Background and summary
Q: Why is my Azure offer transitioning to Azure plan?
Telstra, like other global providers of Microsoft services, is transitioning Azure customers from Microsoft’s original ‘Azure offer’ to the new ‘Azure plan’. This change is designed to streamline the administration of your Microsoft services and provide access to a powerful new cost management tool - Azure Cost Management.
Q: What is the Azure plan?
The Azure plan is a container for all your existing and future Azure subscriptions and resources. Once the transition is complete, you’ll have a single Azure plan with any number of Azure subscriptions contained under the plan.
Q: When will the changeover to Azure plan occur?
Your transition to Azure plan will occur sometime during the period from July to December 2021. Your Azure services won’t be interrupted. We’ll let know when your transition is scheduled and provide further details, closer to the time.
Q: What is Azure Cost Management and how do I access it?
Azure Cost Management is a powerful tool providing extensive reporting on your Azure usage. Following your transition to Azure plan you’ll be able to access the tool free of charge via the Azure Portal, with add-ons available at additional cost.
Azure Cost Management can help you:
- Minimise cost, while increasing availability and security
- Optimise and ‘right-size’ your Azure environment
- Improve organisational accountability
- Manage your Azure cloud spend and minimise any potential Azure ‘bill shock’.
Please note Azure Cost Management is suitable for cost estimation only, as actual charges may vary.
You can find Azure Cost Management on the ‘Cost Management’ tab of your Azure portal.
Q: How will my Telstra Partner be involved?
We’re working closely with our Partners to ensure they are aware of the changes to your service. If you’re currently supported by a Telstra Partner, they’ll receive the same communications and may be able to provide additional assistance to you during the process.
Q: Will my current Azure environment be impacted?
No, there will be no operational impact to your Azure resources or resource groups, and you’ll continue to manage your Azure services via the Azure Portal. The only change is that your existing Azure subscriptions will be moved under your new Azure plan with Telstra.
Q: Will there be any service outages during the transition?
No, there are no planned Azure service outages as part of this transition. Moving from your original Azure offer to the new Azure plan is a quick and simple experience. We’ll email you before the transition and when it has been completed.
Q: Can I run both original Azure offer and new Azure plan simultaneously?
No. Your existing Azure offer will be entirely replaced by the new Azure plan, and when it occurs the changeover will be immediate.
Q: Can I choose to stay with my existing Azure offer?
No, all Azure customers will be required to make this change. Microsoft’s transition to the Azure plan is occurring globally across the entire customer base, and the original Azure offer will be discontinued. Once you’ve transitioned to Azure plan, it’s not possible to revert to your original Azure offer.
Q: Where can I ask questions, or get Telstra support with the transition?
If you still have questions about your transition to Azure plan contact your Telstra representative or use our contact form.
Q: Where can I get technical support for Azure from Telstra?
Call our 24/7 Cloud Services Help Desk on 1800 620 345. Non-urgent issues can be emailed to CloudServicesSupport@team.telstra.com.
Changes resulting from transitioning to Azure plan
Q: What changes will I see under the Azure plan?
The changes relate primarily to the administration of your service – Azure resources will continue to operate as normal. The key changes are:
- All your Microsoft Azure subscriptions will appear under a single, new Azure plan.
- You’ll have access to Azure Cost Management, a powerful new Microsoft tool providing insights to help you optimise your Azure resource usage and spend.
- You'll have visibility of Microsoft's new rate card in US dollars for Azure resources. But your pricing will continue to be determined by Telstra's rate card in Australian dollars and you'll be billed by us in Australian dollars.
- Your Azure consumption will be calculated on a calendar-month basis, in arrears. Your Telstra billing cycle will not change.
- Telstra bills will conveniently summarise all Azure charges at the Azure plan level, rather than by individual subscription.
Q: What is the source of Azure plan pricing?
Microsoft will publish a new rate card in US dollars as Azure Plan replaces all pricing information relating to the Azure offer. Telstra will continue to publish the equivalent rates in Australian dollars. Telstra’s Australian dollars pricing is subject to monthly update, taking into account a number of factors including the published Foreign Exchange (FX) rates from Microsoft for that month.
Q: How can I view my Azure plan rates in Australian dollars?
We’ll direct you to their new rate card if you wish to view Microsoft's US dollar prices, but Telstra’s Australian dollar rates continue to apply to your Azure service.
Please find our pricing guide for Azure services here.
Q: What usage period will be used for Azure plan charges?
Your Azure plan usage charges will be calculated during the calendar month, in arrears. This replaces the former usage period, which was from the 14th day of the previous month, to the 13th day of the current month. Your Telstra billing cycle will not change, so you’ll continue to receive your bill around the same date each month.
If you have further questions about billing please contact us via phone: 1800 620 345, or email: CloudServicesSupport@team.telstra.com.
Q: Will there be any differences to my fees during transition?
In the first or second month after the transition, you may see a partial usage period brought forward on that bill, creating a total of one-and-a-half usage periods. This is not a duplication or error, and will only happen once after the transition of your service.
Q: Will my existing Reserve Instance or Server Subscription charges be impacted?
For customers with Azure Reserve Instances or Server Subscriptions with the monthly billing option, monthly charges in Australian dollars will be based on the new pricing guide found here.
Q: How will my Azure plan charges appear on my Telstra bill?
You will see a change to the way your Azure charges appear on your Telstra bill. After moving to Azure plan, your Telstra bill will display a single plan charge, which includes all your Azure subscriptions with Telstra. You’ll no longer see a separate charge per subscription.
Q: Where can I see Azure usage details?
The new Azure Cost Management tool will enable you to view Azure usage data and estimate future charges based on Azure PAYG rates, however Azure Cost Management will not contain records of your Azure charges from Telstra, or Telstra bills. Historical Telstra billing details are available via Telstra Cloud Sight.
Q: What is Telstra Cloud Sight?
Telstra Cloud Sight is our online platform allowing you to add governance and risk management capabilities, helping you to gain visibility and control of cloud costs and compliance. Once transitioned to Azure plan, any new Azure subscriptions must be bought and managed through Telstra Cloud Sight.
Read our Cloud Sight FAQ here.