Configuring Azure Cost Management Exports

Cloud Ctrl imports Azure cost data using this priority:

  1. Billing-scope CME (preferred)
  2. If billing-scope CME is unavailable, choose one of these options:
    • Billing-account-scope CDR (preferred for MCA/EA billing accounts — single API call, no storage account needed)
    • Subscription-scope CME (one export per subscription), or
    • Subscription-scope CDR (one API call per subscription, no storage account needed)

Use this page to choose the right path first, then follow the detailed setup guide.

Decide Your Import Path

If your account type is...Use this guide
Enterprise Agreement (EA), Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA), or Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG)Standard Export Setup
Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)CSP Export Setup

💡 Preferred pattern for all Azure setups: use billing-scope CME whenever available. If it is not available, use billing-account-scope CDR for MCA/EA billing accounts (single API call, no storage account), or fall back to subscription-scope CME (one export per subscription) or subscription-scope CDR.

ℹ️ CDR has two scopes. Billing-account-scope CDR issues a single generateCostDetailsReport call for the whole billing account and requires a billing-account-level role (see CSP Export Setup). Subscription-scope CDR issues one call per subscription and only requires subscription-level Reader.

Before You Begin

Before configuring exports, make sure you have:

  1. Confirmed your Azure account type (EA, MCA, PAYG, or CSP). How to check →
  2. Created a dedicated storage account for exports: Create a Dedicated Storage Account
  3. Completed app registration and permissions: Application Registration