Cloud optimization, in simple terms, is about getting the most out of your cloud-based services while keeping costs under control. It helps you maximize the value of your cloud investments to avoid overspending or underutilization.
Explore our top tips for optimizing your cloud environment below so you can improve performance and efficiency while saving money in the long run.
Right-sizing cloud resources
Many organizations tend to overprovision their cloud resources to avoid performance issues, but this often leads to wasted resources and increased expenses. Right-sizing your cloud resources, however, involves adjusting their size and capacity to more accurately meet your actual workload demands. This is a continuous process, as workloads and application demands can change over time, so it’s crucial to routinely review and adjust your resources accordingly. Tools such as Microsoft Cost Management and AWS Cost Explorer can offer insights into your cloud usage, helping you identify areas where resources may be over provisioned or underutilized.
By matching the size of your cloud environment to your workplace needs, you’ll be able to maintain consistent performance levels and avoid potential downtime or slowdowns. At the same time, you’ll also optimize operations while remaining cost efficient.
Leveraging automation
Automation helps streamline the process of managing cloud resources, reducing the risk of errors and improving overall efficiency. Infrastructure-as-code tools such as Azure Resource Manager and CloudFormation are commonly used to automate resource provisioning on the cloud, helping reduce manual effort and ensuring resources are deployed quickly and consistently.
Such tools can also be used to optimize resource usage and costs by automatically scaling resources based on demand. They can instantly deploy or terminate resources in response to changes in workload. For example, organizations can automate the provisioning and deprovisioning of development environments to save costs when resources are not in use. By shutting down idle resources during off-peak hours, your business can reap significant cost savings without sacrificing performance.
Optimizing costs with reserved and spot instances
Reserved instances involve committing to a specific amount of cloud resources for a set period (typically 1–3 years) in exchange for significant discounts compared to pay-as-you-go pricing. These instances are ideal for steady-state workloads with predictable resource requirements. Alternatively, spot instances allow users to access unused cloud capacity at critically reduced prices. These are suitable for noncritical workloads and short, batched jobs that can tolerate interruptions.
Choosing the optimal mix of reserved and spot instances will require careful planning and consideration of your workload needs and resource usage patterns. Analyze both to make appropriate decisions about which workloads are suited for each pricing model. Note that while reserved instances provide budget predictability and long-term cost savings for stable workloads, spot instances offer flexibility and immediate cost savings for transient workloads.
Continuous monitoring and anomaly detection
Monitoring involves tracking the usage of one’s cloud environment such as computing, storage, and networks to maintain efficiency and identify any irregularities or anomalies. These could include sudden spikes in resource usage or unexplained increases in costs. Through continuous assessment of your cloud activity, you can detect potential issues before they escalate and take the proactive steps to address them. This also helps you avoid performance issues, minimize wasteful spending, and ensure the overall smooth operation of your cloud environment.
To save time and free up manpower for higher-level projects, consider outsourcing these tasks to a managed services provider (MSP). These third-party companies can offer their expertise on optimizing cloud environments, taking care of routine activities such as continuous monitoring, database management, and security maintenance. Plus, they may even be able to guide you through the latest cloud technologies worth investing in, as well as the best strategies for staying cost efficient.
Looking to enhance your cloud operations? Our experts at Kortek Solutions can take you through our comprehensive suite of IT solutions ranging from the latest security tools to guidance on advanced software investments. Optimize your workflows today — get in touch for a consultation.