Generally Available: Enhanced Cost Management Exports Transform Financial Operations

In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud computing, managing costs effectively can seem like herding cats. Fortunately, Microsoft’s new enhanced Cost Management exports are a game-changer, now available across all Azure regions and clouds. Designed with Financial Operations (FinOps) professionals in mind, this release promises to simplify workflows, improve data accessibility, and unlock deeper insights into cloud costs and usage, providing a robust toolset that can revolutionize the way organizations manage their cloud expenditure.

Export More Than Just Cost and Usage

Traditionally, cost management meant juggling hefty spreadsheets and limiting data sets. Now, imagine expanding this horizon—exporting not just standard cost and usage datasets, but price sheets, reservation recommendations, reservation details, and reservation transactions as well. This holistic approach allows organizations to dissect cloud costs more comprehensively, offering new opportunities for optimization.

For instance, by exporting reservation recommendations, Azure Advisor’s savings suggestions are illuminated, making cost-saving opportunities clearer. Price sheets and reservation details further enable precise calculations of effective rates and reservation coverage. Together, these capabilities empower organizations to implement granular chargeback models and make informed budgeting and purchase decisions.

A Unified Experience with Streamlined Workflows

One of the standout features of this update is the redesigned portal experience. A unified interface allows users to configure datasets, define storage destinations, select file formats, and apply compression settings—all in a single, intuitive workflow. This saves time, minimizes configuration errors, and frees FinOps teams to focus on analysis rather than operational setup.

Export in the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) Format

Enter simplicity with the introduction of the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) format. This format consolidates costs into a single file, adhering to community-defined schemas that align with FinOps best practices. Compatible across Enterprise Agreement (EA), Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA), and other billing models, it reduces data processing time and storage consumption—ideal for multi-cloud environments requiring a unified analysis approach.

Ensuring Seamless Exports with Schema Version Flexibility

Schema changes can disrupt workflows, but Microsoft offers a solution with schema versioning support. Users can choose the dataset schema version for exports, ensuring compatibility and continuity. This flexibility allows organizations to control schema change adaptations, based on their developmental cycles, maintaining seamless automated reporting and data ingestion.

Efficient Handling of Large Datasets

When dealing with large volumes of data, efficiency is key. The enhanced exports experience now supports CSV and Parquet formats with optional compression, reducing file sizes up to 70%. File partitioning further divides large datasets into manageable chunks, improving processability. This efficiency is crucial when working with data tools like Apache Spark or Azure Synapse Analytics.

Improved Security Measures

Security and compliance are paramount, and enhanced exports now support storage exports protected by firewalls or virtual networks. This ensures data remains within secure, organization-controlled environments, aligning with internal governance and external regulatory standards. Enterprises can thus automate export workflows without compromising data protection.

Retrieve Historical Data with Ease

Frequent retrospective analyses require access to historical data, and Microsoft delivers. Retrieve up to 13 months of historical data directly via the Azure portal or go beyond, accessing up to seven years through the REST API. This access facilitates trend analysis, budget forecasting, and comprehensive reporting, vital for financial accountability and decision-making.

Getting Started

Start harnessing these enhanced capabilities by visiting the Cost Management section in the Azure portal. Whether you’re new to exports or migrating from previous versions, this update offers a seamless transition. Support for richer datasets, streamlined creation, multi-year backfills, and enterprise-grade compliance ensures that the evolving needs of FinOps practitioners are met.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s enhanced Cost Management exports unlock a new era of financial operations efficiency. By offering deeper insights into cloud costs and optimizing financial workflows, organizations are better equipped to navigate the complexities of cloud expenditure. Visit Azure today and transform your financial operations with confidence.

Learn more about this feature update and how it can reshape your cost management strategies:

• Tutorial: Create and manage Cost Management exports
• Cost Management Exports REST API
• Cost Management dataset schema index
• Power BI reports utilizing Cost Management exports
• PowerShell commands to manage Cost Management exports
• Update reports to use FOCUS columns

Embrace these enhancements today and take charge of your cloud costs, setting your organization on the path to financial clarity and success.