Cut down on your Microsoft Azure costs; What to do to monitor usage and optimize savings

Using Cloud computing technologies effectively as an organization for your activities can either spur you into success or failure.    

Microsoft Azure is a platform that provides Cloud services and features that can help transform your business operations provided you use accompanying services correctly and it does meet your needs. It works by the collection of integrated services to help users work within a quick span of time.   

However, while Azure offers Cloud solutions, it can often be challenging to optimize costs effectively.    

To do so there is the need to have a bird’s eye view over your software consumption in the Cloud and put in place measures to avoid paying too much for your services.  

In this blog post, we explore how to optimize Azure costs and provide practical strategies to help you manage your Azure subscription effectively. You will also be introduced to our Cloud saving and optimization tool which can assist you save permanently on your expenses.  

Microsoft Azure Services and Features platform for your work   

Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive Cloud computing platform that enables organizations with a vast range of services and features. It empowers them to efficiently develop, deploy, and manage applications, ensuring enhanced productivity and scalability.   

These services include storage, analytics, computing, and networking. Furthermore, Azure features provide businesses with a platform to build, deploy and manage applications and services globally. Five most used example of Azure services are:   

• Virtual Machines 
• Storage and backup 
• Mobile Applications
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Internet Of Things  

Azure Integration with On-Premises Infrastructure in your IT environment   

Organizations with on-premises infrastructure can also integrate with Azure. Azure hybrid Cloud solutions provide a flexible and scalable option to complement on-premises infrastructure. This, when correctly done, can reduce the overall cost of infrastructure deployment.    

Organizations can extend on-premises services to Azure to enjoy the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the Cloud without the need to migrate all operations to the Cloud. This integration enables the organizations to fully utilize their existing investments in the on-premises infrastructure, by leveraging to build hybrid applications that span Cloud and on-premises environments.   

Azure integration with on-premises infrastructure can ensure data is securely stored and that only authorized personnel have access to it. Additionally, organizations can implement robust disaster recovery and data backup systems in both on-premises and Cloud environments to ensure continuity of operations in case of any potential disruptions.   

Strategies for Optimizing your Azure Cost   

Optimizing Azure costs can be challenging, but the benefits can be significant for your organization, saving you money to engage in other operational activities.   

• Making use of Cost Optimization Tools   

These tools help you gain greater control by enabling you to track, evaluate and save money on your Cloud expenses. As an organization, you can monitor and analyze your data. This aims at potential cost savings to ensure that your expense reports are optimal for reinvestment in business growth opportunities.   

Our Azure optimization tool Q360 can help you gain an all-round visibility into your Cloud environment. This enables you to understand which resources are in use, which are not in use, allowing you to track your spending and usage patterns. You also get to analyze, forecast, and manage your Cloud costs to reduce waste. 

• Moving Workloads to the use of Containers   

Containers have a lower weight compared to Virtual Machines (VMs). On a single host machine, you can run numerous containers, each executing a distinct containerized program. By repackaging your programs as containers, you can substantially reduce Virtual Machine (VM) usage and associated costs. It is worth considering migrating workloads from conventional Azure VMs to a container service for optimized performance.     

• Using Storage Tiering      

You can implement tiering storage management to reduce spending. By shifting less important or rarely used data onto cheaper or lower redundancy tiers it’s possible to save money. Put processes in place so this happens automatically, and you will be sure that your finances stay on track.    

• Utilizing B-series Virtual Machines     

Programs that are normally inactive but occasionally see spikes in consumption are the B-Series Virtual Machines provided by Azure that are worth looking at.  Also, to significantly save and migrate your workloads to the B-Series, VMs is an option. These machines work for tasks that don’t require maximum performance, offering a substantial percentage less than other Virtual Machines.     

• Choose the right Azure instance type      

Selecting the right instance type is critical in optimizing Azure cost. Azure offers various instance types and choosing the right one can make all the difference. It helps to understand the purpose of your workload and choose the instance type that best aligns with your workload needs.      

• Automate Cloud resource management      

Manual management of Cloud resources can cause delays in deployment and lead to inefficiencies. It is advisable to leverage automation tools to manage Cloud resources effectively to save time and man hours required in a manual situation.   

Buying and managing your Azure subscription effectively   

Organizations can buy Azure services for use through the following ways…   

• Via a partner through the Cloud Solution Provider program   
• Through a Volume Licensing agreement (example Microsoft Enterprise Agreement)  
• Straight from Microsoft via an internal salesperson   
• Direct from Microsoft via azure.com   

Note, before customers can utilize consumption-based Azure services, an Azure Subscription must be established. Resources created within Azure are then associated with a specific Subscription. Initially, setting up a Subscription does not incur any financial commitment.    

Charges only begin to accrue once the resources are actively utilized, which is linked to a payment mechanism.ie. Enterprise Agreement or a CSP customer account.   

Effectively managing your Azure subscription includes…   

• Monitor Your Subscription  
  

Keeping track of your Azure subscription alerts you when you exceed your budget or other limits, giving you ample time to take corrective action.   

• Review Usage and Performance  
  

Reviewing usage and performance helps you identify areas that need improvement. Monitoring and reviewing performance helps identify opportunities to optimize costs better.   

• Ensure Security  
  

Security is key when it comes to Cloud services. Ensure you implement all the necessary security protocols and assess the risks, ensuring your organization adheres to industry standards and regulatory requirements.   

This is what Q-Advise’s Azure Optimization Tool supports your Azure usage with  

Optimizing Azure costs and managing your Azure subscription is a tricky venture if you don’t have the right tools or monitoring processes.   

All the activities you need to put in place from cost management, selecting the right instance types, automating Cloud resource management, reserving instances and monitoring and reviewing usage and performance require a workable continuous strategy.   

Our Q360 tool allows you to explore three different phases in your quest to optimize cost. This is where an internal thorough process yields results at the end of the day. You can prevent paying for everything by focusing on only what you use and need. Services that are hardly or barely used are all discovered in real-time within your organization and removed.   

Our team of Azure experts can assist you to gain quick insight into your actual consumption and save within a span of one month.

Our roadmap to assist you with your Azure optimization 

• Pre-audit (Proof of Value)  
• Thorough analysis of your entire Cloud environment   
• Steps to be taken to convert findings into savings  
• Access to your own Q-Cloud tool dashboard  
• Review consumption of your Cloud services ‘live’ and many more.  

Our Azure optimization tool gives you the biggest advantage of continuously monitoring and optimizing your consumption within a Cloud environment. The tool is used here as a subscription service from Q-Advise. The annual subscription price is based on the actual consumption and the savings that are realized.  

We are happy to start you on implementing cost-saving effective strategies today.

Contact us today.