Explore Microsoft’s FOCUS dataset, designed to clarify cloud cost management by detailing pricing, quantities, and units. Understand how PricingQuantity, ConsumedQuantity, and CommitmentDiscountQuantity work together to provide transparent, normalized billing insights for better FinOps decisions. Unique :
Deep Dive into Microsoft FOCUS Dataset: Prices and Quantities Explained
If you’re into cloud cost management and FinOps, Microsoft’s FOCUS dataset just got a lot clearer. This blog post unpacks how FOCUS handles prices and quantities, making cost insights sharper than ever.
What’s New in FOCUS Pricing and Quantities?
FOCUS separates how much you used from how much you paid, using distinct quantity columns. The key players here are PricingQuantity and ConsumedQuantity. PricingQuantity reflects the provider’s billing blocks, while ConsumedQuantity shows your actual usage.
“PricingQuantity represents the amount of units that were used or purchased based on how the provider sizes and groups the units for that SKU.”
For example, if a cloud provider bills VM usage in 100-hour blocks but you use only 24 hours, your PricingQuantity is 0.24 blocks, while your ConsumedQuantity is 24 hours.
Understanding Units and Normalization
Each quantity comes with a matching unit column, such as Tokens, GB, or Hours. These units clarify what those numbers really mean in real-world terms.
One exciting upcoming feature is the CommitmentDiscountQuantity, which accounts for instance size flexibility — a normalization ratio that adjusts usage based on SKU specs.
“CommitmentDiscountQuantity represents the amount of units used or purchased after applying the sizing factor or normalization ratio for the SKU.”
Imagine you have a commitment for a 2-core VM but use an 8-core one instead. The normalization ratio adjusts how your usage counts toward your commitment.
How Pricing Blocks and Units Work Together
FOCUS smartly breaks down complex unit descriptions. For example, “100 Hours” is parsed into a block size of 100 and a unit of Hours. This makes calculations easier.
Here’s the magic formula:
- PricingQuantity × BlockSize = ConsumedQuantity
- ConsumedQuantity ÷ BlockSize = PricingQuantity
This clarity helps you validate and analyze cloud costs without guesswork.
Price Columns You Should Know
FOCUS 0 includes:
- ListUnitPrice: Retail price per pricing unit block, no discounts applied.
- ContractedUnitPrice: Price after negotiated discounts, but before commitment discounts.
- x_BilledUnitPrice: The actual price you were billed on your invoice.
These prices all relate back to the PricingUnit and block size, so you can track exactly how your cloud spend breaks down.
Why This Matters for FinOps Pros
FOCUS gives you a transparent, granular view of cloud usage and pricing. It’s designed to simplify complex billing data and help you optimize spend. As Microsoft rolls out future updates like CommitmentDiscountQuantity, expect even more precision in cost management.
In short, if you’re serious about understanding cloud costs, mastering FOCUS’s pricing and quantity columns is a must.
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