Aks Cost Optimization

From the author

Analyze advanced AKS cost efficiency. WHEN: "AKS NAP readiness", "AKS bin packing", "AKS node scaling bottleneck", "AKS blocked scale-down", "AKS storage cost". DO NOT USE AS DIRECT ENTRY FOR: overall AKS cost assessments or rightsizing/VPA/CAS/Spot (azure-kubernetes); spend/anomalies/commitments (cost-analysis/cost-optimization); incidents (aks-troubleshooting).

— the description by Microsoft

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured workflow for analyzing advanced cost efficiency in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) clusters. It focuses on technical placement and scheduling factors rather than high-level financial reporting. The skill guides users through evaluating Node Auto-Provisioning (NAP) readiness, bin-packing efficiency, node scaling bottlenecks, and storage costs. It is designed to be used for specific technical investigations, requiring the user to route broader cost or incident-related queries to their respective specialized skills.

What it does

Evaluates cluster bin-packing efficiency and identifies consolidation candidates.
Assesses readiness for adopting Node Auto-Provisioning (NAP).
Identifies root causes for node scaling bottlenecks and blocked scale-down events.
Analyzes storage cost and mapping configurations.
Provides evidence-based recommendations for pool adjustments or placement changes.
Requires explicit user approval before any cluster configuration changes.

When to use it

When investigating inefficient resource utilization or poor bin-packing in an AKS cluster.
When evaluating whether to migrate from fixed node pools or Cluster Autoscaler to NAP.
When troubleshooting persistent node scaling bottlenecks or blocked scale-down operations.
When analyzing storage-related costs within an AKS environment.

Advantages

Provides deep technical insights into scheduling and placement constraints.
Prevents conflicting recommendations by routing to specialized skills for financial or incident data.
Ensures safe operations by requiring manual approval for all proposed changes.
Uses standardized evidence collection for consistent analysis across clusters.

Usage examples

“Analyze why my AKS cluster is failing to scale down nodes.”: The agent will investigate blocked scale-down events, check for PDBs or disruption budgets, and identify if the nodes are managed by NAP or CAS to provide a resolution path.
“Is my cluster ready for Node Auto-Provisioning?”: The agent will perform an eligibility check, verify current networking and identity configurations, and report if NAP is a viable and cost-effective alternative for your workload.

Install

Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/aks-cost-optimization/download

Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip aks-cost-optimization.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Microsoft

When to Use This Skill

Use for advanced existing-cluster analysis requiring scheduling, placement, or verified storage mapping. Route overall AKS cost assessments to azure-kubernetes, spend/anomalies to cost-analysis, commitments to cost-optimization, and incidents to aks-troubleshooting when those skills are available. When called from an overall assessment, return findings for its ranked report.

MCP Tools

Prefer fitting Azure MCP reads. Never invent tools or use az/kubectl without approved shell access and a target-bound context.

Workflow/Steps

Bind the subscription, cluster, resource group, and kube context.
Route to NAP readiness, bin-packing, node-scaling bottlenecks, or storage optimization.
When invoked for AKS commitment context, use the commitment-demand handoff and return demand evidence without benefit analysis or a transaction.
Keep reads non-mutating; require approval for every change.

Error Handling

Missing capability: analyze supplied evidence or provide a collection plan; mark dependent cost or commitment results unavailable.
Evidence conflict: mark the conclusion unconfirmed.

Files

ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer989 B
LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.1 KiB
SKILL.md1.8 KiB
references/aks-bin-packing.md3.8 KiB
references/aks-nap.md3.2 KiB
references/aks-savings-plans-reservations.md3.5 KiB
references/aks-storage-optimization.md3.5 KiB
references/bin-packing-evidence.md3.8 KiB
references/nap-decisions.md3.3 KiB
references/nap-enablement-and-rollback.md1.8 KiB
references/nap-evidence-collection.md3.9 KiB
references/node-scaling-bottlenecks.md3.8 KiB
references/self-hosted-karpenter-migration.md2.1 KiB
references/storage-container-insights.md2.9 KiB
references/storage-decisions.md3.3 KiB
references/storage-metrics.md3.7 KiB

LICENSE

MIT License

Copyright 2025 (c) Microsoft Corporation.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Needs Node.js

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

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Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download aks-cost-optimization.zip