Optimize your cloud stack in 5 steps: A guide from a cloud architect
Welcome to the world of cloud optimization! As a cloud architect and finops practicioner, I want to share with you five of the basic and simple steps to help you maximize your cloud investment. By following these steps, you can not only optimize your cloud stack but also significantly reduce your cloud costs without sacrificing performance.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Turn off unused resources
Unused resources, such as idle instances or inactive services like NAT gateways, can silently rack up unnecessary costs. Conduct a regular audit of your cloud resources and shut down any you no longer need. Automated monitoring tools can also help you identify underutilized or idle resources.
Step 2: Use less and smaller resources
Are you running instances that are too large for your actual needs? If you find that you are using only a fraction of your current resources, consider downsizing to smaller instance types. Not only will this save you money, but it will also ensure that you pay only for what you actually use.
Step 3: Increase application throughput
Boosting your application’s throughput can significantly impact your cloud architecture and cost efficiency. If you can increase throughput on the same hardware, you can handle more workload on smaller instances, further reducing your overall resource footprint.
Step 4: Use different cloud services
Traditional cloud infrastructure can sometimes struggle with unpredictable workload peaks. By moving to a serverless design, you can provision resources dynamically to meet demand as it fluctuates, rather than provisioning for peak capacity. This flexibility allows you to pay for what you use and avoid over-provisioning.
Step 5: Buy commitments
For predictable workloads and stable business operations, consider purchasing reservations or savings plans. By committing to a set usage over time, you can benefit from significant cost savings compared to on-demand pricing. This strategy helps stabilize your cloud spending and improve budget predictability.
Conclusion
By implementing these basic five steps, you can streamline your cloud stack and cut unnecessary costs, all while enhancing the performance and efficiency of your applications.
Ready to start optimizing your cloud architecture?
It might require more than the five basic steps mentioned above though we can help you in any complex scenario.
Reach out to me for more information. Together, we can develop a cloud strategy that maximizes your investment and positions your business for success.
Stay ahead of the cloud curve and get in touch today!
