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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Zation FinOps Platform (short: Platform).

General​

What is the Zation FinOps Platform?​

The Zation FinOps Platform is a SaaS solution for measuring, managing, and optimizing your Microsoft cloud spend across Azure and Microsoft 365 — including the associated CO₂ footprint via the GreenOps module.

It turns raw usage and billing data into tailored, actionable recommendations: which licenses to drop or downgrade, which VMs to right-size or shut down, where to move to Reserved Instances or Spot, and how to reduce emissions.

How does the Platform help reduce costs?​

By analyzing effective usage against the licenses and resources you actually pay for. The Platform evaluates demand at the user and resource level and surfaces the best-fit option — taking into account individual subscriptions as well as bundled offerings, commitment terms (RI, Savings Plans), and your contract type (PAYG, MCA-X, EA, CSP).

Recommendations come with the expected CHF savings per month so you can prioritize quickly.

How does the Platform help optimize costs?​

Cost reduction removes waste; cost optimization improves how you use what you keep. The Platform highlights usage patterns, identifies under- and over-utilized workloads, and recommends concrete actions for users, departments, and engineering teams — for example:

  • Auto-Shutdown for VMs unused outside business hours
  • Right-Sizing for sustained low-utilization workloads
  • Spot-Eligibility for fault-tolerant dev/test workloads
  • License re-assignment when a higher SKU isn't being used

See the algorithm deep-dives under Platform → Algorithms (visible to signed-in Platform customers).

How does the Platform measure and reduce CO₂ emissions?​

The GreenOps module (currently Beta) measures CO₂ emissions based on actual consumption — per subscription and resource group for Azure, and per active user for Microsoft 365. The Platform pairs the measurement with recommendations such as relocating workloads to lower-carbon Azure regions, shutting down idle resources, and right-sizing over-provisioned VMs.

What data does the Platform analyze?​

Three categories, all read-only:

  • Azure cost & inventory — via the Azure Cost Management API, Azure Resource Graph, and Azure Monitor (CPU, RAM, disk I/O)
  • Microsoft 365 licenses & activity — via Microsoft Graph (license assignments, sign-in, and usage reports)
  • Advisor recommendations — via the Azure Advisor API

No mail content, no calendar data, no SharePoint or OneDrive files, no PII outside the documented scopes. Details: Permissions.

Who is the Platform designed for?​

Anyone responsible for cloud cost, license efficiency, or sustainability in a Microsoft environment. Typical roles:

  • FinOps practitioners
  • Procurement and vendor management
  • IT leadership (CIO, Head of IT, Cloud Lead)
  • Platform and system engineers
  • Finance and controlling teams
  • Sustainability and ESG officers

Data, Sync & Updates​

How often is data synced?​

Update frequencies differ by data type:

DataUpdate frequency
Azure cost & inventory (incl. VM metrics)Daily
Microsoft 365 licenses & activityDaily
Azure Advisor recommendationsWeekly

Where is my data stored?​

In Microsoft Azure, region Switzerland North — exclusively.

  • All customer data, including backups, stays within Switzerland
  • Support sessions access your data only from within Switzerland
  • Your data does not leave Switzerland

For details, see Security.

Security & Permissions​

Which permissions does Zation need?​

Principle of least privilege — we only require read permissions. No write access. No PII access outside the documented scopes. Full details in Permissions.

How is my data secured?​

Multiple layers:

  • Dedicated environment in a Swiss-resident Azure region (see above)
  • Tenant isolation — your data is logically isolated and access is scoped to your organization, enforced server-side
  • Sign in via Microsoft Entra ID — your existing identity provider applies, including MFA and Conditional Access policies
  • Managed secrets store — credentials never live in code or config
  • No personal data in logs, limited log retention, permanent audit trail for write operations

Full details: Security.

What happens if I revoke access permissions?​

If you remove the Zation app consent or the Azure role assignments, the Platform can no longer read fresh data from your environment. In practice:

  • Sync stops — no new cost, usage, or license data is ingested
  • Existing reports stay visible but reflect the state as of the last successful sync
  • Recommendations become stale and may no longer be accurate

Re-granting the permissions restores normal operation; no data is lost. Reach out to platform@zation.io if you need help.

Integrations & Procurement​

Can I use the Platform with an Enterprise Agreement (EA)?​

Yes. The Platform supports all common Azure procurement models:

  • Pay-as-you-Go — direct MCA with Microsoft
  • MCA-X — direct enterprise contract with Microsoft
  • EA (Enterprise Agreement) — via your LSP/reseller
  • CSP — via Zation as your CSP partner or another CSP partner

Cost data is read via the Azure Cost Management API in all cases. The UI automatically displays the discounts relevant to your contract type.

Does the Platform integrate with other tools or dashboards?​

The Platform is a standalone solution — all insights, recommendations, and exports live within the Platform UI. Customers can export selected views as CSV/Excel for use in downstream BI tools. Native integrations with ITSM and BI platforms are on the roadmap.

Access & Support​

How do I access the Platform?​

Sign in at platform.zation.io with your Microsoft work account. Authentication runs through Microsoft Entra ID — no separate Zation password to manage. Your tenant's MFA and Conditional Access policies apply automatically.

Is training or documentation available?​

Yes:

  • Public docs (this site) — onboarding, FAQ, security, module overviews
  • Platform docs — algorithms, advanced FinOps topics, API reference (visible to signed-in Platform customers)
  • Onboarding session — a guided walkthrough is included for every new customer
  • Dedicated FinOps Practitioner — Professional-tier customers get a named practitioner for in-depth technical, strategic, and organizational guidance

How do I get support?​

For any question about the Platform — onboarding, recommendations, or your cost data — email platform@zation.io. This is the central contact point for all Platform topics.

The Platform is offered in two service tiers:

  • Foundation — Reactive support. You reach out whenever you have a question or run into an issue, and we help you resolve it. A dependable point of contact for teams who manage their FinOps work independently.
  • Professional — Proactive, dedicated support. You are paired with a dedicated FinOps Practitioner who supports you not only technically, but also strategically and organizationally — helping you turn cost insights into concrete actions, plan optimization initiatives, and embed FinOps practices across your teams.

To help us resolve your request quickly, include:

  • Your organization or tenant name
  • A clear description of the question or issue
  • Relevant screenshots or figures (never share credentials or secrets)