FinOps on Azure

16 Episodes
Subscribe

By: Michael Stephenson

The podcast that discusses all things financial optimization in Microsoft's Azure cloud. Tune in for insightful episodes covering the essentials of balancing innovation and cost efficiency.

Your Cloud Architect Has a Personality - Mastering Cloud Cost Profiles & FinOps
#18
Today at 7:08 AM

Every workload has a personality. Some spike with concurrency. Some quietly run all day and never shut off. Some look efficient until scale hits and then costs accelerate. And some charge you every time they run, every query, every scan, every execution.

This episode is about recognizing those patterns early. Once you understand how your architecture behaves under load and over time, you stop reacting to cost and start shaping it.


Why Cloud Migration Fails and How the Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) Helps Fix It
#17
03/19/2026

In this FinOps on Azure podcast Azure MVP Aiden Finn reveals why cloud migrations crash and how Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) ensures success. Real stories, landing zones, FinOps tips, and more!


How to Design Sustainable API Platforms
#16
03/02/2026

Sustainability in the cloud starts with everyday design decisions. In this episode of the FinOps on Azure Podcast, we discuss how API platform design choices influence efficiency, scale, and environmental impact. The conversation focuses on practical ways platform and engineering teams can think about sustainability when building and operating API platforms using Azure API Management. 


Cloud Cost Challenges in Large Organizations: A FinOps Practitioner’s Perspective
#15
02/13/2026


How to Mature Your FinOps Capabilities Without Rushing Optimization
#14
01/29/2026

In this episode of the FinOps on Azure Podcast, Nicole Boyd breaks down how the FinOps maturity model works in practice, why many teams struggle in the early stages, and what needs to be in place before optimisation can deliver real value.


Hidden Cloud Costs: The Cost Behind Every Cloud Click
#12
01/13/2026


Optimizing Azure Cosmos DB Costs
#13
11/05/2024

In this episode of FinOps on Azure, FinOps certified practitioner - Mike and Gary from the Microsoft Cosmos DB team discuss cost management challenges on Azure, specifically focusing on Cosmos DB. They begin by addressing the common challenges organizations face when managing costs on Azure, particularly with Cosmos DB. The conversation then shifts to practical strategies for cost optimization, including topics like provisioned throughput choices, API options, and factors affecting cost. Throughout the episode, Mike and Gary share insights, best practices, and real-world examples to help listeners make informed decisions about their Azure Cosmos DB usage and costs.


Relationship Between DevOps and FinOps and Azure Cost Management
#12
11/05/2024

In this episode of "FinOps on Azure," Richard Fennell, CTO at Black Marble and FinOps certified practitioner Michael Stephenson MVP, discusses the relationship between DevOps, FinOps, and Azure Cost Management. The podcast discusses how integrating FinOps into DevOps practices enhances cost management and optimization. Richard emphasizes the challenges of implementation, the importance of senior management support, and the early involvement of FinOps in development cycles to improve decision-making and identify cost-saving opportunities.


Cloud Financial Operations: Strategies for Cost Management
#11
11/05/2024

This episode of FinOps on Azure delves into financial operations within cloud infrastructure management, featuring host Michael Stephenson, A FinOps certified practitioner, and Andrew Matveychuk, Information Technology Architect. They discuss the critical importance of cost management in cloud environments, highlighting the expectations versus reality of cloud migration costs. Andrew shares insights from his extensive experience, emphasizing the need for organizations to identify their primary cost drivers and explore optimization strategies, such as Azure savings plans and reservations. The conversation also touches on leveraging existing Microsoft software licenses to reduce cloud expenses, underscoring the significance of strategic planning and resource management...


Cost Management Best Practices for Azure Integration Solutions
#8
05/31/2024

In this episode of "FinOps on Azure" Sandro, an enterprise Integration expert, shares his insights on optimizing costs for building robust Integration solutions on Microsoft Azure. Sandro emphasizes the importance of establishing a solid foundation by defining clear naming conventions, environment policies, and access controls to manage costs to avoid potential issues. He highlights the significant shift in cost models from on-premises BizTalk Server to Azure's consumption-based expenses and offers practical strategies for cost optimization, such as adopting a pull-based approach for message processing and replacing costly Azure Integration Accounts with custom serverless functions.


The relationship between cloud FinOps and Security - Expert tips
#7
05/09/2024

The relationship between cloud FinOps and Security - Expert tips, read at: https://turbo360.com/podcast/finops-cost-management-and-security?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nino-podcast In this episode, we delve into the relationship between Azure Cost Management and security in cloud computing with FinOps certified practitioner Michael Stephenson and Microsoft MVP for Security Nino Crudele. Learn how security measures impact cloud costs and explore strategies for balancing robust security with cost-effectiveness. Discover the crucial role of governance, policy enforcement, and FinOps in optimizing both cost and security postures. Gain insights into logging strategies, the CIA triad, and the continuous...


Shift Left with FinOps
#5
04/24/2024

Shift FinOps Left In this FinOps on Azure episode, Mike (A FinOps certified practitioner) joins Michiel (Azure Cost Optimization Specialist) to discuss the concept of Shift left with FinOps - moving cloud financial operations & cost optimization earlier into the app development lifecycle. Michiel explains why most companies struggle with lack of cloud cost awareness and how to get started shifting FinOps left. He covers selecting a proof of concept team, providing FinOps training, tooling for visibility into costs/budgets, anomaly detection, and optimization techniques. You'll learn about common organizational hurdles like knowledge gaps and skeptical teams resisting change. Plus, Michiel...


Azure FinOps: Optimizing Costs and Best Practices
#4
04/09/2024

Azure FinOps: Optimizing Costs and Best Practices In episode 4 of "FinOps on Azure," discover expert insights on Azure FinOps along with its best practices featuring Azure MVP - Gregor Suttie Dive deep into cost management best practices, from leveraging Azure Advisor to optimizing resource usage. Discover who to involve in cost reviews, how often to conduct them, and common pitfalls to avoid. Get top tips for Azure cost management and strategies for staying up to date. Whether you're a startup or a large enterprise, master Azure cost optimization for maximum value from your cloud investments. ➢Listen to other episodes at: ht...


The Azure Cost Management Journey
#3
03/28/2024

Episode 3 of #FinOpsonAzure takes you on journey through Azure cost management and FinOps as industry experts Michael Stephenson and Ahmed Bayoumy delve into the nuances of optimizing cloud spend. Also, Ahmed illustrates a compelling real-world case where a client struggled with an unexpected surge in expenses, underscoring the significance of reliable cost tracking and reporting mechanisms. Discover how third-party solutions help enterprises with detailed analytics, empowering them to pinpoint areas for improvement and help with ways to cut down on unnecessary Azure spending. Learn practical strategies and tools to optimize your Azure cloud spending and maximize efficiency.


Azure cost management and FinOps: Real-World Cost Scenarios
#2
03/13/2024

This episode of "FinOps on Azure" highlights the pitfalls of the "migration mindset" and the challenge of aligning agile development with traditional finance processes. Rik and Mike explore the emergence of FinOps as a solution, emphasizing the importance of a cloud-native mindset, architectural considerations, and empowering teams with cost ownership. The conversation stresses the cultural shift required for effective cost management, supported by tools and automation for ongoing optimization in Azure. Read more at: https://turbo360.com/podcast/azure-cost-optimization-real-world-cost-scenarios?utm_source=bcast&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast-rik Follow us on: Apple podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...


Azure Cost Management and FinOps: Lessons from the frontlines
02/15/2024

Azure Cost Management and FinOps: Lessons from the Frontlines This episode of "FinOps on Azure" dives into the crucial issue of managing Azure costs effectively. It addresses the common challenges faced by organizations in controlling their Azure spending and offers insights and strategies to prevent unexpected overspending. Through real-world experiences shared by Saravana Kumar, CEO of Kovai.co, viewers can gain valuable lessons on optimizing Azure consumption and establishing robust cost governance practices.