How to Use Azure Advisor for Cost Optimization

Use Azure Advisor by accessing the Azure portal and selecting the Cost recommendations to identify ways to reduce your Azure spending. It analyzes your resource usage and provides personalized suggestions to optimize costs.

Syntax

Azure Advisor is accessed through the Azure portal or via Azure CLI and REST API. The main steps involve:

• Opening Azure Advisor in the portal
• Selecting the Cost recommendations category
• Reviewing suggested actions to reduce costs

For automation, you can use Azure CLI commands or REST API calls to fetch cost recommendations.

bash

az advisor recommendation list --category Cost

Output

[
  {
    "category": "Cost",
    "impact": "High",
    "recommendationType": "ShutdownUnderutilizedVM",
    "shortDescription": {
      "problem": "Virtual machine is underutilized",
      "solution": "Consider shutting down or resizing the VM to save costs"
    }
  }
]

Example

This example shows how to list cost recommendations using Azure CLI. It helps you find resources that can be optimized to save money.

bash

az advisor recommendation list --category Cost --output json

Output

[
  {
    "category": "Cost",
    "impact": "High",
    "recommendationType": "ShutdownUnderutilizedVM",
    "shortDescription": {
      "problem": "Virtual machine is underutilized",
      "solution": "Consider shutting down or resizing the VM to save costs"
    }
  },
  {
    "category": "Cost",
    "impact": "Medium",
    "recommendationType": "PurchaseReservedInstances",
    "shortDescription": {
      "problem": "You can save money by purchasing reserved instances",
      "solution": "Buy reserved instances for consistent workloads to reduce costs"
    }
  }
]

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using Azure Advisor for cost include:

• Ignoring recommendations without review, which may lead to missed savings.
• Assuming all recommendations apply; some may not fit your business needs.
• Not regularly checking Advisor, causing outdated cost insights.

Always validate recommendations before applying changes to avoid service disruption.

bash

az advisor recommendation list --category Cost --output json

# Wrong: Ignoring recommendations
# Right: Review and apply suitable recommendations carefully

Quick Reference

Tips for using Azure Advisor cost recommendations effectively:

• Access Azure Advisor from the Azure portal under Advisor.
• Filter recommendations by Cost category.
• Use Azure CLI for automation: az advisor recommendation list --category Cost.
• Review recommendations regularly to keep costs optimized.
• Combine with Azure Cost Management for detailed billing insights.

Key Takeaways

Azure Advisor provides personalized cost-saving recommendations based on your resource usage.

Use the Azure portal or Azure CLI to access and review cost recommendations.

Regularly check and validate recommendations before applying changes to avoid disruptions.

Combine Azure Advisor with Azure Cost Management for comprehensive cost optimization.

Automate cost checks using Azure CLI commands for continuous monitoring.