From Spend to Strategy - Drive Cost Efficiency and Elevate Azure ROI

Learn how to maximize Azure return on investment through strategic cost optimization in this 42-minute conference talk from Microsoft Ignite 2025. Explore proven best practices for building long-term business value while aligning Azure investments with organizational goals. Discover the eight key design areas for environment and compliance, understand landing zone hierarchy and policy inheritance for effective cost control, and see how to leverage Azure Copilot for modernization with cost-aware objectives. Watch demonstrations of deploying applications to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), applying Azure Hybrid Benefit for additional savings, creating accurate cost estimates using cloud-native architecture templates, and implementing Copilot-assisted recommendations for automated cost optimization. Gain practical insights into transforming Azure spending from a cost center into a strategic advantage through architectural optimization, pricing strategies, and ROI analysis techniques presented by Microsoft experts Rob Kuehfus and Mrunal Patwa.

Syllabus

0:00 - Agenda overview: building business value, efficient architecture, and demos
00:02:24 - Building foundation for long-term business value and aligning investments
00:14:39 - Overview of eight design areas: environment and compliance aspects
00:16:01 - Explaining landing zone hierarchy and policy inheritance for cost control
00:25:15 - Prompting Copilot with modernization and cost-aware goals
00:26:48 - Implementing Copilot’s plan and deploying to AKS
00:33:30 - Applying Azure Hybrid Benefit for additional cost reductions
00:35:19 - Creating cost estimates using cloud-native app architecture templates
00:38:00 - Demonstration of Copilot-assisted cost-saving recommendations and automated optimization