Azure Cost and Usage Monitor
Automatically fetches Azure resource and cost data via n8n to generate daily reports on total spending and top expensive resources.
ops and IT teamsfinance and accounting teams
What it does
Automatically connects to an Azure subscription using OAuth2 Service Principal authentication to retrieve all cloud resources. It queries the Resource Graph API for resource details and the Cost Management API for spending data, then merges these datasets. The agent generates formatted reports including total spending, top expensive resources, and cost breakdowns by type.
Step by step
- Configure an OAuth2 Service Principal with Reader access to the target Azure subscription for authentication.
- Set up HTTP Request nodes to query the Azure Resource Graph API and Cost Management API using the authenticated credentials.
- Add a Code node to merge the resource metadata from the graph API with the billing data from the cost management API.
Where the LLM does the work
- Generate complex JQ or JavaScript logic within the Code node to efficiently join nested JSON structures from two different API responses.
- Draft human-readable narrative summaries for the final report that highlight unusual spending spikes or budget breaches.
- Format the merged data into specific Excel templates or Power BI compatible CSV structures based on user preference.
Watch out for
Cost Management data can have a latency of up to two days so the report should clearly state the date range and potential staleness.
Service Principal secrets expire automatically so add an alerting mechanism or token refresh logic to prevent authentication failures during scheduled runs.
Tools that fit
Code Service Data processing and merging resources with costs
The agent brief
Everything your agent needs, including the gotchas. Copy it and go.
You are helping me build the following AI agent workflow. ## Goal Azure Cost and Usage Monitor: Automatically fetches Azure resource and cost data via n8n to generate daily reports on total spending and top expensive resources. ## Specification - What it does: Automatically connects to an Azure subscription using OAuth2 Service Principal authentication to retrieve all cloud resources. It queries the Resource Graph API for resource details and the Cost Management API for spending data, then merges these datasets. The agent generates formatted reports including total spending, top expensive resources, and cost breakdowns by type. - Trigger: On a schedule (Scheduled · daily 9:00) - Autonomy: Fully hands-off - Expected setup effort: about an afternoon - Tools/services involved: - n8n: Workflow orchestration and automation platform - Azure Resource Graph API: Querying Azure subscription resources - Cost Management API: Fetching cost and usage data - Code: Data processing and merging resources with costs ## Known pitfalls, handle each one explicitly in your implementation 1. Cost Management data can have a latency of up to two days so the report should clearly state the date range and potential staleness. 2. Service Principal secrets expire automatically so add an alerting mechanism or token refresh logic to prevent authentication failures during scheduled runs. ## Reference implementation https://n8n.io/workflows/12802 (workflow template) Fetch and inspect this before building. If it matches my stack, adapt it; if not, rebuild the pattern with my tools. ## Process requirements 1. Before building: ask me which of the listed tools I actually use and what my platform is (n8n / Make / code / other). Do not assume. 2. Adapt the pattern to my answers; do not force the reference stack. 3. Address every pitfall above; tell me how you handled each. 4. Provide a test plan I can run before letting this touch real data. 5. Ask before any step that sends messages, modifies data, or spends money. Source: https://usecasesforagents.com/use-case/azure-cost-and-usage-monitor/ via usecasesforagents.com
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different Automation Platform than n8n?
Yes. n8n is only the example automation platform in this recipe. The same flow works with Home Assistant. Swap the automation platform connection and keep the rest of the setup as written.
Want this running in your business?
This is what I do. I design and build AI agents like this one, and keep them running. If you want it set up for your team instead of doing it yourself, get in touch.
Who it's for
Built for Ops-IT teams who need one more recurring task off a human's plate.
Finance teams can run the same extraction-and-file pattern on their own paperwork.