Azure Cost Analysis tool - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Azure Cost Analysis tool

Start: Open Azure Portal

↓

Navigate to Cost Management

↓

Select Cost Analysis

↓

Choose Scope (Subscription/Resource Group)

↓

Set Time Range and Filters

↓

View Cost Data Visualization

↓

Analyze and Export Reports

↓

End

This flow shows how a user opens Azure Portal, navigates to Cost Analysis, sets filters, views cost data, and exports reports.

Execution Sample

Azure

1. Open Azure Portal
2. Go to Cost Management
3. Click Cost Analysis
4. Select Subscription
5. Set Time Range to Last 30 days
6. View cost chart

This sequence shows the steps to open and view cost data for a subscription in the last 30 days.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/Selection	Result/Output
1	Open Azure Portal	N/A	Azure Portal homepage loads
2	Navigate to Cost Management	Click on 'Cost Management + Billing'	Cost Management dashboard opens
3	Select Cost Analysis	Click 'Cost Analysis' tab	Cost Analysis page loads
4	Choose Scope	Select Subscription 'MySubscription'	Scope set to 'MySubscription'
5	Set Time Range	Select 'Last 30 days'	Cost data filtered for last 30 days
6	Apply Filters	No additional filters	Full subscription cost data shown
7	View Visualization	Default chart type (e.g., Cost by Service)	Cost chart displayed with breakdown by service
8	Export Report	Click 'Export' and choose CSV	Cost data exported as CSV file
9	End	N/A	User finishes cost analysis session

💡 User completes cost analysis by viewing and optionally exporting cost data.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 4	After Step 5	After Step 7	Final
Scope	None	Subscription 'MySubscription'	Subscription 'MySubscription'	Subscription 'MySubscription'	Subscription 'MySubscription'
Time Range	None	None	Last 30 days	Last 30 days	Last 30 days
Filters	None	None	None	None	None
Visualization	None	None	None	Cost by Service Chart	Cost by Service Chart
Exported File	None	None	None	None	CSV file with cost data

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to select a scope like a subscription before viewing cost data?

Selecting a scope tells Azure which set of resources to analyze. Without it, the tool cannot show relevant cost data. See execution_table step 4 where scope is set.

What happens if we do not set a time range filter?

The tool may show default or all-time data, which can be overwhelming. Setting a time range filters the data to a manageable period, as shown in step 5.

How does exporting the report help after viewing the cost chart?

Exporting saves the cost data for offline review or sharing. This is the final step (step 8) where data is saved as a CSV file.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the scope selected at step 4?

A Subscription 'MySubscription'

B Management Group 'MyManagementGroup'

C Resource Group 'MyResourceGroup'

D No scope selected

💡 Hint

Check the 'Input/Selection' column in execution_table row for step 4.

At which step is the time range filter applied?

A Step 3

B Step 5

C Step 7

D Step 2

💡 Hint

Look for 'Set Time Range' action in execution_table.

If the user skips exporting the report, which variable in variable_tracker remains 'None' at the end?

A Scope

B Time Range

C Exported File

D Visualization

💡 Hint

Check the 'Exported File' row in variable_tracker for the final value.

Concept Snapshot

Azure Cost Analysis tool lets you see and understand your cloud spending.
Steps: Open Azure Portal > Cost Management > Cost Analysis.
Select scope (subscription/resource group), set time range, and view cost charts.
Use filters to narrow data.
Export reports for offline use.
Helps track and control cloud costs easily.

Full Transcript

The Azure Cost Analysis tool helps users track their cloud spending by showing cost data visually. First, open the Azure Portal and navigate to Cost Management. Then select Cost Analysis. Choose the scope, such as a subscription, to focus the data. Set a time range like the last 30 days to filter costs. The tool displays charts breaking down costs by service or resource. Users can apply filters to narrow the view. Finally, users can export the cost data as a CSV file for offline review. This process helps users understand and manage their Azure costs effectively.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the Azure Cost Analysis tool?

easy

A. To monitor network traffic

B. To create virtual machines

C. To track and understand your cloud spending

D. To manage user access permissions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the tool's function

   The Azure Cost Analysis tool is designed to help users see how much they spend on cloud services.

2. Step 2: Compare options with tool purpose

   The remaining options relate to other Azure services like VM creation, network monitoring, or access management, not cost tracking.

3. Final Answer:

   To track and understand your cloud spending -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Cost Analysis = Spending tracking [OK]

Hint: Cost Analysis = Understand cloud spending fast [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing cost analysis with resource creation
• Mixing cost tracking with security management
• Thinking it monitors network or performance

2. Which of the following is the correct way to filter costs by resource group in Azure Cost Analysis?

easy

A. Create a new virtual machine in the resource group

B. Select the 'Resource Group' filter and choose the desired group

C. Use the Azure CLI to list resource groups

D. Enable diagnostic logs on the resource group

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify filtering method in Cost Analysis

   Azure Cost Analysis allows filtering by selecting filters like 'Resource Group' from the interface.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated options

   Creating VMs, using CLI to list groups, or enabling logs relate to resource management, not filtering costs in the UI.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the 'Resource Group' filter and choose the desired group -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Filter by resource group = Select filter [OK]

Hint: Use built-in filters to narrow cost views [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing filtering with resource creation
• Using CLI commands instead of UI filters
• Thinking logs filter costs

3. You apply a filter for the last 7 days in Azure Cost Analysis and see a chart showing daily costs. What does the chart represent?

medium

A. The total cost for each day in the last 7 days

B. The number of virtual machines created each day

C. The network traffic volume per day

D. The number of users logged in each day

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the filter effect

   Filtering by last 7 days in Cost Analysis shows cost data for each day in that period.

2. Step 2: Interpret the chart meaning

   The chart displays daily spending totals, not resource counts or traffic.

3. Final Answer:

   The total cost for each day in the last 7 days -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Filter by date = daily cost chart [OK]

Hint: Date filter shows daily cost totals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing cost with resource counts
• Assuming charts show network or user data
• Ignoring the filter's time range effect

4. You tried to filter costs by a tag in Azure Cost Analysis but see no results. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You need to restart the Azure portal

B. The Azure subscription is expired

C. The Cost Analysis tool is offline

D. The resources do not have the specified tag applied

Solution

1. Step 1: Check tag usage

   Filtering by tag shows results only if resources have that tag assigned.

2. Step 2: Rule out unrelated causes

   Subscription expiry, tool offline, or portal restart do not cause empty tag filter results.

3. Final Answer:

   The resources do not have the specified tag applied -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   No tag results = missing tag on resources [OK]

Hint: No results? Check if tag exists on resources [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming tool or portal is broken
• Blaming subscription status incorrectly
• Not verifying tag presence on resources

5. Your company wants to reduce unexpected cloud costs. How can you use Azure Cost Analysis to help achieve this?

hard

A. Set up regular cost reviews with filters for departments and resource types

B. Delete all virtual machines immediately

C. Disable all Azure services to stop billing

D. Ignore cost reports and focus on performance

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cost management strategy

   Regular reviews with filters help spot high spending areas and control budgets.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for cost control

   Deleting all VMs or disabling services is impractical; ignoring reports misses cost issues.

3. Final Answer:

   Set up regular cost reviews with filters for departments and resource types -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Regular filtered reviews = cost control [OK]

Hint: Review costs regularly by department and resource [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking deleting all resources is a solution
• Ignoring cost data leads to surprises
• Disabling services stops usage but is not practical