# Manage Your Service
MariaDB Cloud's self-service management features enable authorized accounts to launch cloud databases, start and stop cloud databases, delete cloud databases, apply database configuration changes, and configure the cloud database's IP firewall.
Self-service [user management](/docs/mariadb-cloud/security/managing-portal-users.md) features enable you to define role-based access for your team to jointly manage MariaDB Cloud resources.
## Stop a Service
*Stop Service*
To stop a service:
1. Log in to the [Portal](https://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Click the `MANAGE` button (at right) for the desired service.
3. Choose the "Stop Service" menu item.
4. Click the "Yes, Stop this service" button to confirm this operation.
The service will be stopped. You will only be charged for storage on a stopped service.
[Notifications](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/notifications.md) will be generated when this operation is initiated and when the operation is performed.
## Start a Service
*Start Service*
To start a service:
1. Log in to the [Portal](https://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Click the "MANAGE" button (at right) for the desired service.
3. Choose the "Start Service" menu item.
4. Click the "Yes, Start this service" button to confirm this operation.
The service will be started. Service start may take up to 10-15 minutes. The normal billing cycle for the service will resume.
[Notifications](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/notifications.md) will be generated when this operation is initiated and when the operation is performed.
## Scale Nodes In/Out
*Service - Horizontal Scaling*
Horizontal scaling is performed by scaling nodes In (reducing node count) or Out (increasing node count).
To scale nodes horizontally:
1. Log in to the [Portal](https://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Identify the service you want to scale. Services must be in a "Healthy" state to scale.
3. Click the "MANAGE" button (at right) for the desired service.
4. Choose the "Scale nodes in/out" menu item.
5. Change the node count to the desired value.
6. Optionally, you can check the "Auto-scale nodes horizontally" checkbox to enable [Autonomous](https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-docs/blob/main/Autonomously%20scale%20Compute,%20Storage/README.md) features for this service.
7. Click the "Apply Changes" button.
The service immediately goes into scaling status.
[Notifications](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/notifications.md) will be generated when this operation is initiated and when the operation is performed.
## Scale Nodes Up/Down
*Service - Vertical Scaling*
Vertical scaling is performed by scaling nodes Up (increasing node size) or Down (decreasing node size).
To scale nodes vertically:
1. Log in to the [Portal](https://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Identify the service you want to scale. Services must be in a "Healthy" state to scale.
3. Click the "MANAGE" button (at right) for the desired service.
4. Choose the "Scale nodes up/down" menu item.
5. Change the node count to the desired value.
6. Optionally, you can check the "Auto-scale nodes vertically" checkbox to enable [Autonomous](https://github.com/mariadb-corporation/mariadb-docs/blob/main/Autonomously%20scale%20Compute,%20Storage/README.md) features for this service.
7. Click the "Apply Changes" button.
The service immediately goes into scaling status.
[Notifications](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/notifications.md) will be generated when this operation is initiated and when the operation is performed.
## Scale Storage
*Service - Scale Storage*
To expand block storage capacity:
1. Log in to the [Portal](ttps://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Identify the service you want to scale. Services must be in a "Healthy" state to scale.
3. Click the "MANAGE" button (at right) for the desired service.
4. Choose the "Scale storage" menu item.
5. Use the slider to select the desired amount of storage.
6. Click the "Apply Changes" button.
Storage scaling is subject to a 6-hour cooldown period.
Storage upgrades are not reversible.
## Delete a Service
*Service - Delete*
To delete a service:
1. Log in to the [Portal](ttps://app.skysql.com/dashboard).
2. Identify the service you want to delete.
3. Click the "MANAGE" button (at right) for that service.
4. Choose the "Delete Service" menu item.
5. Read the warning and follow the provided instructions to confirm your delete operation.
6. Click "Yes, delete".
Your service and all its data will be deleted. This operation is non-reversible.
[Notifications](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/notifications.md) will be generated when this operation is initiated and when the operation is performed.
## Other Self-Service Operations
* [Service Launch](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/launch-page.md)
* [Firewall Management](/docs/mariadb-cloud/security/configuring-firewall.md)
* [Configuration Management](/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-management/config.md)
* Private Connections:
* [AWS PrivateLink](/docs/mariadb-cloud/connecting-to-mariadb-cloud-dbs/using-aws-azure-gcp-private-vpc-connections/setting-up-aws-private-link.md)
* [GCP Private Service Connect](/docs/mariadb-cloud/connecting-to-mariadb-cloud-dbs/using-aws-azure-gcp-private-vpc-connections/setting-up-gcp-private-service-connect.md)
* [User Management](/docs/mariadb-cloud/security/managing-portal-users.md)
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/mariadb-cloud/cloud-usage/manage-your-service.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.