Cloud cost optimisation is the process of refining and reducing cloud expenses by ensuring efficient resource utilisation, selecting appropriate vendors and pricing models, and continuously monitoring and adjusting cloud configurations to minimise costs without compromising performance.
Cloud computing promises businesses the ability to scale their infrastructure seamlessly, aligning with fluctuating demands. Organisations can tweak both their infrastructural capacity and associated costs in real-time, ensuring they only pay for what they use. This adaptive scaling has revolutionised how businesses approach IT infrastructure, fuelling unprecedented growth and innovation. Yet, for all the promise of cloud computing, cost-related challenges persist. Simply put, some companies find their cloud bills significantly higher than anticipated.
Instances of cloud overspending have become commonplace. Simple missteps in cloud strategy, from choosing the wrong pricing model to underestimating resource needs, can spiral into substantial financial drains. It has become clear that while the cloud offers dynamic scalability, it requires an equally dynamic approach to financial oversight. Cloud cost optimisation may be the solution.
Cloud cost optimisation is a more proactive approach to managing cloud expenses. Going beyond simply reducing costs across the board, this methodology is designed to ensure that every dollar spent on the cloud brings the best possible value to the business. Doing so involves a combination of tools, best practices and strategies designed to ensure efficient resource utilisation, monitor cloud configurations for potential wastage, and help organisations select the most cost-effective pricing models. In essence, cloud cost optimisation aligns spending with actual needs, ensuring that businesses can harness the full potential of the cloud—without breaking the bank.
As complex as business can become, the basic path to success remains the same: Maximise capabilities while minimising spend. Cloud cost optimisation applies this mandate to the cloud. While many cloud vendors promise cost-effectiveness, without a strategic approach, the expenses associated with the cloud can sometimes outpace the benefits. As such, the opportunity to develop a more comprehensive picture of cloud spending allows for some significant advantages.
The possible benefits of cloud cost optimisation include:
- Maximising ROI
Cost optimisation ensures that businesses derive the maximum value for every dollar spent on cloud services. By selecting the right pricing models and avoiding overprovisioning, companies can significantly increase the return on investment (ROI) of their cloud solutions. - Enhancing business agility
Cost optimisation goes hand in hand with resource optimisation. By ensuring resources are allocated efficiently, businesses can respond faster to market changes, rapidly launch new services to meet changing customer demands, and pivot strategies without being bogged down by unnecessary costs. - Improving budgeting
An optimised cloud cost strategy can lead to more predictable and stable monthly bills. Regular monitoring and management help in anticipating costs, making it easier for finance and IT teams to plan for their financial needs. - Reducing carbon footprints
Efficient use of cloud resources is not only good for the bottom line; it is also beneficial for the environment. Organisations committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) should consider cloud cost optimisation as a way of reducing their overall energy consumption. By using only what’s necessary, companies can create a smaller, less damaging carbon footprint. - Optimising governance and accountability
Cloud cost optimisation ensures increased visibility into how resources are used across different departments and projects. This transparency allows for better governance, while also promoting accountability and encouraging departments to be more conscious about their costs. - Gaining a competitive advantage
Organisations that optimise their cloud costs can reinvest those savings into innovation, digitalisation and growth initiatives. This not only streamlines operations but also provides a competitive edge in the market.
Cloud computing offers a range of services tailored to the diverse needs of different businesses. Cloud cost models define the pricing of these services, and tend to fall into one of three categories:
- Cost based
This model derives its pricing from the actual costs involved in providing the service (plus a markup) and is rooted in the expenses cloud providers incur to offer the service. Providers calculate the cost of hardware, software, maintenance, labour and other operational expenses, then add a profit margin. This cumulative amount is then divided to create a unit price for consumers. - Time based
In a time-based model, the pricing is determined by the duration for which a service or resource is utilised. Cloud services might be billed hourly, daily, monthly or annually. - Auction based
Here, cloud resources are offered to the highest bidder—much like an auction. This is a pricing model where the costs can fluctuate based on demand and supply. Providers offer unused or spare capacity at a discount. Users bid for this capacity, and those willing to pay the most get access to the resources.
These models are inherently dynamic, continually evolving based on the push and pull of the market. Understanding how each operates and how pricing is determined gives organisations an edge in selecting a cost-effective cloud solution.
Cost optimisation is not a new idea; companies have been tracking and optimising their expenditures for as long as the concept of ‘business’ has existed. Rightsizing costs to effectively address internal and customer needs helps organisations around the globe get more return for every dollar spent. Applying this approach to cloud spending is a natural evolution of the idea and is built on many of the same cost optimisation pillars.
The pillars of cloud cost optimisation are:
The phrase “one size fits all” does not apply in the cloud ecosystem. Every organisation’s cloud needs are distinct and ever-changing. Therefore, purchasing a basic cloud package may mean paying for a service that doesn’t meet the needs of the business.
Rightsizing is about ensuring that the cloud resources being provisioned are tailored to the actual needs of the business. This means neither overprovisioning (which leads to waste), nor underprovisioning (which can hamper performance). Regular assessments to match provisioned resources with actual requirements can result in substantial cost savings.
Cloud vendors typically offer an array of pricing models, each with its own set of advantages depending on workload characteristics. For instance, reserved instances can be cost-effective for predictable, steady-state workloads, while spot instances or pay-as-you-go models might better suit erratic or short-term workloads.
Cloud cost optimisation means understanding the nuances of each pricing model and choosing the one that aligns best with the nature and patterns of the workloads. Additionally, be aware that there are many cloud vendors to choose from; if one vendor does not offer a pricing model that addresses an organisation’s needs, they should continue shopping until they find a vendor that does.
In traditional, on-premises IT environments, costs and hardware are structured for maximum peak usage—no organisation wants to be left without the computing power to address a surge in demand, so they err on the side of caution by overestimating their computing needs. Cloud computing has no such limitations, offering unmatched flexibility and elasticity to meet precise needs of organisations as they are right now.
Cloud resources can be scaled up to accommodate high demand periods, and then scaled down or even turned off during lulls. This adaptability ensures that businesses only pay for what they use. By leveraging the inherent elasticity of cloud platforms, companies can align their costs more closely with their actual consumption patterns.
Storage is a major cost component in the cloud, and it is also an area rife with optimisation opportunities. Cloud providers usually present a spectrum of storage tiers, each tailored for different performance levels and costs.
Understanding the performance requirements of the data is key to finding a storage option that matches cost to need. For instance, frequently accessed data might warrant high-performance storage, while infrequently accessed or archival data can be relegated to cheaper, slower storage tiers. Strategic allocation of data across these tiers can drive significant cost reductions while still allowing businesses to store and retrieve their data in the cloud safely, securely and effectively.
The dynamic nature of the cloud necessitates the continual re-evaluation of any approach to cost management. Regularly measuring and monitoring cloud usage and expenditures makes it possible for organisations to quickly identify inefficiencies, waste or areas of improvement, and then adjust where needed. Leveraging cloud cost management tools can offer extremely granular insights into spending patterns, uncovering areas that may be standing in the way of the ROI.
Cloud cost optimisation is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Define important metrics, regularly measure and review the cost effectiveness of the cloud solution, and update the cloud solution when needed. This regular course correction helps ensure that the cloud remains a powerful and cost-effective option for driving business growth.
Cloud pricing can be complex, and so it only makes sense that there are many different strategies for minimising cloud costs while maximising returns. Here, we identify some core strategies businesses may employ within the process of cloud cost optimisation:
- Focusing on cloud-specific designs
Transitioning to cloud-native systems offers inherent cost-effectiveness. These systems take full advantage of unique cloud offerings, ensuring businesses only pay for resources that are actively in use. - Optimising operational practices
It’s important to consistently enhance the performance of established systems. This involves not just the removal of redundant resources but also ensuring that active ones are appropriately sized. Rightsizing is vital to prevent overprovisioning and underutilisation. - Reserving capacity
Although it may seem counterproductive to reserve capacity in a cloud environment designed for elasticity, by forecasting and reserving resources for basic utilisation needs, organisations may be able to take advantage of special discounts. Service providers often charge less for large-volume purchases or when capacity is purchased in advance. - Tracking spending
With the right tools in place, teams can independently monitor and manage their cloud expenses. A robust tagging system, for instance, allows for easy identification, tracking and management of resources, streamlining cost-related workflows. - Leveraging tools
Visual analytics tools can highlight spending trends over varying durations of time, offering valuable insights into expenditure patterns. Additionally, centralised metrics-driven monitoring tools ensure a perfect alignment between resource utilisation and capacity, creating a single source of truth while allowing for more efficient operations.
Approaching cost optimisation with a well-informed and structured methodology ensures that businesses derive the best value from their cloud investments. Unfortunately, not every approach to cloud cost optimisation is an effective one. Below are some of the best practices to consider when optimising cloud spend:
- Identifying mismanaged resources
A proactive approach to identify and rectify mismanaged resources ensures businesses are not paying for redundant, underutilised or unused resources. It is essential to continuously audit the cloud environment and correct any misconfigurations or inefficiencies, turning off no-longer-needed resources and removing their associated storage. - Closely monitoring billing anomalies
Because most cloud pricing structures are dynamic, organisations may see fluctuations in their regular charges—this is normal, but that does not mean it shouldn’t be investigated. Regularly scrutinising billing statements and resource usage metrics can highlight unexpected spikes or inconsistencies. - Integrating cost-management tools
Employ tools that offer an integrated cost management console. These platforms enable users to monitor resource usage actively, set realistic budgets and forecast future expenses, all while streamlining their overall cloud costs. - Implementing dynamic scaling
Dynamic scaling of resources, in line with actual usage patterns, ensures businesses pay only for what they use. Automating this process helps maximise cost efficiency and can create real-time alignment between need and expenses. - Considering reserved instances
As previously mentioned, some vendors may offer discounts for cloud resources purchased in advance. By allowing organisations to commit to longer-term usage and specific volumes, reserved instances make it possible for businesses to get more for less as compared to on-demand pricing models. - Transitioning to a microservices environment
A microservices architecture can enhance resource efficiency by allowing independent scaling and deployment of modular services. This flexibility has been shown to lead to significant cost savings. - Using heat maps
Heat maps provide visual insights into system operations, such as resource utilisation patterns. Understanding these patterns can guide organisations toward better allocation and scheduling of resources. - Weighing the benefits of multi vs. single cloud solutions
Vendor lock in is a very real threat in cloud computing, which is why some organisations prefer to employ multi-cloud solutions, increasing the uptime and availability of their cloud resources in the process. On the other hand, single-cloud options may offer volume discounts for those who use their services exclusively. - Utilising real-time analytics
When it comes to making important decisions in business, time is of the essence. Real-time analytics provide actionable insights instantly, enabling organisations to make swift cost-related decisions, adapt to changing needs and capitalise on immediate cost-saving opportunities in the cloud. - Employing third party tools
Specialised tools can offer granular insights, tailored recommendations and comprehensive overviews of cloud expenditures, further assisting in optimising costs.
With the expanding use of cloud services across all industries, organisations must ensure that they derive maximum value from their investments, avoiding wasted resources and unnecessary expenses. But achieving this level of optimisation isn’t just about understanding where to cut costs—it requires the right tools, resources and dedicated support. ServiceNow, the leader in IT management, offers a comprehensive set of solutions.
ServiceNow’s IT Operations Management (ITOM) and Cloud Cost Management are specifically designed to empower organisations in their cloud cost optimisation journey. With these tools, businesses can gain a clear perspective on their cloud expenditures, pinpoint inefficiencies and receive actionable insights on rightsizing their cloud resources—all from a single, centralised platform. Likewise, organisations can enhance their agility, improve operational efficiency and ensure they are always poised to seize new opportunities in the rapidly evolving cloud landscape.
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