1---2name: azure-cost-management3description: Expert knowledge for Cost Management development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when managing Azure cost exports, budgets/alerts, tags, reservations/savings plans, or billing APIs, and other Cost Management related development tasks. Not for Azure Advisor (use azure-advisor), Azure Monitor (use azure-monitor), Azure Quotas (use azure-quotas), Azure Policy (use azure-policy).4---5# Cost Management Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Cost Management. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.
8
9## How to Use This Skill
10
11> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file
12
13> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)
14
15This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
16- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
17- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.
18
19## Category Index
20
21| Category | Lines | Description |
22|----------|-------|-------------|
23| Troubleshooting | L36-L65 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure billing, subscription, and reservation issues (sign-up, access, payments, invoices, utilization, and error codes) including EA, MCA, CSP, and student accounts. |
24| Best Practices | L66-L78 | Best practices for analyzing and optimizing Azure costs, using Advisor, managing subscriptions and agreements, leveraging savings plans and SQL licensing, and setting up cost governance processes. |
25| Decision Making | L79-L115 | Guidance for choosing and configuring Azure billing, cost allocation, reservations, savings plans, EA→MCA migrations, account/offer changes, and partner/CSP billing to optimize costs. |
26| Limits & Quotas | L116-L128 | Limits, quotas, and timing for Cost Management data; free account credits and spending limits; subscription creation and dormancy limits; and savings plan exclusions/utilization. |
27| Security | L129-L150 | Roles, permissions, and security for accessing Azure cost, billing, EA, MCA, CSP, reservations, savings plans, credit balance, and tax documents across tenants and subscriptions. |
28| Configuration | L151-L173 | Configuring Cost Management: tags, budgets, alerts, exports, views, filters, reservations/savings plans, SQL licensing, purchase policies, subscription moves, and partner/admin links. |
29| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L174-L191 | APIs, scripts, and PowerShell patterns to automate cost analysis, billing data retrieval, and programmatic creation/migration of Azure subscriptions and reservations. |
30| Deployment | L192-L195 | Configuring automated, large-scale exports of Azure cost and usage data to storage (like Azure Storage), including setup, scheduling, and management for ongoing cost analysis. |
31
32### Troubleshooting
33| Topic | URL |
34|-------|-----|
35| Troubleshoot common Azure Cost Management error codes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-management-error-codes |
36| Troubleshoot and reactivate disabled Azure for Students | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/azurestudents-subscription-disabled |
37| Diagnose and reactivate disabled Azure subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/subscription-disabled |
38| Troubleshoot subscription access issues after MCA signup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/microsoft-customer-agreement/troubleshoot-subscription-access |
39| Find Azure reservation purchasers using Monitor logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/find-reservation-purchaser-from-logs |
40| Fix unavailable Azure reservation usage downloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-download-usage |
41| Resolve 'No eligible subscriptions' errors when buying reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-no-eligible-subscriptions |
42| Troubleshoot unavailable Azure reservation types | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-product-not-available |
43| Troubleshoot Azure reservation recommendation discrepancies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-reservation-recommendation |
44| Transfer Azure reservation orders between Entra tenants | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-reservation-transfers-between-tenants |
45| Diagnose and fix Azure reservation utilization issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/troubleshoot-reservation-utilization |
46| Troubleshoot Azure savings plan utilization anomalies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/troubleshoot-savings-plan-utilization |
47| Troubleshoot Azure billing payment update errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/billing-troubleshoot-azure-payment-issues |
48| Fix VM creation errors for Azure EA users | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/cannot-create-vm |
49| Resolve missing billing account in Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-account-not-found |
50| Fix issues viewing Azure invoices in portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-cant-find-invoice |
51| Troubleshoot CSP billing with reconciliation usage files | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-csp-billing-issues-usage-file-pivot-tables |
52| Troubleshoot MCA billing using Azure usage pivot tables | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-customer-agreement-billing-issues-usage-file-pivot-tables |
53| Resolve declined credit cards for Azure billing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-declined-card |
54| Troubleshoot Azure EA billing with usage pivot tables | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-ea-billing-issues-usage-file-pivot-tables |
55| Diagnose and fix Azure threshold billing issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-billing/troubleshoot-threshold-billing |
56| Resolve Azure subscription sign-up directory errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/cannot-sign-up-subscription |
57| Resolve 'No subscriptions found' error in Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/no-subscriptions-found |
58| Troubleshoot new Azure account sign-up issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/troubleshoot-azure-sign-up |
59| Fix 'Not available due to conflict' for reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/troubleshoot-not-available-conflict |
60| Troubleshoot Azure portal subscription sign-in problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/troubleshoot-sign-in-issue |
61
62### Best Practices
63| Topic | URL |
64|-------|-----|
65| Use Cost Analysis for common Azure cost questions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-analysis-common-uses |
66| Apply Azure Cost Management optimization best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-mgt-best-practices |
67| Reduce Azure costs using Advisor recommendations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/tutorial-acm-opt-recommendations |
68| Safely cancel and delete Azure subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/cancel-azure-subscription |
69| Follow best practices to onboard to Microsoft Customer Agreement | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/microsoft-customer-agreement/onboard-microsoft-customer-agreement |
70| Manually calculate EA savings plan cost savings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/calculate-ea-savings-plan-savings |
71| Apply centrally managed SQL licenses to Azure usage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/manage-licenses-centrally |
72| Combine SQL HADR and centrally managed Hybrid Benefit | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/sql-server-hadr-licenses |
73| Plan and implement Azure cost management practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/plan-manage-costs |
74
75### Decision Making
76| Topic | URL |
77|-------|-----|
78| Decide and configure Azure cost allocation rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/allocate-costs |
79| Plan and implement Azure cost allocation strategies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-allocation-introduction |
80| Choose and use built-in Cost Analysis views | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-analysis-built-in-views |
81| Plan migration from EA to MCA Cost Management APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/migrate-cost-management-api |
82| Decide and manage Azure Enterprise Agreement billing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/enterprise-agreement-faq |
83| Understand Azure data transfer fees and scenarios | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/data-transfer-fees |
84| Decide on Azure EA VM reserved instances savings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/ea-portal-vm-reservations |
85| Evaluate Azure EA pricing and usage calculations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/ea-pricing-overview |
86| Transfer Azure billing ownership to MCA | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/mca-request-billing-ownership |
87| Transition Enterprise Agreement billing to Microsoft Customer Agreement | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/mca-setup-account |
88| Decide and understand supported Azure product transfers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/subscription-transfer |
89| Decide and execute Azure subscription offer changes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/switch-azure-offer |
90| Choose and upgrade Azure free or student accounts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/upgrade-azure-subscription |
91| Prepare subscriptions for Microsoft Customer Agreement billing migration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/microsoft-customer-agreement/checklist-microsoft-customer-agreement-billing-migration |
92| Manage Azure billing as a partner in CSP | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/partner-faq |
93| Determine which Azure reservation to purchase | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/determine-reservation-purchase |
94| Manage exchanges and refunds for Azure Reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/exchange-and-refund-azure-reservations |
95| Choose and purchase Microsoft Fabric capacity reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/fabric-capacity |
96| Plan transition from retired Azure Reserved VM Instances | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/manage-legacy-vm-reservations-after-july-1-2026 |
97| Understand Azure reservation exchange policy changes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/reservation-exchange-policy-changes |
98| Use amortized savings plan costs for chargeback | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/charge-back-costs |
99| Select optimal Azure savings plan commitment | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/choose-commitment-amount |
100| Decide between Azure savings plans and reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/decide-between-savings-plan-reservation |
101| Understand how Azure savings plan discounts are applied | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/discount-application |
102| Interpret and use Azure savings plan recommendations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/purchase-recommendations |
103| Decide when and how to trade reservations for savings plans | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/reservation-trade-in |
104| Choose and understand Azure savings plan scopes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/scope-savings-plan |
105| Decide and manage scope for Azure Hybrid Benefit | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/faq-azure-hybrid-benefit-scope |
106| Plan transition to centrally managed Azure Hybrid Benefit | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/transition-existing |
107| Assess impact of Azure billing meter ID updates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/billing-meter-id-updates |
108| Understand shared Azure billing meter regions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/billing-meter-location |
109| Understand billing for Azure external service charges | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/understand-azure-marketplace-charges |
110| Plan migration from SAP HANA Large Instances on Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sap/large-instances/decommission-sap-hana |
111
112### Limits & Quotas
113| Topic | URL |
114|-------|-----|
115| Azure Cost Management and Billing usage limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/cost-management-billing-faq |
116| Understand Azure Cost Management data timing and granularity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/understand-cost-mgt-data |
117| Avoid charges by staying within Azure free account limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/avoid-charges-free-account |
118| Understand Azure free account credits and duration limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/create-free-services |
119| Understand and manage Azure subscription spending limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/spending-limit |
120| Identify Azure savings plan software cost exclusions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/software-costs-not-included |
121| Check Azure savings plan utilization and data latency | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/view-utilization |
122| Understand limits when creating multiple Azure subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/troubleshoot-subscription/create-subscriptions-deploy-resources |
123| Understand and manage Azure billing account dormancy limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/keep-billing-accounts-active |
124
125### Security
126| Topic | URL |
127|-------|-----|
128| Check Azure credit balance and required roles | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/benefits/credits/mca-check-azure-credits-balance |
129| Assign RBAC access to Azure Cost Management data | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/assign-access-acm-data |
130| Assign and change Azure subscription admin roles with RBAC | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/add-change-subscription-administrator |
131| Migrate from Azure classic admins to RBAC roles | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/classic-administrator-retire |
132| Elevate Global Administrator access to billing accounts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/elevate-access-global-admin |
133| Grant RBAC permissions to create Azure EA subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/grant-access-to-create-subscription |
134| Configure Azure subscription transfer policies between directories | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/manage-azure-subscription-policy |
135| Assign Azure billing roles for account access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/manage-billing-access |
136| Understand PSD2 SCA requirements for Azure purchases | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/open-banking-strong-customer-authentication |
137| Manage Azure EA admin roles and permissions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/understand-ea-roles |
138| Manage billing roles for Microsoft Customer Agreements | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/understand-mca-roles |
139| Manage tenants and secure billing access under MCA | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/microsoft-customer-agreement/manage-tenants |
140| Set CSP roles to view Azure Reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/how-to-view-csp-reservations |
141| Grant RBAC access to Azure reservations with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/manage-reservations-rbac-powershell |
142| Configure permissions and roles for Azure Reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/view-reservations |
143| Determine eligibility and permissions to buy Azure savings plans | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/permission-buy-savings-plan |
144| Configure permissions to view and manage savings plans | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/permission-view-manage |
145| Access and download Azure tax documents securely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/understand/mca-download-tax-document |
146
147### Configuration
148| Topic | URL |
149|-------|-----|
150| Configure and apply billing tags in Cost Management | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/billing-tags |
151| Configure and use Azure Cost Management alerts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/cost-mgt-alerts-monitor-usage-spending |
152| Configure and customize Azure Cost Analysis views | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/customize-cost-analysis-views |
153| Configure tag inheritance for Azure cost allocation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/enable-tag-inheritance |
154| Configure Cost Management exports using SAS keys | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/export-cost-data-storage-account-sas-key |
155| Configure grouping and filtering in Cost Analysis and Budgets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/group-filter |
156| Define Cost Management budgets using Bicep | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/quick-create-budget-bicep |
157| Create Cost Management budgets with ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/quick-create-budget-template |
158| Set up Azure reservation utilization alerts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/reservation-utilization-alerts |
159| Create and manage Azure Cost Management budgets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/tutorial-acm-create-budgets |
160| Transfer billing ownership of MOSP Azure subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/billing-subscription-transfer |
161| Configure Azure Marketplace and private offer purchase policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/enable-marketplace-purchases |
162| Configure Partner Admin Link for Power Platform with Azure credentials | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/link-partner-id-power-apps-accounts |
163| Configure markup rules in Azure 21Vianet Cost Management | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/markup-china |
164| Move MOSP or MCA Azure subscriptions to an Enterprise Agreement | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/mosp-ea-transfer |
165| Configure automatic renewal settings for Azure Reservations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/reservation-renew |
166| Configure automatic renewal for Azure savings plans | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/savings-plan/renew-savings-plan |
167| Create and scope SQL license assignments in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/create-sql-license-assignments |
168| Configure SQL IaaS extension registration for cost admins | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/scope-level/sql-iaas-extension-registration |
169
170### Integrations & Coding Patterns
171| Topic | URL |
172|-------|-----|
173| Analyze Azure costs using the Cost Management Power BI app | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/analyze-cost-data-azure-cost-management-power-bi-template-app |
174| Automate Azure cost management with APIs and scripts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/manage-automation |
175| Map Azure billing scenarios to Cost Management APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/cost-management-automation-scenarios |
176| Automate MCA billing role migration across tenants with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/mca-role-migration |
177| Create MCA subscriptions across associated billing tenants | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-customer-agreement-associated-billing-tenants |
178| Programmatically create Azure subscriptions via REST APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription |
179| Create EA subscriptions using latest Azure APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription-enterprise-agreement |
180| Create MCA subscriptions programmatically with latest APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription-microsoft-customer-agreement |
181| Programmatically create MCA subscriptions across Entra tenants | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription-microsoft-customer-agreement-across-tenants |
182| Programmatically create Partner Agreement Azure subscriptions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription-microsoft-partner-agreement |
183| Programmatically create Azure subscriptions with legacy APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/programmatically-create-subscription-preview |
184| Use Cost Details API for EA billing analysis | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/review-enterprise-billing |
185| Retrieve subscription billing data via Cost Details API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/review-subscription-billing |
186| Use Azure reservation APIs for automation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/reservations/reservation-apis |
187
188### Deployment
189| Topic | URL |
190|-------|-----|
191| Set up recurring large-scale cost data exports | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/ingest-azure-usage-at-scale |
microsoftdocs