--- sourceDocument: Zurich IT Operations Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/it-operations-management Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich IT Operations Management ft:clusterId : - itom bundleId : - itom workflow : - Technology --- # Azure cloud metrics # Azure cloud metrics {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Azure cloud metrics Azure cloud metrics enable ServiceNow customers to monitor the performance of their Azure resources by collecting metrics from Azure virtual machines (VMs) and Azure storage account policies. This data collection helps maintain visibility into resource utilization and health within the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Show full answer Show less To start collecting Azure cloud metrics, you select the relevant metrics to add to the CMDB and configure the system accordingly. Metrics such as bytes sent and received from Azure resources can be tracked. ## Using Azure policies Customers can leverage preconfigured Azure policies included with ServiceNow or create custom policies to collect metrics. The process involves: * Preparing an instance with an active MID Server and metric base. * Installing the Agent Client Collector Framework and Monitoring components. * Running Discovery on the Azure cloud account to populate the CMDB with configuration items (CIs) to be monitored. * Configuring a proxy agent and assigning credentials to enable access to Azure policies and monitoring of cloud-based CIs. ServiceNow provides several prebuilt Azure policies for activation and configuration, covering key Azure services such as Load Balancers, Network Gateways, Redis Cache, Storage Accounts, and Virtual Machines. Each policy collects metrics specific to the corresponding Azure service, helping customers gain targeted insights. ## Specifying configuration items (CIs) for metric collection To monitor metrics effectively, customers must specify which CIs in the CMDB the policies will collect metrics from. Typically, these CIs are discovered automatically via ServiceNow Discovery. When creating or configuring an Azure policy for metrics collection, you: * Enable the Azure Metrics Collector check within the policy. * Set credentials for the Azure Metrics Collector to authorize metric retrieval. * Generate JSON files defining the list of resources and specific metrics to monitor. This structured approach ensures precise and efficient metric collection from Azure resources, integrating performance data directly into the ServiceNow platform. Azure cloud metrics are gathered from Azure virtual machines (VMs) and Azure storage account policies. Collecting the cloud metrics enables you to monitor the performance of your Azure resources. ## Azure cloud metrics collection - Overview {#azure-cloud-metrics__section_a4m_p4j_wzb} To begin collecting Azure cloud metrics, you must select the metrics that you want to add to the CMDB and set the relevant system configurations. For example, you can monitor the number of bytes sent and received from Azure resources. For details, see [Agent Client Collector for Visibility Content reference](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/vVPzgC2n03lqkATaZQnPPA "Review this information for details on OS query scripts, data collected, and definition of terms."). ## Using Azure policies {#azure-cloud-metrics__section_xgy_s4j_wzb} You can use preconfigured Azure policies for metric collection, or you can create your own Azure policies. When using a preconfigured policy, you do the following tasks: * Prepare an instance with an active MID Server and metric base. * Install Agent Client Collector Framework and Agent Client Collector Monitoring. * Run Discovery on the Azure cloud account to populate the CMDB with the configuration items (CIs) to be monitored. * Configure a proxy agent and assign credentials to the policy. Proxy agents monitor CIs for agents that are in the cloud. Credentials enable the agent to access the Azure policy. {#azure-cloud-metrics__ul_ngp_nqs_5zb} The policies available with the base system for you to activate and configure are described in the following table.{#azure-cloud-metrics__table_c5l_tdz_5zb__entry__3} | Policy name | Description | Link to supported metrics | |-|-|-| | Azure Load Balancer metrics | Collects the metrics for the Azure load balancers. | [Supported metrics for Microsoft Load Balancers](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/reference/supported-metrics/microsoft-network-loadbalancers-metrics) | | Azure Gateway metrics | Collects the metrics for the Azure network gateway. | [Supported metrics for Microsoft Network Gateways](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/reference/supported-metrics/microsoft-network-natgateways-metrics) | | Azure Redis Cache metrics | Collects the metrics for the Azure Redis cache. | [Supported metrics for Microsoft Redis cache](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/reference/supported-metrics/microsoft-cache-redis-metrics) | | Azure Storage Account metrics | Collects the metrics for the Azure storage accounts. | [Supported metrics for Microsoft storage accounts](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/reference/supported-metrics/microsoft-compute-virtualmachines-metrics) | | Azure Virtual Machine (VM) metrics | Collects the metrics for the VMs, which help you monitor Azure VMs. | [Supported metrics for Microsoft virtual machines](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/reference/supported-metrics/microsoft-compute-virtualmachines-metrics) | [Table 1. Azure policies available with base system] {#azure-cloud-metrics__table_c5l_tdz_5zb} ## Specifying the CIs for metric collection {#azure-cloud-metrics__section_hmg_4pj_wzb} When creating policies, you must include the CIs that you want to collect the metrics for in the CMDB. The CIs are typically populated during Discovery, which finds applications and devices on your network and updates the CMDB accordingly. When creating a policy, you must decide which CIs you want the policy to monitor. To enable monitoring CIs, you do the following tasks: 1. Configure the Azure Metrics Collector check in the policy. 2. Set the credentials for the Azure Metrics Collector check to enable retrieving metrics from Azure to the Agent Client Collector agent. 3. Generate a .json file that specifies the list of resources to be monitored. 4. Generate a .json file that specifies the list of metrics to be retrieved from monitored resources. {#azure-cloud-metrics__ol_nmy_sv5_qzb}For details on the Azure policies, see [Create Azure policies for metric collection](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/znssbhZ~PspAKANmzpEokQ "Create your own policies to enable Azure to collect the metrics for the resources that have policies that don’t come with the base system. The Azure Metrics Collector check brings the metrics to the agent through the Azure Metrics Batch API."). For details on the Azure Metrics Batch API, see the [Metrics Batch API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/monitor/metrics-batch/batch?view=rest-monitor-2023-05-01-preview&tabs=HTTP) page.