Getting Started with CloudCockpit: A Step-by-Step Guide

CloudCockpit is a user-friendly and powerful tool for managing Microsoft cloud services, including License-based services such as Office 365, Enterprise Mobility and Security E3, and Dynamics 365, as well as Usage-based services such as Microsoft Azure and Visual Studio, Microsoft Azure Reserved Instances, Software subscriptions, and Azure plan pricing. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the straightforward and efficient process of getting started with CloudCockpit and how it can benefit your business.

Step 1: Connect CloudCockpit to Your CSP Tenant

To begin using CloudCockpit, the first step is to connect it to your CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) tenant. You can start testing the usage of CloudCockpit by requesting the creation of an environment. The only requirement is to authorize access to CloudCockpit for the Microsoft Partner Center API.

Step 2: Automatically Import Information from the Microsoft Partner Center

Completed the initial configuration, CloudCockpit will automatically import all the information from the Microsoft Partner Center. This includes all customers and their respective subscriptions, making the information immediately available in CloudCockpit. No intervention is required from the CSP, making the process even more straightforward and efficient.

Step 3: Configure Discounts and Margins

With CloudCockpit connected to your CSP tenant and the information from Microsoft Partner Center automatically imported, you can proceed to configure discounts and/or margins. This can be done at the offer level, customer level, or even at the level of a specific subscription, simplifying the integrated management of your pricing and discount policies. Additionally, in this phase, the CloudCockpit team can assist you in the initial import of information based on your organization's existing business rules, ensuring a fast and agile process.

Step 4: Analyze Usage and Receive Alerts

Once you have configured discounts and margins for each of your resellers and/or customers, you can start analyzing usage and setting up alerts for Azure consumption levels. This will help you monitor and optimize your cloud consumption, and alerts can be sent via email to both customers and resellers. Consumption summaries are also available within CloudCockpit, making it easy to track and manage usage.

Step 5: Export Information for Billing

CloudCockpit simplifies the billing process by making it easy for CSPs to integrate billing information into their internal systems. This can be done through exporting to an Excel file similar to the one provided by Microsoft Partner Center, but with additional information about prices and discounts based on the available information in the platform. Alternatively, integration can be done directly through CloudCockpit's APIs.

In a nutshell, CloudCockpit provides a comprehensive and straightforward platform for managing your Microsoft Cloud offers. By following these five simple steps, you can get started with CloudCockpit and take advantage of its key features. From importing data to configuring pricing policies and analyzing consumption, CloudCockpit simplifies and streamlines the entire process of managing your cloud services.

So why not give it a try and see how it can benefit your business?