Azure Cost Optimization: Best Practices for Cloud Solution Providers

In this conversation, Michael Stephenson from Turbo360 is joined by James Reed, Azure Sales Manager at West Coast Cloud, and Mitchell Gee, Azure Sales Specialist. West Coast is a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) working closely with multiple managed service providers (MSPs) to support their Azure business.

The discussion focuses on how partners use Turbo360 for cost visibility and management, what features are most valuable for West Coast customers, and what new capabilities have been added to the platform.

West Coast’s Approach to Azure Cost Management

James Reed explains that his role involves helping partners grow their Azure business by educating them and supporting their commercial goals. Mitchell Gee focuses on partner success, working directly with partners to make sure they are getting value from Azure and using supporting services like Turbo360 effectively.

West Coast customers mainly use Turbo360’s Cost Analyzer module. This allows them to monitor Azure spend and ensure their customers are receiving good value for money.

Using Turbo360 to Improve Visibility and Control

During the session, Michael walks through the Turbo360 home page and highlights new features. A key area of focus is the ability to configure alerts when a budget is exceeded.

Previously, customers would often rely on email alerts that would automatically log tickets in their help desk systems. Turbo360 now supports multiple alert channels including Microsoft Teams and ServiceNow. A new feature adds support for Jira, giving customers more flexibility in how they manage cost alerts and incidents.

Supporting MSPs and Their Customers

Michael explains that West Coast is one of Turbo360’s key CSP customers because they work with many MSPs who rely on Turbo360 to give their end customers visibility of Azure costs. By configuring cost alerts and monitoring budgets, MSPs can help customers manage their Azure spend more effectively.

James and Mitchell act as a bridge between Turbo360 and their customers, asking questions that reflect the real-world use cases MSPs encounter. This ensures that the platform continues to address the practical needs of CSPs and their partners.

What’s Next

The conversation also touches on upcoming releases, with plans to expand the platform further. While details are not fully shared, the aim is to enhance how customers manage and monitor their Azure environments through Turbo360.

Conclusion

The discussion highlights how CSPs like West Coast use cost management tools to help partners and MSPs deliver more value to their customers. Turbo360’s new features, such as expanded alert channel support including Jira, make it easier for CSPs to track and control Azure costs.

By improving visibility and integrating with existing ticketing systems, these capabilities help CSPs manage spend proactively and support their customer base more effectively.