SaaS portal for managing Azure subscriptions

Solution

Itransition delivered a comprehensive SaaS web portal translating complex data from users’ Azure subscriptions into an easily decipherable dashboard: 

Backend

To ensure the system monitors the usage of Azure virtual machines and molds the aggregated data into useful information, Itransition team implemented the following Windows Service Applications running in their own Windows sessions:

1. Application 1: user data extraction, transformation and storing. Based on the pre-defined schedule, the service mines the billing and usage data from personal or enterprise Azure accounts, then proceeding to systemization and expenditure calculation. The service does not interfere with the user working on the same computer and can be automatically started either every night, or upon the registration of a new account, or on the request.
2. Application 2: user notification. This app is responsible for pushing notifications in case the Azure services get overused. End users are enabled to define notification delivery settings, including specific thresholds and in case the trigger is activated (e.g. 20% expenditure increase as compared with the former period or the weekly peak usage has been exceeded), the system pushes email notifications

Frontend

The client part of the solution is developed in the form of personal user space, where the logged in users access immense interactive dashboard capabilities:

Enterprise Azure subscriptions management

For geographically dispersed and/or structurally intricate companies there is an option of assigning the Azure resources to logical entities: affiliate companies, departments, projects. Categorization of this kind empowers managers not only manage all the company subscriptions using one interface, but also control where money is being spent across projects and departments.

Report generation by type of service or instance

The solution provides advanced visualization functionality for end users to generate attractive graphic reports on the cost, trends and charts for usage during the definite period, both for the entire company and specific logical entities. Additionally, the system supports exporting reports in PDF.

Configuration of notification triggers, mail distribution and access rights

Addressing the needs of heterogeneous users, our team implemented flexible configuration features. At a click of a mouse, users can define notification triggers and schedule automated reports mailing. Besides, for enterprise accounts the portal provides for comprehensive distribution of role-base privileges across subscriptions.

In order to enter personal spaces, users are free to choose one of the following authentication techniques:

• Single sign on implemented with Active Directory Federation Services for members of Azure Enterprise Agreement (EA);
• Microsoft Live ID;
• User-defined password.

Comprehensive Access Distribution

For the sake of clean responsibilities segregation, the portal distributes access privileges across the following types of users:

User	view statistics on Azure services usage
Account Admin	view statistics, adds/deletes users, departments and projects associates with the account
Company Owner	views company statistics, manages company users, sets up alerts/p>
EA Owner	views company statistics, manages company users, and configures enrollment in EA
Sales	gets access to any of the corporate accounts and views company statistics
Super Admin	configures system settings

Favorable Public Feedback

In less than a year, Itransition delivered a fully-fledged solution that grants unprecedented reporting functionality to Azure subscribers, be they individuals or Azure Enterprise Agreement members. Providing a simple solution to the complicated problem of the Azure billing financial analysis, the application is gaining steam, facing 1000 users increase every month. The Customer was pleased to obtain a powerful application answering the market demands and drawing positive response from the target group.