Managing cost groups

Introduction

Cost management group is a logical container that brings together multiple Azure subscriptions to reflect an organization’s structure. It enables centralized visibility into cost usage and spending patterns across teams, departments, or business units, supporting consistent cost tracking and governance.

A single group can contain multiple child groups.

Group overview

The Cost group overview presents two dedicated sections, with one section aggregating cost data such as previous month usage and potential savings, and the other offering a dashboard to analyze spending patterns grouped by resource type, location, and additional dimensions.

Dashboard management

The data points of the cost charts can be clicked to expand the cost based on different categories.

Adding a widget

In addition to the existing widgets, new ones can be added to the dashboard.

1. In the overview dashboard, click Edit, then select Add widget.
2. Enter a unique name and configure the widget settings:
   • Select the desired subscriptions
   • Choose a Group by dimension
   • Specify Granularity
   • Select a Chart type
   • Choose the Cost type
   • Define the Time range
   • (Optional) Apply Filters
3. Click Add to create the widget, then click Update to save the dashboard changes.

The below illustration depicts adding a new widget to the dashboard.

Editing a widget

1. Navigate to the overview dashboard and click Edit to enable dashboard editing.
2. On the required widget, open the context menu and select Edit.
3. Modify the necessary configuration settings in the edit pane, then click Update to apply the changes to the widget.
4. Click Update on the dashboard to save all changes.

Deleting a widget

1. In the overview dashboard, click Edit to enable dashboard editing.
2. Open the widget’s context menu and select Delete.
3. Click Update on the dashboard to save the changes.

Resetting cached data

Why reset cache?

In Cost Analyzer, cached data is utilized to enhance performance and reduce load times. However, this stored data may not always reflect the most recent updates to cost information.

To ensure that all saved widgets in the cost dashboard display the latest and most accurate data, users may need to reset the cache periodically. Resetting the cache forces the system to refresh its data, ensuring alignment with the most current cost records.

Resetting cached data

• Click on the Reset cached data option available within the dashboard.

When to reset cache?

Users are advised to reset the cache under the following conditions:

• When the displayed cost data appears outdated or inconsistent with recent updates.
• After major modifications to the underlying cost group, such as updated scope.
• When encountering performance issues, delays, or data errors that may be related to cached content.

Create a child group

1. In the tree view, click the three-dot menu next to the parent group under which the child group needs to be created.
2. Select Create child group.
3. Enter a name for the new group and click Next.
4. Select the required subscriptions whose cost data will be managed within the group.
5. Click Save to complete the creation of the child group.

Scope selection

Scope selection enables users to analyze Azure costs from a specified location and refine the view to particular targets such as resource groups or subscriptions for precise cost and resource control.

1. Click the three-dot icon next to the desired group in the tree view.

2. Select Edit Scope.
   

3. Choose the target subscriptions whose cost data should be visible to the corresponding cost management group.
   

4. Apply the desired scope to each selected subscription.
   

5. In the confirmation window, click Proceed -> Continue to apply the changes.

Bulk scope selection

The Bulk scope selection functionality enables users to perform scope updates across multiple subscriptions concurrently.

1. In the Scope selection blade, select Bulk scope selection.

2. Choose the target subscriptions to which the scope should be applied.
3. Specify a common scope that matches the selected subscriptions.
   
4. Click Save.
5. To finalize the update, click Proceed → Continue.

Cost adjustment

Cost adjustment refers to an increase applied to the original spend of a Cost management group. This feature enables the application of custom billing rates, additional charges, and other client-specific billing adjustments, particularly for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

Only the Account Owner can access this option from the Cost group context menu.

1. Click the three-dotted icon next to the required cost group in the tree view.
2. Select Cost adjustment from the menu.

3. Enable the toggle and specify the cost adjustment percentage.
4. Click Save to confirm the changes.

Apply for child groups - Enabling this option will override the cost adjustment settings for the child groups.

Health indicator

• The health status of a cost group in the tree view is based on the Group budget monitoring alert incidents for the current date.

• Closing all open incidents from the present date will update the cost group status to healthy.

Below is an illustration showing the health status of a cost group changing to healthy after manually closing all active Group budget incidents from the present date:

Edit an existing cost group

1. Click the three-dotted icon next to the desired group in the tree view
2. Select the Edit option in the group context menu
3. The name and description of the cost group can be modified
4. Click Update

Move a cost group

When a cost management group is moved from a source group to a destination group, it is restructured under a new hierarchy. While the associated cost data and resource links remain intact, the group's access permissions are replaced by those defined in the destination group.

To move a cost management group from a source group to a destination group, follow these steps:

1. In the tree view, click the three-dot icon next to the group node to be moved.

2. Select Move from the menu.
   

3. Choose the destination group where the selected cost management group should be moved.

4. Click the Move button to confirm the action.

Access policy impact

During the move:

• The user and service principal access policies defined in the source group are overridden by those configured in the destination group.

• Any custom role assignments, inherited permissions, or explicit access controls associated with the source group will no longer apply.

Delete a cost group

1. Click the three-dotted icon next to the desired group in the tree view
2. Select the Delete option in the group context menu
3. Type the group name for confirmation
4. Click Delete