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Multi-Cloud Stopped VM Detective - Detect Idle Resources Across AWS, Azure, GCP & OCI

Comprehensive PowerShell and Python scripts to detect stopped VMs across all major cloud providers. Identify zombie storage costs and optimize cloud spending with automated reporting.

⏱️ Prep Time:Hard-boiled eggs done
🧩 Difficulty:Beginner

🔍 What It Does

  • 🧟‍♂️ Hunts down idle VMs that are deallocated or stopped—but still haunting your Azure bill
  • 💾 Calculates disk usage for OS + data disks, even when the VM is “resting in pieces”
  • 📊 Exports a CSV + a CloudCostChefs-styled HTML report (with optional auto-open)
  • 🔎 Pulls state-change history from Activity Logs to track VM aging with precision
  • 📈 Helps FinOps teams surface hidden costs and optimize storage spend like a pro sous-chef

⚙️ Requirements Checklist

  • ✅ PowerShell 5.1+ (or Core 7+) with internet access
  • ✅ Azure login via Connect-AzAccount (MSAL-friendly)
  • ✅ Az.ResourceGraph and Az.Compute modules (auto-installed if missing)
  • ✅ Permissions to read VM and disk metadata across your Azure subs
  • ✅ 2–5 minutes of quiet time to slice, dice, and serve that report

📌 Talk Nerdy Tip:

Treat idle VMs like leftovers in the cloud fridge—if it hasn’t moved in 30 days, it’s time to clean it out or label it before it starts costing you more than lunch.🧊💸

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