Optimize existing Azure resources and analyze Reservations or Savings Plans. WHEN: "optimize Azure costs", "reduce cloud spending", "rightsize resources", "find idle resources", "orphaned disk", "deleted VM still charged", "public IP still charging", "reservation utilization", "Savings Plan coverage", "commitment recommendation", "why is pay-as-you-go still charged". DO NOT USE FOR: cost spikes, forecasts, pricing estimates, budgets, or governance.
Collected from public GitHub. Every version is saved exactly as it was and never changes. Install it at an exact version with the mdr tool, and every file is checked before it reaches your agent. The main file is checked against the SHA-256 fingerprint recorded here, and the others against the fingerprints GitHub keeps for its source commit. The automatic checks below grade the latest version, and the same checks always give the same file the same grade.
What the file says
# Azure Cost Optimization
## Quick Reference
| Intent | Workflow | Primary tools |
|--------|----------|---------------|
| Reduce waste or rightsize | [Optimization](references/optimization.md) | Cost and Resource Graph tools |
| Review commitments | [Commitments](references/commitments.md) | `list_benefit_utilization`, `list_reservation_transactions`, `get_benefit_recommendations` |
## When to Use This Skill
Use for waste, rightsizing, and commitments.
## MCP Tools
Use cost and Resource Graph tools for optimization and benefit tools for
commitments. Validate queries. Fallback: [API mappings](references/tool-fallback.md).
## Workflow
1. Confirm scope, period, currency, and commitment intent.
2. Load only the matching workflow above.
3. Never transform MCP results in a shell or interpreter; request validated
server-side projection, aggregation, or bounded follow-up queries.
4. Separate measured cost, reported savings, and qualitative opportunities.
5. Recommend changes only; do not delete, resize, purchase, or deploy resources.
## Error Handling
| Error | Action |
|-------|--------|
| Access denied | Name the scope and permission. |
…
The line at the top of this page pins the label v0.0.0-placeholder, which is what most people want. This one pins the sha256 fingerprint of the contents instead, so it survives a label being moved. Either way the exact version is written to mdr.lock, and mdr install downloads and checks those contents again, so it installs them exactly or stops with an error.
GET https://markdownregistry.com/api/v1/artifacts/art_sidvhkbjfkgs7j2b
GET https://markdownregistry.com/api/v1/resolve?ref=microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure/cost-optimization
GET https://markdownregistry.com/api/v1/blob/8749fb34a82ac928b87699479fb3d2edf2b7ae7667053386f5f3620c757fe633
Your AI assistant does the legwork. You hear about the deals worth your word. Hand yours the standing instructions at modelranch.com and it joins the network that reads files like this one.
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/analyze-comparison-tests/SKILL.md · Collects comparison test run artifacts and answers the user's questions based on the trajectories of each run. WHEN TO…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/analyze-skill-issues/SKILL.md · Query the integration-test storage account to find why a specific skill's tests are failing. Reads blob-stored test…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/analyze-test-run/SKILL.md · Analyze a GitHub Actions integration test run and produce a skill invocation report with failure root-cause issues…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/file-test-bug/SKILL.md · File a GitHub issue for local integration test failures. TRIGGERS: file test bug, report test failure, create bug for…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/investigate-integration-test/SKILL.md · Investigate a failing integration test from a GitHub issue. Downloads logs/artifacts, analyzes the failure, examines…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/onboard-plugin/SKILL.md · Scaffold a new plugin and prepare it for distribution. WHEN: 'create a new plugin', 'scaffold a new plugin'
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/sensei/SKILL.md · Iteratively improve skill frontmatter to achieve good routing test coverage. WHEN: run sensei, sensei help, improve…
microsoft/github-copilot-for-azure · .github/skills/skill-authoring/SKILL.md · Guidelines for writing Agent Skills that comply with the agentskills.io specification. WHEN: "create a skill", "new…
rampstackco/claude-skills · skills/cost-optimization/SKILL.md · Audit and reduce infrastructure and tooling costs without sacrificing reliability or velocity. Use this skill when…
