# Spending Protection

Spending protection helps an account control Credit consumption and define what happens when a configured limit is reached.

## Availability

:::{note}
The settings available to an account depend on the current CloudSigma billing configuration.
:::

CloudSigma provides configuration steps only for controls that can be opened, saved, and verified in Billing Center. If a setting is unavailable, no action is required on that page.


## Available controls

Depending on the account, Billing Center can provide one or more of these controls:

| Control | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| Monthly spending limit | Limits Credit consumption during a billing period |
| Consumption-rate control | Restricts how quickly Credit can be consumed |
| Insufficient-balance handling | Defines how services behave when Credit is insufficient |
| Automatic top-up | Creates a top-up payment after a configured condition is met |

The presence and behavior of each control are determined by the current console and account contract.


## Before enabling protection

Review the following information:

- the Credit threshold or spending limit;
- the services covered by the rule;
- what happens to running workloads when the limit is reached;
- whether storage or network usage can continue to generate costs;
- the notification recipients and channels;
- how the setting can be disabled or changed.

Pausing compute does not necessarily stop storage or network charges. Use [Usage Details](https://omnifabric.cloudsigma.com/docs/guides/billing/cost-and-usage.html.md) to confirm which resources continue to produce records.


## Automatic top-up

When **Automatic top-up** is available, confirm these values before enabling it:

| Setting | What to verify |
| --- | --- |
| Trigger condition | The balance or schedule that creates a top-up |
| Top-up amount | The payment amount and Credits received |
| Payment method | The payment channel used for each order |
| Limits | Per-order, daily, or monthly limits shown by the console |
| Order terms | Fees, refund conditions, and applicable validity rules |

Automatic top-up can create a financial transaction when its condition is met. Review the saved configuration and the resulting transaction records regularly.


## If the settings are unavailable

1. Review the balance and consumption trend under **Cost Overview**.
2. Use **Usage Details** to identify high-consumption products or resources.
3. Top up manually when additional Credit is required.
4. Contact the CloudSigma account administrator if spending controls are required.