Cutting Cloud Costs: How to Optimize Azure Firewall Logging Expenses

In cloud centric approach, managing costs while maintaining strong security is a delicate balancing act. For companies leveraging Azure Firewall to protect their cloud infrastructure, logging costs can quickly accumulate and become a significant portion of the overall cloud bill.

This article explores practical strategies to optimize Azure Firewall logging costs by utilizing Azure Monitor Basic Table Plan and implementing smart log filtering techniques. I’ll walk you through a real-world use case that demonstrates how you can maintain comprehensive security visibility while potentially reducing logging costs by up to 60–80%.

The Azure Firewall Logging Cost Challenge

If you’re managing Azure Firewall deployments, you’ve likely faced this :

Your security team requires comprehensive firewall logs for threat detection and compliance, but your finance department is raising concerns about the growing Azure Monitor costs. Each month, the logging expenses go higher , putting your cloud budget under pressure.

The root causes of these escalating costs include:

1. Volume-based pricing — Azure Monitor charges based on data ingestion volume
2. Redundant logging — Multiple log categories often capture overlapping information
3. Unnecessary retention — Storing all logs for extended periods regardless of their value