Demo Stopping VM Instance to save Credits

In this tutorial you'll learn how to:

• Check your Azure free trial credits
• Stop your virtual machine (VM) when it’s idle
• Start the VM again when you need it
• Review detailed cost analysis to monitor your spending

Since running a VM continuously consumes credits, stopping it when idle helps you extend your free trial.

1. Checking Your Remaining Credits

1. Sign in to the Azure portal: https://portal.azure.com
2. Click the Notifications (bell) icon in the top-right corner.
3. View the remaining credits for your free trial under Notifications.

2. Stopping the VM

1. In the left-hand menu, select Virtual machines.
2. Find your VM (for example, devsecops-cloud).
3. Click Stop at the top of the VM overview.
4. Confirm the shutdown when prompted.

As the VM deallocates, you’ll see a notification with its status and updated subscription credit:

3. Starting the VM Again

When you’re ready to resume work:

1. Navigate back to Virtual machines.
2. Select your VM.
3. Click Start at the top of the overview page.
4. Wait a few moments for the VM to power on.

You’ll receive a notification once the VM has started successfully.

4. Viewing Detailed Cost Analysis

To break down your spending by resource and service:

1. In the Azure portal, select Resource groups in the left menu.
2. Click on your resource group (e.g., DevSecOps).
3. Under Cost Management + Billing, choose Cost analysis.
4. Select the desired time range (for example, This month) to view charts and tables.

By stopping your VM when it’s idle and using Cost analysis regularly, you’ll maximize your Azure free trial credits and avoid unexpected charges.

Links and References

• Azure Portal
• Azure Cost Management + Billing
• Understand Azure VM billing rates