Azure Virtual Machines – Consider Upgrading DS Series Machines to Dv5

Systematically upgrade Azure DS series virtual machines to Dv5 or Ddsv5 series to leverage newer processor technologies, improve performance, and reduce monthly infrastructure costs. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters The evolution of Azure virtual machine series presents critical opportunities for FinOps professionals to: Cost Reduction Potential Upgrading from DS series to Dv5 or Ddsv5…

Azure App Service – Consider Upgrading Isolated Service Plans to v2

App Service Isolated v2 plans offer significant performance improvements and cost optimization opportunities for organizations running Azure App Services. This policy provides guidance on evaluating and migrating to the more cost-effective Isolated v2 service plans. Why This Policy Matters Azure App Service Isolated v2 plans represent a strategic opportunity for organizations to: Detailed Explanation Performance…

Azure Virtual Machines – Upgrade ND Series Machines

Optimize Azure VM costs by upgrading deprecated ND series machines to more modern and cost-effective NCas T4 v3 or NDamsr A100 v4 series virtual machines. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters The ND series virtual machines have reached end-of-life, presenting a critical opportunity for cost optimization and performance improvement in cloud infrastructure. As technology evolves,…

Google Compute Engine – Consider Predefined Machine Types

Predefined machine types in Google Compute Engine offer significant cost savings compared to custom machine types, providing optimized performance and pricing for most workloads. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters In the world of cloud cost optimization, selecting the right machine type is crucial for controlling expenses. Custom machine types typically cost 5% more than…

Azure Firewall – Consider Downgrading to Standard or Basic

Optimize Azure Firewall costs by selecting the appropriate tier based on your specific security requirements, potentially saving up to 67% on monthly infrastructure expenses. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters in FinOps In the world of cloud financial management, every dollar counts. Azure Firewall offers multiple pricing tiers with varying feature sets, and selecting the…

AWS Cloudwatch – Consider Using a Retention Policy to Reduce Storage Costs

Implement log retention policies in AWS CloudWatch to optimize storage costs and prevent unnecessary log accumulation that can lead to significant cloud spending. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters Log management is a critical aspect of cloud cost optimization. Without proper retention strategies, organizations can inadvertently accumulate massive storage costs from unchecked log data. CloudWatch…

AWS VPC – Consider Avoiding Multiple NAT Gateways for a Single Subnet

Minimize cloud infrastructure costs by strategically sharing NAT gateways across subnets, preventing unnecessary network address translation expenses. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters NAT (Network Address Translation) gateways are critical for enabling private subnets to access the internet, but they come with significant ongoing costs. Each NAT gateway incurs substantial monthly charges, making it crucial…

AWS S3 – Consider Deleting Incomplete Multi-Part Uploads

Automatically remove abandoned multi-part uploads in Amazon S3 to prevent unnecessary storage costs and optimize cloud spending. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters Incomplete multi-part uploads can silently accumulate in your Amazon S3 buckets, creating hidden cloud waste. These abandoned upload fragments continue to consume storage space and generate ongoing costs, even though they are…

AWS S3 – Consider Deleting or Moving Old Objects to a Cheaper Storage Class

Optimize S3 storage costs by implementing intelligent lifecycle policies that automatically move or delete objects based on access patterns and age. Detailed Explanation Why This Policy Matters In cloud cost management, storage often represents a significant and overlooked expense. Amazon S3 offers multiple storage classes, but many organizations continue to store data in the most…