Cloud cost and tips for saving costs in the Cloud
Cloud computing brings many benefits: Agility, Flexibility, ability to scale up/down and instant access to the computing resources you need. However, with this ever-changing landscape and a plethora of available bolt-ons, there are key areas we’d recommend keeping on top of and aspects to consider so to avoid unexpected charges and falling off our chair when the bill comes through. From a wider strategy view, it is becoming evident that organisations who have historically adopted a ‘Cloud first’ strategy have now unfortunately discovered that it may not have been the best route, and in turn been thwacked with more expense over anticipated outcomes. As a result, some are in the process of reviewing strategy and recovery tactics.
So how can you avoid the same shortcomings?
Align your Cloud strategy to business strategy and objectives by viewing on a case by case basis.
The questions to ask are will Cloud save time, budget, and provide stability of services your business requires? And do you have the resources and skillset within your teams to manage the solution?
The Cloud solution to these questions may not always be the most cost effective or business effective route; so, we must consider the ‘why’ and assess our options both from a business and budgetary view.
A Cloud Readiness Assessment is a great way to decipher this this, helping you identify and align the benefits of Cloud adoption alongside your strategic business requirements, allowing you to build a firm business case.
Engaging with you to run an evaluation of your current systems arrangement, from there it will help create a business-focused cloud strategy that includes a clear statement of objectives along with likely benefits and any potential risks.
So, you’re using one or more of the key Cloud providers. How can you avoid cost conundrums and manage Cloud cost effectively?
Here are a few tips from our side, drawing from our wealth of experience, along with some recommendations of tools to help you:
Unused Cloud resources – One of the main culprits for unexpected costs. Most providers charge on servers running rather than utilisation, so do ensure virtual servers that are no longer being utilised, e.g. ones that have been spun up for testing and evaluation are shut down when no longer required.
Over provisioned Cloud servers – By ensuring you select a server that is fit to task and has the correct CPU’s, you can avoid overpaying on resources. It may also be that a virtual server will do the job just as effectively as a more expensive physical server.
Storage tiers – Most providers offer a range of options in respect to storage. Features and pricing vary between the tiers on offer, and we recommended you consider the not only the size of data, but also how frequently it is accessed to select the most appropriate option to fit your requirements.
Virtual server vs Physical server – It is always worth considering whether you need to deploy the more expensive option of a physical server or if a virtual instance will suffice. If a virtual server will do the job, it comes with the benefits of a lower price bracket, the flexibility of instant deployment and the option to scale to suit your future requirements.
Align strategy to other teams – When we consider the wider business and get everyone working and consulting together, we can expect technical and financial equilibrium. Teams to align strategy with will include Finance, Product, security, tech partners, IT teams and developers.
Tried and tested tools to help you
Cloud Checkr - https://cloudcheckr.com/
Cloud health - https://www.cloudhealthtech.com/