule jobs to download Azure price sheets, which are used by Rightsizing and Unused Resources features for accurate recommendations.

    Insights Features and Cost Optimization

    • Rightsizing: Analyzes resource usage to recommend resizing of over-provisioned or underused Azure resources, supported by confidence ratings and predicted savings.
    • Unused Machines: Identifies and helps manage Azure resources that are unused and wasting money, with options to power off or terminate them.
    • Business Hours Management: Applies policies to detect resources running outside of designated business hours, enabling scheduled start/stop actions to reduce costs.
    • Unassigned Resources: Helps identify resources not associated with change groups, facilitating proper governance throughout resource lifecycle stages like patching and upgrading.

    What Customers Can Expect

    By following the setup process, ServiceNow customers can automate the discovery of Azure resources, maintain accurate cloud asset data, and continuously monitor cost drivers. The integrated insights features empower customers to make informed decisions about resource utilization, reduce unnecessary spending, and enforce operational policies aligned with business schedules. Overall, this configuration enables efficient cloud cost governance and optimization tailored to Microsoft Azure environments.

    The Cloud Cost Management application is available on the ServiceNow Store.

    General requirements and limitations

    • 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.

    Requirements and limitations for Microsoft Azure

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

    Download and activate Cloud Cost Management

    Role required: sys_admin.

    Step Description Do this
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    Get the app.

    Get the Cloud Cost Management app from the ServiceNow Store.

    Visit the ServiceNow Store website to get the Cloud Cost Management app and supporting apps.
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    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:

    Overview: Setting up Cloud Cost Management

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

    Setup process for the Cloud Cost Management app

    When you first open the app, the home page enables you set up a provider and to assign the insights_owner role.

    Initial home page of the Cloud Cost Management app

    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.

    Home page after you set up a provider and assign insights_owner

    • When you select the Set up and Run Discovery button in the Configure and Run Discovery section, the Discover Schedules form opens.
    • When you select the Set up Billing Download button in the Download Billing and Usage Data section, the Billing Download Jobs form opens.
    • When you select the Set up Price Sheet Download button in the Download Price Sheets section, the Price Sheets Download Jobs form opens.

    After you finish all configuration, the page will show overview data and give quick access to reports.

    Setting up Cloud Cost Management

    Step Description Do this
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    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
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    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
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    Discover your cloud resources.
    Note:
    The Configure and Run Discovery card appears only if you use the Discovery application to discover cloud resources.
    When you select the Set up and Run Discovery button on the Configure and Run Discovery card, the Discover Schedules form opens. You schedule the Discovery process to ensure that the CMDB data on resources remains current.
    		 Discovering your cloud resources for use
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    Schedule and manage the jobs that download billing data for Cloud Cost Management

    .

    When you select the Set up Billing Download button in the Download Billing and Usage Data section, the Billing Download Jobs form opens. 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
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    Schedule and manage the Cloud Cost Management jobs that download price sheets

    .

    When you select the Set up Price Sheets Download button in the Download Price Sheets section, the Price Sheets Download Jobs form opens. 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
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    Configure the insights features:

    • Rightsizing
    • Unused Machines
    • Business Hours
    • Unassigned Resources
    • 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. 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.