onboarding using azure cli.md
Onboarding using Azure CLI
Manual CLI Setup
Some enterprise Azure tenants enforce security policies that block Global Admin consent for OAuth-based third-party application provisioning. This page covers the CLI/RBAC onboarding path — Archera's alternative for restricted tenants.
Instead of the standard OAuth authorization screen, a privileged admin in your organization downloads a pre-generated bash script from the Archera platform and runs it in Azure Cloud Shell or a local terminal. The script applies the required RBAC role assignments directly — no user-impersonation consent required.
Note: This path must be enabled for your organization by Archera support before you begin. If you haven't already confirmed this with your Archera contact, email support@archera.ai.
Prerequisites
- An eligible Azure billing account type (Microsoft Customer Agreement, Microsoft Partner Agreement, or Enterprise Agreement). See Supported Account / Subscription Types.
- The person running the script must have Owner or User Access Administrator on the target subscriptions.
- Access management for Azure resources enabled in Microsoft Entra ID — required to create custom roles at tenant scope. See the Prerequisite Checklist.
- Access to Azure Cloud Shell or a local terminal with the Azure CLI installed.
Choosing Your Environment
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Azure Cloud Shell (recommended)" %}
Cloud Shell runs in your browser inside the Azure Portal and is pre-authenticated — no az login required.
- Open the Azure Portal
- Click the Cloud Shell icon (
>_) in the top navigation bar - Select Bash when prompted
- Proceed to Download and Run the Script {% endtab %}
{% tab title="Local Azure CLI" %} If running locally:
- Install the Azure CLI
- Sign in to the correct tenant:
az login --tenant <your-tenant-id> - Proceed to Download and Run the Script {% endtab %} {% endtabs %}
Download and Run the Script
Step 1 — Select the CLI/RBAC path in the onboarding wizard
When you reach the authorization step in the Archera onboarding flow, you will see two options:
- Standard OAuth — for tenants without Global Admin consent restrictions
- CLI/RBAC script — for restricted tenants
Select CLI/RBAC script.
Step 2 — Download the generated script
Archera generates a bash script pre-populated with your organization's tenant ID, subscription IDs, and Archera's service principal. Download it from the onboarding screen.
Step 3 — Run the script
The platform provides run instructions for both environments:
Azure Cloud Shell (recommended)
- Launch Cloud Shell in Bash mode
- Upload the script via Manage files → Upload
- Run:
bash archera-azure-onboarding.sh
Local terminal
- Ensure the Azure CLI is installed:
az --version - Log in to the correct tenant:
az login --tenant <your-tenant-id> - Run:
bash <your-downloaded-script-name>.sh
The script will:
- Validate your Azure session and target subscriptions
- Register the required resource providers
- Create the Archera custom RBAC role at tenant scope
- Assign the required built-in roles to Archera's service principal
- Create the resource group and storage account for cost exports
- Print a completion summary
You will be asked to confirm before any resources are created.
Step 4 — Verify completion
Once the script finishes, return to the Archera platform. The onboarding wizard detects that the required permissions have been applied and advances automatically.
Expected state after a successful run:
- No outstanding permission errors in the wizard
- Green confirmation state on the authorization step
If the wizard does not advance, refresh the page and allow 2–3 minutes for Azure RBAC propagation before retrying.
Role Summary
The script assigns the following permissions to Archera's service principal:
| Role | Scope | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Archera Custom Role (read) | Each selected subscription | Billing, cost management, resource reads |
| Reader and Data Access | Storage account | SAS token generation for cost export reads |
| Storage Blob Data Reader | Storage account | Direct blob read access |
| User Access Administrator | Storage account | Grant write access to Cost Management export managed identity |
| Reservation Reader | /providers/Microsoft.Capacity |
Read existing Reserved Instances |
| Reservation Purchaser | /providers/Microsoft.Capacity + management subscription |
Purchase Reserved Instances |
| Savings Plan Reader | /providers/Microsoft.BillingBenefits |
Read existing Savings Plans |
| Savings Plan Purchaser | /providers/Microsoft.BillingBenefits + management subscription |
Purchase Savings Plans |
| Advisor Recommendations Contributor | /providers/Microsoft.Advisor |
Read Advisor recommendations |
Troubleshooting
Script exits with a permissions error
The user running the script lacks sufficient rights to assign RBAC roles. Confirm the running account has Owner or User Access Administrator on the target subscriptions and that Access management for Azure resources is enabled in Microsoft Entra ID.
Wizard does not advance after the script completes
Allow 2–3 minutes for Azure RBAC propagation and refresh. If the issue persists, confirm the script ran against the correct subscriptions — a mismatch between the subscriptions Archera expects and what the script targeted is the most common cause.
CLI/RBAC option not visible in the onboarding wizard
This path requires a feature flag enabled by Archera on your account — it is not self-service. Contact your Archera representative or email support@archera.ai to request it before attempting onboarding.