| name | finops-toolkit |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks about "FinOps hubs", "FinOps toolkit", "KQL queries", "Kusto", "cost data analysis", "Hub database", "Costs function", "Prices function", "Recommendations function", "FinOps hubs deployment", "Azure Data Explorer", "ADX cluster", or any FinOps hubs operations. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | Requires Azure MCP Server and Azure CLI authentication. For queries, requires Database Viewer access to FinOps hub ADX cluster. |
| metadata | {"author":"microsoft","version":"1.0"} |
FinOps Toolkit
FinOps hubs are a scalable platform for cloud cost analytics, insights, and optimization built on Azure Data Explorer (Kusto) or Microsoft Fabric RTI. This skill covers KQL-based cost analysis and hub infrastructure deployment.
Task routing
Load only the references relevant to the task at hand.
Maintainer note: The references in this table intentionally use shorthand skill paths for readability. They are not a claim that the plugin contains literal toolkit/..., focus/..., or bare .kql files next to SKILL.md.
The Build-AgentPlugin.ps1 packaging hook copies src/queries and docs-mslearn into this skill's references/queries and references/docs-mslearn directories. Resolve the shorthand in this table as follows:
toolkit/... → references/docs-mslearn/toolkit/...focus/... → references/docs-mslearn/focus/...- bare
.kql names → references/queries/catalog/...
references/... paths are already literal
| Task | Load these references first |
|---|
| Write or run a KQL query | references/finops-hubs.md, references/queries/finops-hub-database-guide.md |
| Use a pre-built query | references/queries/INDEX.md, then the specific .kql file |
| Deploy a new hub | references/finops-hubs-deployment.md, toolkit/hubs/deploy.md, toolkit/hubs/template.md |
| Upgrade a hub | references/finops-hubs-deployment.md, toolkit/hubs/upgrade.md, toolkit/hubs/compatibility.md |
| Savings / ESR analysis | toolkit/hubs/savings-calculations.md, savings-summary-report.kql, commitment-discount-utilization.kql |
| Reservation recommendations | reservation-recommendation-breakdown.kql, toolkit/hubs/savings-calculations.md |
| FOCUS columns / mapping | focus/what-is-focus.md, focus/mapping.md |
| Power BI setup | toolkit/power-bi/setup.md, toolkit/power-bi/connector.md |
| Troubleshooting / errors | toolkit/help/troubleshooting.md, toolkit/help/errors.md |
| PowerShell commands | toolkit/powershell/powershell-commands.md + the specific command file |
| Connect to hub for first time | /ftk/hubs-connect, references/settings-format.md |
| Check hub health / version | /ftk/hubs-health-check, toolkit/hubs/compatibility.md |
Database functions
The Hub database exposes four analytic functions. Always use the Hub database — never Ingestion.
| Function | Purpose | Key columns |
|---|
Costs() | Cost and usage analytics (FOCUS-aligned) | BilledCost, EffectiveCost, ContractedCost, ListCost, ServiceName, ResourceName, Tags |
Prices() | Price sheets with list, contracted, and effective pricing | ListUnitPrice, ContractedUnitPrice, x_EffectiveUnitPrice, PricingUnit |
Recommendations() | Reservation and savings plan recommendations | x_EffectiveCostBefore, x_EffectiveCostAfter, x_EffectiveCostSavings |
Transactions() | Commitment purchases, refunds, and exchanges | BilledCost, ChargeCategory, x_SkuTerm, x_TransactionType |
Columns prefixed with x_ are toolkit enrichments added during ingestion (e.g., x_ResourceGroupName, x_CommitmentDiscountSavings, x_TotalSavings). Full column definitions: references/queries/finops-hub-database-guide.md.
Query execution
- Uses KQL (Kusto), not SQL
- Default analysis window: 30 days
- Always include
tenant — cross-tenant (B2B) scenarios fail without it
- Always include
subscription — required by the MCP tool contract
Environment settings are read from .ftk/environments.local.md at the project root. Use the default environment unless the user specifies one. See references/settings-format.md for the file format.
Use the azure-mcp-server tool with command kusto_query for all live Hub queries.
{
"cluster-uri": "<cluster-uri from .ftk/environments.local.md>",
"database": "Hub",
"tenant": "<tenant from .ftk/environments.local.md>",
"subscription": "<subscription from .ftk/environments.local.md>",
"query": "<KQL query>"
}
Required parameters for kusto_query: cluster-uri, database, tenant, subscription, and query.
Query catalog
Check the shipped query catalog before writing custom KQL. Read the .kql file, substitute parameters, then execute. See references/queries/INDEX.md for the full scenario-to-query matrix.
Infrastructure deployment
Deployment targets: Azure Data Explorer clusters, Microsoft Fabric workspaces, Cost Management exports, Power BI dashboards.
Key commands: az deployment, az kusto, az storage. PowerShell: Deploy-FinOpsHub.
Estimated cost: ~$120/mo + $10/mo per $1M in monitored spend.
For detailed documentation: references/finops-hubs-deployment.md
Reference files
| File | Description |
|---|
| references/finops-hubs.md | Analysis guide: KQL execution, query catalog protocol, tool matrix, performance rules. Read before any cost query. |
| references/finops-hubs-deployment.md | Deployment and configuration: ADX clusters, Fabric, Data Factory, exports, Key Vault, Power BI dashboards. |
| references/settings-format.md | Format specification for .ftk/environments.local.md — named environments with cluster-uri, tenant, subscription, and resource-group. |
| references/queries/INDEX.md | Query catalog with scenario-to-query matrix, parameter docs, and usage guidance for the shipped pre-built KQL queries. |
| references/queries/finops-hub-database-guide.md | Hub database schema: all four functions, column definitions, enrichment columns, and query best practices. Read before writing custom KQL. |
Microsoft Learn documentation
Official Microsoft documentation for FinOps and the FinOps toolkit. Source: learn.microsoft.com.
FinOps overview
FinOps Framework
Understand Usage & Cost
Quantify business value
Optimize cloud usage and cost
Manage the FinOps practice
FOCUS
Cost optimization best practices
FinOps toolkit
FinOps hubs
Alerts
Bicep registry
Optimization engine
Power BI
Workbooks
Fabric
PowerShell commands
Cost Management commands
Open data commands
FinOps hubs commands
Toolkit commands
Help and support
