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cost-optimization

Optimize existing Azure resources and analyze Reservations or Savings Plans. WHEN: "optimize Azure costs", "reduce cloud spending", "rightsize resources", "find idle resources", "orphaned disk", "deleted VM still charged", "public IP still charging", "reservation utilization", "Savings Plan coverage", "commitment recommendation", "why is pay-as-you-go still charged". DO NOT USE FOR: cost spikes, forecasts, pricing estimates, budgets, or governance.

Published by microsoft ↗microsoft/skills

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SKILL.md

name: cost-optimizationdescription: "Optimize existing Azure resources and analyze Reservations or Savings Plans. WHEN: \"optimize Azure costs\", \"reduce cloud spending\", \"rightsize resources\", \"find idle resources\", \"orphaned disk\", \"deleted VM still charged\", \"public IP still charging\", \"reservation utilization\", \"Savings Plan coverage\", \"commitment recommendation\", \"why is pay-as-you-go still charged\". DO NOT USE FOR: cost spikes, forecasts, pricing estimates, budgets, or governance."license: MITmetadata:   author: Microsoft  version: "1.0.2"

Azure Cost Optimization

Quick Reference

IntentWorkflowPrimary tools
Reduce waste or rightsizeOptimizationCost and Resource Graph tools
Review commitmentsCommitmentslist_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

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

Error Handling

ErrorAction
Access deniedName the scope and permission.
Multiple currenciesGroup and report each currency separately.
Missing evidenceState the gap; do not invent values.
Server errorRetry once; then report the trace ID.