cost-optimization

Hunts through your Azure account for spending that buys nothing and recommends what to change, without deleting, resizing or buying anything itself.

WHEN TO USE

SCOPE

USE FOR

Find Azure resources you are paying for but barely using.
Spot resources sized bigger than the work they actually do.
Check whether the reservations and savings plans you bought are actually being used.
Get advice on which longer-term commitments would lower your bill.

This is a saved copy of the skill's SKILL.md instructions. It may differ from the upstream file or the version you install.

In this document (6)

Azure Cost Optimization

Quick Reference

Intent	Workflow	Primary tools
Reduce waste or rightsize	Optimization	Cost and Resource Graph tools
Review commitments	Commitments	`list_benefit_utilization`, `list_reservation_transactions`, `get_benefit_recommendations`

When to Use This Skill

Use for waste, rightsizing, and commitments.

MCP Tools

Use cost and Resource Graph tools for optimization and benefit tools for commitments. Validate queries. Fallback: API mappings.

Workflow

Confirm scope, period, currency, and commitment intent.
Load only the matching workflow above.
Never transform MCP results in a shell or interpreter; request validated server-side projection, aggregation, or bounded follow-up queries.
Separate measured cost, reported savings, and qualitative opportunities.
Recommend changes only; do not delete, resize, purchase, or deploy resources.

Error Handling

Error	Action
Access denied	Name the scope and permission.
Multiple currencies	Group and report each currency separately.
Missing evidence	State the gap; do not invent values.
Server error	Retry once; then report the trace ID.

This skill ships inside the Azure Skills Plugin. Listed package contents include hooks and an MCP server. Installed components and skill versions may vary by AI tool.

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Install checklist

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npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill "cost-optimization" --full-depth

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Azure Cost Optimization

Quick Reference

When to Use This Skill

MCP Tools

Workflow

Error Handling

MCP connection required

More skills

MCP keyword matches