In an era where cloud computing has become the backbone of modern business operations, efficient financial management is the linchpin that keeps organizations agile and cost-effective. The FinOps Framework has emerged as a powerful approach to optimize cloud costs, allowing organizations to efficiently manage their cloud expenditure. Today, we are thrilled to announce that Microsoft has achieved a milestone that reaffirms our commitment to empowering our customers and partners in their journey towards optimized cloud spending. We are now a FinOps Certified Service Provider. This certification is a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing you with the best-in-class solutions for managing your cloud finances and ensuring that your organization thrives in this era of digital transformation.

FinOps consulting journey at Microsoft

Our journey in FinOps consulting dates back to the early days of Microsoft Azure, where we embarked on a mission to assist organizations in navigating the complex landscape of cloud cost management. Over the years, we have had the privilege of collaborating with countless organizations, ensuring they unlock the full potential of their cloud investments. What truly excites us, however, is the remarkable momentum that the FinOps Foundation has generated. This foundation has played a pivotal role in cultivating a vibrant and inclusive community of FinOps professionals, united by a shared passion for optimizing cloud expenditures.

Together with this dynamic community, we are poised to take the world of FinOps to the next level. Our continued collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and dedication to the cause will not only enhance our collective understanding of cloud financial management but also drive innovation and excellence in this critical domain. With the power of collaboration and the momentum of the FinOps community, we are prepared to shape the future of FinOps, making it more accessible, efficient, and beneficial for all.

At Microsoft, our commitment to you extends throughout the entire service lifecycle. Whether you are Unified Enterprise Support customer, receiving Proactive Services, or a Microsoft Industry Solutions Delivery (ISD) customer, receiving modernization and enabling innovation for the Microsoft cloud, we are here to provide the expertise and guidance you need to meet your FinOps goals. 

Your goals may by focused on enablement or long-term optimization. We receive many questions from our customers that correspond to each of these goal categories:

Enablement:

• “I’m looking to improve our financial forecast for the upcoming year.”—Chief Financial Officer.
• “I’ve been meaning to make our cloud spending more efficient but haven’t had the time.”—Chief Technical Officer.
• “I’m setting our unit’s KPIs and want to make our operations for the coming quarter leaner.”—Business Unit Lead.
• “I need to support our leadership in achieving our quarterly goals and make operations more efficient.”—Product/Application Owner.

Long-term optimization:

• “I’m concerned about the economic downturn and need to improve our bottom line.”—Chief Financial Officer.
• “I need to reduce my operational cost so that I can free up money for innovative projects.”—Chief Technology Officer.
• “I need to make sure our group’s strategy is aligned to company goals.”—Business Unit Lead.
• “I work closely with the product and am responsible for the changes.”—Product/Application Owner.

With these questions and requirements in mind, we have developed a series of offerings that provide the solutions.

FinOps solution offerings at Microsoft

Our Unified Enterprise Support currently has three FinOps offerings:

• FinOps Introduction
• FinOps Assessment
• FinOps Operations for Azure
  • Azure Cost Management Tool Chain
  • Azure Billing Mechanics
  • Azure Cost Management Mechanics
  • Azure Cost Optimization Opportunities

Our Industry Solutions Delivery, Journey to FinOps offering helps our customers optimize their existing landscape, establish a cost-conscious culture, and supporting governance controls to maximize the value of their Azure spend. This offer helps our customers:

• Understand the underlying drivers of cost by cloud resource types.
• Uncover the link between current cost and performance and cost optimization levers.
• Achieve tangible impact/savings through a systematic and continuous cost optimization process while aligning with performance, scalability, and stability goals.
• Develop or accelerate a cost-conscious organization.

You can also leverage publicly available FinOps information including:

• Review your capability using the FinOps Assessments.
• Learn more through the FinOps documentation available.

We’ll share more details on these and other service offerings in future blog posts.

The Microsoft vision for the future of FinOps

Looking forward, we are excited to share our vision for the future of FinOps. Engaging with the FinOps community through the FinOps Foundation Slack and active participation in working groups is a vital part of our strategy. Some of the working groups we actively contribute to include FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS), aimed at building and maintaining a common specification for cloud cost, usage, and billing data) and FinOps Champion (focused on creating a FinOps Champion Program). These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to shaping the future of cloud cost management.

We are continuously exploring new ways to enhance your FinOps experience. Our goal is to bring you the latest tools, best practices, and thought leadership that will empower you in the ever-evolving cloud ecosystem. As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, we are dedicated to ensuring that your organization remains at the forefront of FinOps, equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in this dynamic environment.

Microsoft as a FinOps Certified Service Provider

Microsoft’s certification as a FinOps Certified Service Provider is a significant milestone in the realm of cloud cost management. It highlights the growing importance of FinOps in the cloud industry and underscores the critical role of financial discipline in optimizing cloud spending. By achieving this certification, Microsoft has positioned itself as a leader in cloud cost management, benefiting its customers, the industry, and cloud users around the world.

As organizations continue to embrace cloud computing, the need for effective cloud cost management will only grow. With the Microsoft’s commitment to FinOps, businesses can expect greater control over their cloud expenses, ensuring that their cloud investments align with their financial goals and operational needs. The FinOps Foundation recently launched the State of FinOps Survey for 2024 to collect industry data to help organizations better understand FinOps trends and common challenges faced. Please consider taking the time to complete this survey and check out past years results.

Your success is our utmost priority, and we encourage you to take action today. Reach out to your dedicated account representative to discover how we can help you achieve your FinOps objectives. Additionally, we invite you to review our publicly available FinOps documentation, which is a valuable resource for in-depth insights into optimizing your cloud finances. You can also actively engage with us in the FinOps Foundation community, where you can connect with fellow professionals, share valuable insights, and stay updated on the latest industry trends.

What’s next for FinOps?

We look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person at Microsoft Ignite and the FinOps Foundation Seattle Roadshow on November 15, 2023. These events provide an excellent platform to network, share experiences, and continue building a brighter and more cost-efficient cloud future together. Your journey to optimized cloud spending starts here, and we are here to support you every step of the way.