Export more than just cost and usage

The new exports experience takes a more holistic approach to managing cost-related data. In addition to exporting standard cost and usage datasets, users can now include expanded datasets such as price sheets, reservation recommendations, reservation details, and reservation transactions. This broader range of exportable data enables organizations to analyze cloud costs more comprehensively and uncover new opportunities for optimization.

For example, exporting reservation recommendations makes it easier to analyze savings opportunities generated by Azure Advisor, while exporting price sheets and reservation details allows for precise calculations of effective rates and reservation coverage. Together, these capabilities help organizations implement granular chargeback models and make more informed budgeting and purchase decisions.

Alongside expanded dataset support, the portal experience has been redesigned to make export creation more intuitive. A unified interface now allows users to configure multiple datasets, define destination storage settings, select file formats, and apply compression settings in a single, streamlined workflow. This saves time, reduces configuration errors, and frees up FinOps teams to focus on analysis rather than operational setup.

Export in the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) format

The enhanced exports experience also introduces support for the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) format. This community-defined schema consolidates actual and amortized costs into a single file, simplifying downstream data processing. It also brings consistency to naming conventions across Enterprise Agreement (EA), Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA), and other billing models by aligning with FinOps best practices.

Using the FOCUS format helps reduce data processing time, storage consumption, and normalization efforts. This is especially beneficial in multi-cloud environments, where teams often need a common format to analyze and compare costs across providers. By offering a consistent structure and smaller file footprint, the FOCUS format significantly streamlines reporting and analytics efforts.

Ensuring seamless exports with schema version flexibility

With schema versioning support, users can now choose which dataset schema version to apply when exporting cost data. By default, the system uses the latest schema to ensure exports reflect the most current specifications. However, if a team’s reporting pipeline depends on a prior schema version, they can explicitly select it to maintain compatibility. This flexibility is critical for avoiding disruptions during schema updates and ensures continuity for automated reporting and ingestion processes. It gives organizations control over how and when they adapt to schema changes based on their own development cycles.

Efficient handling of large datasets

Managing large datasets is now more efficient thanks to improvements in file handling. Users can choose between CSV format with optional Gzip compression or Parquet format with optional Snappy compression. These formats significantly reduce file sizes—by up to 70% in some cases—while enhancing performance during downstream processing. This is especially beneficial when working with tools like Apache Spark, Azure Synapse Analytics, or Microsoft Fabric.

The new experience also supports file partitioning, which automatically divides large datasets into smaller, more manageable chunks, making it easier to process and analyze exported data. In addition, the file overwrite feature allows daily exports to replace existing files rather than creating duplicates, ensuring that data pipelines always work with the most current version. These capabilities improve efficiency, reduce storage overhead, and support more scalable FinOps automation.

Improved security

For organizations with strict security and compliance requirements, the enhanced exports experience now supports exporting to storage accounts protected by firewalls or virtual networks. This ensures that data is only accessible within secure, organization-controlled environments, helping customers maintain compliance with internal governance policies and external regulatory standards. Enterprises can now confidently automate export workflows without compromising on data protection.

Retrieve historical data with ease

Another key improvement is the ability to retrieve historical data using both the Azure portal and the REST API. Users can backfill up to 13 months of historical data directly from the portal or go further by using the REST API to retrieve cost and usage data spanning up to seven years. This long-term data access enables powerful trend analyses, budget forecasting, and retrospective reporting. It ensures that FinOps teams have access to the full history of their cloud spending to support financial accountability and decision-making.

Getting started

To take advantage of these enhanced capabilities, visit the Cost Management section in the Azure portal. Whether you’re new to exports or migrating from an earlier version, the new experience makes it easier to configure, manage, and scale your cost data workflows. With support for richer datasets, streamlined creation, multi-year backfills, and enterprise-grade compliance, this release is built to meet the evolving needs of FinOps practitioners. Start using the enhanced exports today to gain deeper insight into your cloud costs and optimize your financial operations with confidence.