# FAQ | PointFive Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/faq Frequently asked questions about PointFive, cloud integrations, platform features, AI automation, pricing, and getting started. # Everything you need to know From connecting your first cloud account to scaling optimization across your organization, answers to the most common questions about PointFive. [Contact us](https://www.pointfive.co/contact) Search questions Still have questions? Talk to the team about your environment, security review, or rollout. [Contact us](https://www.pointfive.co/contact) ## General What PointFive is, how it works, and who it's for ### What is PointFive? PointFive makes enterprises more efficient across cloud, data, AI, and agents. PointFive has two complementary products: PointFive OS, the agentic FinOps platform for cloud, data, and AI, and TokenShift, the AI agent control plane for your employee workstations. PointFive OS detects deep waste across your cloud and AI infrastructure and supports approved automated remediation. We combine agentless integration, a proprietary DeepWaste detection engine with 500+ deep detections, and agentic remediation to deliver measurable savings across AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Snowflake, and Databricks. ### What is Cloud & AI Efficiency Management? Cloud & AI Efficiency Management is the discipline of measuring and improving the efficiency of your cloud and AI footprint. It continuously monitors infrastructure for inefficiencies in configuration, scaling, and architecture, and streamlines remediation. Inspired by the CSPM model for security, it brings the same continuous posture management approach to cloud and AI efficiency. ### How does PointFive support FinOps? FinOps brings engineering, finance, and business teams together to manage technology spending and its business value. PointFive supports this practice with infrastructure investigation, customer-defined automation, and safe remediation. ### What is agentic FinOps? Agentic FinOps means handing as much of the operational FinOps work as possible to AI agents, so practitioners can focus on strategy. Agents answer cost questions in plain language, proactively inform the right owners, fix waste after verifying it under the approval model each organization sets, and build applications instead of static dashboards. PointFive OS is an agentic FinOps platform: Chat answers questions, Coworkers run recurring work and remediation, and Apps are built on the same data. ### Is PointFive a cloud cost tool or an AI cost tool? Both, through two complementary products. PointFive OS, "The agentic FinOps platform for your cloud, data, and AI", finds and fixes waste in cloud, data, and AI infrastructure: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OCI, Kubernetes, Snowflake, Databricks, GPUs, and managed AI services. TokenShift, the AI agent control plane for your employee workstations, sees, controls and coaches how people work with the AI agents they run on their workstations, such as Claude Code, Codex and Cursor. Teams can use either product or both. ### Who is PointFive built for? PointFive is built for engineering leaders (VP Eng, Directors, CTOs), platform and SRE teams, and FinOps practitioners who want recommendations engineers will actually act on. It bridges the gap between financial objectives and engineering workflows, across cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, data platforms, and AI workloads. ### How does PointFive connect to my cloud environment? PointFive uses agentless integrations for discovery through standard cloud provider IAM roles (AWS), service principals (Azure), service accounts (GCP), or a read-only service user (OCI). For Kubernetes, discovery is completely agentless. Discovery uses read-only access. Automated remediation uses customer-authorized permissions, and each customer chooses how changes are approved: per change, once for a trusted playbook, or not at all. ### What cloud providers and services does PointFive support? PointFive supports AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Kubernetes (EKS, AKS, GKE), Snowflake, and Databricks, covering dozens of cloud and AI services with 500+ deep detections. We analyze compute, storage, databases, networking, serverless, AI/ML, data & analytics, observability, streaming, security, and containers. OCI coverage includes cost visibility, anomaly detection, optimization recommendations, and approved automated remediation using customer-authorized write access. ## Cloud Integrations Connecting AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Kubernetes, Snowflake, and Databricks ### How does PointFive connect to AWS? PointFive connects for discovery through a read-only IAM role using AWS CloudFormation or Terraform, with no agents to install. Discovery uses read-only access. Automated remediation uses customer-authorized permissions, and each customer chooses how changes are approved: per change, once for a trusted playbook, or not at all. After the role is connected, PointFive begins ingesting billing data (CUR or AWS Data Exports), resource configurations, and utilization metrics. Timing depends on your environment and data availability. ### How is PointFive different from AWS Cost Explorer? AWS Cost Explorer provides AWS cost and usage analysis, EC2 rightsizing recommendations, and commitment recommendations. PointFive OS combines infrastructure investigation across connected environments with customer-defined automation and approved remediation through Coworkers. ### How does PointFive connect to Azure? PointFive connects via a read-only service principal in your Microsoft Entra ID tenant. Setup requirements depend on your environment and access policies. We analyze your Azure billing exports, resource configurations, and utilization data across all supported services. ### How is PointFive different from Azure Advisor? Azure Advisor provides recommendations for Azure resources and Quick Fix remediation for specific recommendations. PointFive OS combines investigation across connected cloud and data environments with customer-defined automation and approved remediation through Coworkers. ### How does PointFive connect to GCP? PointFive connects through a read-only service account with billing export access. We analyze your BigQuery billing exports, resource configurations, and utilization metrics. The integration is agentless; setup depends on access configuration and the environment. ### How does PointFive monitor Kubernetes without agents? PointFive integrates with your Kubernetes control plane through read-only API access, no DaemonSets, sidecars, or agents deployed into your clusters. We analyze resource requests vs. actual utilization, identify oversized pods and idle workloads, and surface optimization opportunities across EKS, AKS, and GKE. ### What Snowflake costs does PointFive optimize? PointFive analyzes Snowflake warehouse utilization, query efficiency, storage costs, and auto-clustering spend. We detect idle warehouses, oversized clusters, excessive auto-clustering costs from high-churn tables, and snapshot storage waste, all without accessing your query text or data. ### What Databricks costs does PointFive optimize? PointFive monitors Databricks cluster utilization, job efficiency, and compute spend. We identify idle clusters, oversized instances, inefficient auto-scaling configurations, and opportunities to optimize job scheduling, without accessing your notebooks or data. ## Platform Features Opportunities, detections, anomaly detection, and remediation ### What kinds of waste does PointFive detect? PointFive's DeepWaste detection engine runs 500+ deep detections for cloud and AI waste across compute, storage, databases, networking, serverless, AI/ML, data & analytics, observability, streaming, security, and containers. Each detection is backed by usage patterns, configuration analysis, and validated remediation playbooks, not just billing thresholds. ### What are Opportunities in PointFive? Opportunities are prioritized, actionable savings recommendations surfaced by the DeepWaste engine. Each opportunity includes the resource affected, estimated savings, risk level, remediation steps, and can be assigned to a team member or pushed to Jira/ServiceNow. Opportunities are continuously updated as your environment changes. ### How does anomaly detection work? PointFive's anomaly detection uses machine learning to establish baseline spending patterns and alerts you when costs deviate significantly. Each anomaly includes the affected service, cost impact, and detailed analysis showing actual vs. expected spending, so you can investigate and resolve cost spikes before they compound. ### What is Agentic Remediation? Agentic Remediation is PointFive's AI-powered approach to fixing cloud and AI waste. Put AI agents to work across your connected environment. Give Coworkers context and tools to safely automate the work your team defines. With prompt remediation, engineers generate and review fixes in their chosen IDE, then execute them through their own environment and deployment workflow. Automatic remediation runs on PointFive infrastructure and executes changes using customer-authorized write permissions, under the approval model each customer sets. ### Can PointFive automatically fix cloud waste? Yes. PointFive OS supports two remediation paths. With prompt remediation, engineers generate and review fixes in their chosen IDE, then execute them through their own environment and deployment workflow. Automatic remediation runs on PointFive infrastructure and executes changes using customer-authorized write permissions, under the approval model each customer sets. Discovery uses read-only access. Automated remediation uses customer-authorized permissions, and each customer chooses how changes are approved: per change, once for a trusted playbook, or not at all. ### Does PointFive support commitment optimization? Yes. PointFive consolidates all your cloud commitments: Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, and committed use discounts, into a single view. We track effective savings rates, surface expiring commitments, and recommend optimal coverage strategies across your multi-cloud environment. ### What kind of savings can I expect? Savings depend on your environment, workload requirements, and the changes you implement. PointFive helps identify waste and prioritize remediation. Measure realized savings against actual usage and billing after changes, rather than treating identified opportunities as savings already achieved. ## AI & Automation Chat with Pointer, Coworkers, and MCP Server ### What is Pointer? Chat is the conversational module in PointFive OS. Pointer is the AI agent you work with in Chat. Ask natural language questions like 'Show me all idle EC2 instances in the payments team' or 'What's our optimization ROI this quarter?' Pointer accesses your full PointFive data, opportunities, resources, anomalies, billing, and commitments, and delivers persona-aware answers. Powered by Anthropic's Claude with full RBAC enforcement. ### What are Coworkers? Automate infrastructure work safely with Coworkers in PointFive OS, from investigation and reporting to remediation. Your organization defines the work and stays in control. Coworkers use the connected data and findings available through Brain, within the access rules your organization defines. ### What is the MCP Server? PointFive's MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server brings cost intelligence directly into AI clients like Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT, as well as any other MCP-compatible client. Engineers can query opportunities, analyze cost trends, and generate remediation code without leaving their development environment. It's the bridge between engineering workflows and cost optimization. ### What AI model powers Pointer? Pointer is powered by Anthropic's Claude, an enterprise-grade AI model. Your data is never used to train the model. All processing happens within PointFive infrastructure covered by its SOC 2 Type II report, with full RBAC enforcement. ### What is AI cost optimization? AI cost optimization is the practice of measuring, attributing, and reducing the cost of running AI workloads across the full stack: managed LLM APIs (Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform (formerly Vertex AI)), GPU infrastructure, inference endpoints, data-platform model serving, and coding agents on developer machines. It goes beyond traditional cloud cost management by addressing token-based billing, prompt and tool-call waste, and AI agents on employee workstations that cloud billing never sees. PointFive provides a unified platform that connects to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and OCI, automatically discovers AI services, and uses DeepWaste detection to identify optimization opportunities specific to each provider's AI pricing mechanics. ### What AI services does PointFive support? PointFive supports managed LLM services including Azure OpenAI in Microsoft Foundry (GPT-5 family models, including GPT-5.6 and GPT-5.5), Amazon Bedrock (Claude, Amazon Nova, Titan (legacy), Llama, Mistral), and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform (Gemini, custom models). It also covers GPU infrastructure (including NVIDIA H100, H200, and B300 instances) across AWS, Azure, and GCP, AI training pipelines, inference endpoints, data-platform AI (Databricks Model Serving, Snowflake Cortex AI), LLM gateways (LiteLLM, Langfuse), and the AI coding agents employees run on their workstations (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot CLI, OpenCode, and Devin) via TokenShift. ### What is TokenShift? TokenShift by PointFive is the AI agent control plane for your employee workstations. It lets AI and platform leaders see, control and coach how employees use AI agents, alongside their gateway. TokenShift runs natively on employee workstations and sees what AI agents do there. It coaches people in the moment, enforces policy and budgets where agents run, and works alongside your gateway. A gateway sees the request. TokenShift sees the session, the code and the tools behind it, and acts on the machine. Data is processed on the device. ### Can PointFive track Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot spend across teams? Yes, through TokenShift. It ties AI coding agent activity and spend to the person, team, repo, pull request and model across Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot CLI, OpenCode and Devin, and lets organizations set budgets that warn, block or need approval. GitHub Copilot in VS Code is not supported yet. Data is processed on the device. ### Can PointFive reduce LLM and OpenAI API costs? Yes. PointFive OS finds waste in managed LLM services such as Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, and in the GPUs and inference endpoints behind them. For the AI agents employees run on their workstations, TokenShift adds attribution and budget control and coaches people to work better with their agents. Smart Routing is a separate, opt-in module. When enabled, it can select a different model based on the task and your organization's policies. ## Data & Analytics Dashboards, reporting, and integrations ### What reporting and analytics does PointFive provide? PointFive includes Apps for building custom dashboards and reports, pre-built analytics modules for cost trends, team allocation, and optimization tracking, and scheduled reports delivered via email or Slack. You can slice data by team, service, account, region, or any custom dimension. ### Does PointFive integrate with engineering tools? Yes. PointFive integrates with Jira, ServiceNow, Slack, and Microsoft Teams for workflow management. Opportunities can be pushed directly into your ticketing system with full context, and Slack integration supports real-time alerts, Coworker reports, and team notifications. The PointFive MCP server brings cost intelligence into Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible tools, so engineers can investigate cost questions and act on optimization opportunities without leaving their workflow. ### Does PointFive have an API? Yes. PointFive offers a GraphQL API for programmatic access to your optimization data, opportunities, and analytics. This allows you to integrate PointFive insights into your own dashboards, automation pipelines, or internal tools. ## Teams & Collaboration Team management, roles, and workflow integrations ### How does team-based cost allocation work? PointFive automatically maps cloud spend and optimization opportunities to engineering teams using your existing infrastructure topology, tags, accounts, projects, namespaces. No manual spreadsheet work. Each team gets their own dashboard showing their cost footprint, spend trends, and actionable opportunities. ### What user roles does PointFive support? PointFive supports Admin, Member, and User roles with granular RBAC. Admins manage the platform and integrations. Members can create workflows, assign opportunities, and manage Coworkers. Users have access to their own team's data and can build personal dashboards. ### Does PointFive support SSO? Yes. PointFive supports SAML-based Single Sign-On (SSO) for enterprise customers, integrating with your existing identity provider (Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, etc.). ## Getting Started Onboarding, pricing, and support ### How long does onboarding take? Connection, data ingestion, and initial recommendations are separate onboarding milestones. Timing depends on your environment and data availability. Realized savings are measured after changes are implemented. ### What does PointFive cost? Contact us for a quote based on your environment and requirements. ### How are optimization opportunities evaluated? Review findings against your workload requirements and prioritize the changes your team can implement. Identified opportunities are potential savings; measure realized savings against actual usage and billing after remediation. ### What support does PointFive provide? Every PointFive customer gets a dedicated engineering partner for onboarding and ongoing optimization support. We also offer in-app support, a comprehensive help center, and a knowledge base with detailed detection documentation. --- Source: the public page above. Product screenshots and illustrative interfaces are examples, not live customer data.