This setup path is intentionally small. The goal is not to configure every provider on day one; it is to connect one account, test the route, run a scan, and export a result.

This guide is task-only. No theory, no extra setup paths. Start from Step 0 and stop at Step 7.

Use this as the fastest path to a real setup session. It also gives your team a practical baseline when comparing cloud governance tools and FinOps tools.

Most teams do not need more features on day one. They need one setup path they can finish without second-guessing every screen.

Cloud Waste Scanner dashboard after initial setup.
Target state: dashboard visible, account connected, and first scan ready.

Step 0: Prepare inputs (2 minutes)

  1. One cloud account credential set (read-only preferred for first run).
  2. Proxy endpoint (only if your network requires it).
  3. One notification destination your team already uses.

Step 1: Add and validate your first cloud account (5 minutes)

  1. Open Settings → Cloud Accounts.
  2. Click Add Account.
  3. Fill provider, account name, region/profile, and credentials.
  4. Save the account, then click Test Connection inside account details.
Edit Account panel showing credentials and the Test Connection action.
Complete one account end-to-end first, including the connection test.

Step 2: Configure proxy policy when required (3 minutes)

  1. Open Settings → Proxies.
  2. Set default proxy mode, or add a named proxy profile.
  3. Run Test Proxy and continue only after it passes.
Proxy policies page with default mode and named proxy profiles.
Lock proxy settings before the first production scan in restricted networks.

Step 3: Create one notification channel and send a test (3 minutes)

  1. Open Settings → Notifications.
  2. Create one channel your team already uses.
  3. Click Send Test Notification, then save after successful test.
Notification channel form with trigger policy and test notification result.
Keep one working channel first; add more channels after the baseline setup is done.

Step 4: Confirm account list and run first scan (5-10 minutes)

  1. Open scan wizard and select 1-2 accounts for the first run.
  2. Start scan from the main screen.
  3. Wait for the Scan Result page and verify findings are populated.
Scan wizard target step with account selection before launching scan.
Keep scope small on the first run so results arrive quickly and are easy to review.

Step 5: Handle findings with two actions (5 minutes)

  1. Select high-impact findings first.
  2. Use Generate Plan for items that should move into review or controlled execution.
  3. Use Ignore for items already processed outside the app or intentionally left out of scope.

Keep the first session simple. The point is to prove that findings can move from discovery into a team workflow without confusing extra states.

Step 6: Export evidence (2 minutes)

  1. Export PDF for management review.
  2. Export CSV for engineering follow-up.
  3. Store both files with scan date in the filename.

If the report will be discussed in a meeting, enable checklist columns in the PDF export so owners can record decisions in the same document.

Export workflow for report output after scan.
Export right after the first scan while context is still fresh.

Step 7: Final check (1 minute)

  • At least one account tested successfully.
  • Proxy applied and re-verified (if required).
  • First scan completed with findings shown.
  • At least three findings reviewed, ignored, or moved into plan generation.
  • PDF or CSV exported.
Final checklist concept image to close the setup flow.
Use this final checklist before rolling the same setup to more accounts.

Next in the series

Part 8 focuses on multi-account naming, routing, and scan-result handling so larger environments stay organized.

Browse all posts: Cloud Waste Scanner Blog. Read this series: Product Guide Series.

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Finish the setup with one exported report you can hand to another teammate.