EA to MCA: Reporting on Cost in Power BI
In today’s dynamically shifting landscape of financial operations, having the right tools to navigate through persistent waves of data and cost management is essential. As technology evolves and businesses migrate from Enterprise Agreements (EA) to Microsoft Customer Agreements (MCA), the question of how we can effectively manage and report costs becomes even more pertinent. The answer, surprisingly, lies hidden in an underutilized hero of data management—Power BI.
Microsoft’s Cost Management Evolution
Microsoft provides a vast array of solutions that help organizations keep a keen eye on their cloud expenses. For anyone navigating the Azure portal or the Microsoft 365 admin center, understanding subscriptions and billing accounts is just the starting point. But let’s face it: in today’s complex business ecosystem, a quick glance isn’t enough. This is where Microsoft Power BI steps in, transforming how data can be visualized, shared, and fully leveraged to make informed financial decisions.
Challenges with the Old Cost Management Connector
Power BI’s appeal has been recognized since its inception, especially among organizations with EA enrollments. However, those with MCA accounts were often left improvising as the traditional Cost Management connector for Power BI was exclusively designed for EA usage.
This posed several challenges:
- Outdated APIs were unable to provide complete details.
- Different datasets meant no consistency in reporting between EA and MCA data.
- The ability to handle data volume was limited to around $2-5 million, which paled in comparison to the financial magnitudes most businesses manage.
- It wasn’t possible to connect multiple billing accounts for historical cost reporting post-EA renewal or MCA migration.
Embracing a New Path: The FinOps Toolkit
To modernize and improve the reporting mechanism, Microsoft recognized the pressing need for a shift. Enter the FinOps toolkit, a more flexible approach that allows businesses to thrive on adaptability and high-level data insights.
Benefits of the FinOps Toolkit Reports
The toolkit effectively utilizes the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) format, bringing forth an array of long-awaited features:
- It captures cost and usage data comprehensively, allowing for enriched details.
- A unified column structure for both EA and MCA billing accounts simplifies data management.
- Support for multiple billing accounts broadens the strategic horizon by enabling aggregate and comparative analytics.
The FinOps Toolkit Reports Include:
- Cost Summary: A versatile overview of costs with key insights and savings potential.
- Rate Optimization: Unveils savings from negotiations and commitment discounts, lighting pathways for increased profitability.
- Policy + Governance: Aligns governance metrics with the Cloud Adoption Framework to enhance compliance.
- Workload Optimization: Discovers efficiency opportunities by analyzing resource utilization.
- Data Ingestion: Monitors cost exports and resolves common data management issues.
Getting Started with FinOps Toolkit
Step 1: Creation of Azure Data Lake Storage
Begin by setting up an Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 account for optimal performance. This course of action ensures swift data access and introduces a scalable storage solution perfect for your financial ambitions.
Step 2: Export Creation
By employing Cost Management in the Azure portal, organizations can easily export data. Following best practices, you will be able to avoid data duplication and improve refresh performance significantly.
Step 3: Integration with Power BI
With all exports intact, transitioning to Power BI is seamless. The toolkit provides demo reports with sample data—adapting Power BI’s robust capabilities to interface with your company’s specific financial landscape.
Step 4: Historical Data Population
Once configured, consider how much historical data you want to include. Organizations often limit themselves to a year, yet real visionaries understand the value of year-over-year analysis.
Unleashing the Potential of Power BI
After setting your foundation with one month’s worth of data, the possibilities are monumental. Each report is an untapped resource; by crafting deeper insights and augmenting your approach, Power BI empowers businesses to conquer new challenges in the digital realm.
Elevate your organization’s data capabilities and join countless others on the FinOps journey. Let Power BI become more than a tool—make it the cornerstone of your data-driven decisions.
Should you have queries or need enhancements, the FinOps toolkit community stands ready to support your endeavors. Dive deeper, explore further, and let this toolkit transform how you harness data for strategic financial advantage.
Stay tuned as we explore FinOps hubs in our next edition, where data performance and additional capabilities unlock new horizons for businesses seeking excellence.