Getting started FAQs

Overview

This article answers the most common questions from new Cost Analyzer users during initial setup — connecting Azure subscriptions, configuring the service principal, and running the first import.

Business value

Getting started correctly reduces configuration errors, prevents data gaps in early imports, and ensures cost visibility is accurate from day one.

How it works

Cost Analyzer connects to your Azure environment through a service principal, retrieves cost and usage data via the Azure Cost Management API, and organizes that data into cost groups for analysis, budgeting, and monitoring. Initial setup requires an Azure service principal with Reader access at the subscription or management group scope.

FAQs

1. What Azure permissions does the service principal need?
   The service principal requires the Reader role at the subscription or management group scope to retrieve cost and usage data. If you plan to use rightsizing or reservation recommendations, also assign the Reservation Reader role at the subscription scope. No write permissions are required for standard Cost Analyzer operation.

2. Can I connect multiple Azure subscriptions to a single Cost Analyzer instance?
   Yes. Cost Analyzer supports multiple subscriptions under a single Turbo360 organization. Each subscription is connected individually using the same service principal, provided the service principal has Reader access across all target subscriptions. You can then group subscriptions together using cost groups for unified analysis and budgeting.

3. How long does the first import take after connecting a subscription?
   The first import typically completes within a few minutes for subscriptions with standard data volumes. Subscriptions with a large number of resources or a long billing history may take longer. You can monitor import status in Cost Analyzer settings. Cost data for the current billing period appears after the first successful import; historical data for prior periods is imported in subsequent cycles.

4. Why is my subscription showing no data after a successful import?
   A successful import status confirms that Cost Analyzer reached the Azure Cost Management API — it does not guarantee that data exists for the period. If no data appears, confirm that the subscription has active resources with incurred spend for the selected period and that the service principal has Reader access at the correct scope. New subscriptions with no spend history will show no data until charges are incurred.

5. Can I connect subscriptions from multiple Azure tenants?
   Yes, but each tenant requires a separate service principal configured within that tenant. You cannot use a single service principal to access subscriptions across different Azure Active Directory tenants. Configure a service principal in each tenant and connect the relevant subscriptions under each.

6. What happens if the service principal client secret expires?
   Cost Analyzer import cycles will begin failing once the secret expires. You will see authentication errors in the import status log. Regenerate the client secret in Azure Active Directory, update the credential in Turbo360, and re-trigger the import manually to restore data flow. Set a calendar reminder before the secret expiry date to avoid unplanned data gaps.

7. Is there a minimum billing history required before Cost Analyzer can generate forecasts?
   Yes. Forecasting requires at least 7–14 days of complete import history for the cost group. A newly connected subscription or a cost group with recent import gaps may show a flat forecast line until sufficient history is available.

Related articles

• Cost management groups
• Import issues
• Data delays
• Cost analysis FAQs