Cloud Cost Intelligence - Azure

Check for existing export

Check if you already have a billing export with the required format:

1. In the Azure portal, go to Cost Management & Billing.
2. Select your Billing Scope, then expand Settings and click Exports.
3. Review the list for an export with Cost and Usage (FOCUS) format and Parquet compression.

• If a matching export exists: Proceed to Select New Relic account.
• If no matching export exists: Continue to Create billing export.

Create billing export

1. In the Azure portal, go to Cost Management & Billing.

2. Select your Billing Scope, then expand Settings and click Exports.

3. Click Create.

4. Select Cost and Usage (FOCUS) as the export type.

   Important

   For EA and MCA the export type format should be Cost and usage details (FOCUS) : 1.2-preview..

5. Provide an export prefix. Configure the export with these parameters:

   Parameter	Value	Description
   Type of Data	Cost and Usage details (FOCUS) - Preview	Provides detailed cost and usage information in FOCUS format
   Export Name	A descriptive name of your choice	Meaningful identifier for your export
   Dataset Version	1.2-preview (Latest dataset schema files)	Latest schema version available
   Frequency	Daily export of month-to-date costs	Daily exports capture month-to-date cost information
   Export Description	A meaningful description of your choice	Context about the export purpose

6. Click Next.

Configure storage settings

1. Configure where Azure stores your billing data:

   Setting	Value	Description
   Storage Type	Blob Storage	Azure Blob Storage for cost data
   Destination Storage	Use existing storage account or create a new one	Storage location for billing data
   Container and Directory	Use existing container/directory or create new	Organization structure for billing exports
   Compression Type	Parquet	Provides optimal storage efficiency and query performance
   Data Overwrite	Yes	Allows updates to existing data
   File Partitioning	Yes	Enables efficient data organization and retrieval

   Important

   We recommend the storage account to be based in (US) East US. This helps save on outbound data transfer costs. The storage type should be Azure Blob storage.

2. Review your settings.

3. Click Create.

4. Verify the export appears in your Exports list and ensure:

   • FOCUS (FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification) format is in preview
   • Dataset version 1.2-preview is the latest schema version
   • Daily exports capture month-to-date cost information
   • Parquet compression provides storage efficiency and query performance

Select New Relic account

1. Go to one.newrelic.com > All Capabilities > Cloud Cost Intelligence - Azure.
2. Select your account and click Continue.

Provide Azure connection details

1. Enter your Azure billing and storage information:

   Field	Description	Location
   Azure Agreement Type	Select your agreement type.	Navigate to Azure Console > Cost Management + Billing > Settings > Properties. See Billing accounts and scopes in the Azure portal.
   Tenant ID	Enter the unique identifier for your organization's Microsoft Entra ID instance.	Go to Microsoft Entra Admin center
   Billing account ID	Enter your billing account ID.	Navigate to Azure Console > Cost Management + Billing > Settings > Properties. See Billing administration.
   Azure Storage account name	Enter the storage account name from the export you created. To reduce outbound data transfer costs, use a storage account in East US (US). The storage type must be Azure Blob storage.
   Storage Container Name	Enter the container name within your storage account that holds the billing export files.	Go to Microsoft Azure > Subscription > Storage account > Container Note: You must grant access to the New Relic service principal in the next step for this container.
   Directory Path	By default Microsoft Azure creates cost export files in folders with monthly nomenclatures, like 20251101-20251130 for Nov 2025, and 20251201-20251231 for Dec 2025. CCI automatically traverses these files for daily cost reports. You need to provide the Directory Path only if the files have not been configured to be published in the container root. Example 1: If files are configured to be published in Storage Container named newreliccciazure in the root. Action: Leave empty Example 2: If files are configured to be published in Storage Container named newreliccciazure in a specified directory azureCostData, with sub-directory like johnDoefiles, the final file folder structure looks like newreliccciazure/azureCostData/johnDoefiles/20251101. Action: Provide azureCostData/johnDoefiles as the Directory path

2. Click Continue.

Authorize access

Authorize the New Relic service principal (msazurecostdata) to access your billing data:

1. Click Initiate Connection.
2. Complete the Microsoft Authentication flow.

   Important

   Azure administrator approval required.
3. Accept the authentication request.
4. A small file (0 KB) will download. You can delete this file.

Confirm service principal

Verify the service principal was added:

1. Go to Enterprise Applications in Microsoft Entra Account.

2. Confirm msazurecostdata appears in the list.

   Important

   See Microsoft Entra documentation for help viewing enterprise applications.

Assign permissions

Assign Storage Blob Data Reader role for read-only access:

1. Open your storage account container and select Access Control (IAM).
2. Click Add > Add role assignment.
3. Select Storage Blob Data Reader.
4. Search for and select msazurecostdata.
5. Click Review + Assign and verify msazurecostdata appears in role assignments.

Verify setup

Confirm:

• msazurecostdata appears in Enterprise Applications

• Service principal has Storage Blob Data Reader role

• Role applies to correct storage container

• Connection test succeeds in New Relic

  Important

  Security: Service principal has read-only access to billing data only. It cannot write, modify, or delete data.

Data processing

Initial processing takes up to 12 hours. Your cost data then appears in the Cost Overview dashboard.

View your data

Go to Intelligent summary to view your Azure cost data and optimize spending.