CloudFormation is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enables organizations to define and manage their cloud resources programmatically. In the context of FinOps, CloudFormation plays a crucial role in automating resource provisioning, enhancing cost visibility, and promoting efficient cloud resource management. By enabling teams to define their infrastructure…
Origins of CUD As cloud computing grew in popularity and competition among CSPs intensified, providers sought ways to enhance customer loyalty and predictability in their revenue streams. Commitment Usage Discounts emerged as a strategy for Google Cloud to incentivize users to commit to longer-term usage, benefiting both the user, through cost savings, and the provider,…
Origins of CUR As cloud adoption grew, organizations faced the challenge of managing and understanding their cloud expenses. With multiple services, regions, and potentially multiple accounts involved, there was a need for a granular and comprehensive report. Recognizing this, Cloud Service Providers introduced Cost and Usage Reports to help customers navigate and analyze their cloud…
Cost Anomalies in FinOps: Unexpected Costs Within the realm of FinOps, cost anomalies can be a significant concern. These unexpected cost surges or decreases can impact financial forecasting and budgeting, and create friction between different teams. What are Cost Anomalies? Cost anomalies refer to unexpected fluctuations in cloud costs that don’t align with regular consumption…
Crossplane is an open-source cloud-native control plane that enables organizations to manage and provision infrastructure across multiple cloud providers using Kubernetes-native APIs. It allows teams to define, deploy, and manage infrastructure using declarative configurations, similar to how they manage applications in Kubernetes. This approach simplifies cloud resource management and promotes consistency across different environments. In…
Origins of Enterprise Discount Programs Recognizing the purchasing power and needs of large enterprises, AWS introduced EDPs to incentivize bulk buying and reward consistent large-volume transactions. This programs aims to create a win-win: businesses get discounts, and AWS increases sales and foster client loyalty. Key Features of an EDP Core components of EDPs include: Benefits…
Origins of Enterprise Agreements As large enterprises required vast quantities of software licenses, the need arose for a structured licensing package that catered specifically to their needs. Enterprise Agreements emerged as a solution, simplifying license management and providing financial benefits. Key Components of an EA Features of an EA include: Benefits of an EA Advantages…
What is Cloud FinOps? FinOps: A History and Introduction Amazon Web Services launched in 2006; however, there was no way for users to see a detailed view of which services they were using and how much they were spending. As bills started to grow in terms of money spent and complexity, in 2011 the first…
FOCUS (Financial Optimization and Cloud Usage Strategy) is a framework within FinOps that aims to optimize cloud costs and usage while aligning financial and operational goals. The FOCUS framework is designed to address the challenges associated with cloud cost management, including visibility, accountability, and optimization. By implementing FOCUS principles, organizations can achieve better control over…
GitHub Actions is a powerful automation and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) platform integrated into GitHub repositories. In the context of FinOps, GitHub Actions serves as a versatile tool for automating cost optimization tasks, implementing best practices, and streamlining cloud resource management workflows. Launched by GitHub in 2018, GitHub Actions has quickly become an essential component…
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google that play a crucial role in the FinOps landscape. Launched in 2008, GCP has rapidly evolved to become a major player in the cloud computing industry. It provides various services that enable organizations to build, deploy, and scale applications, store and…
HashiCorp is a software company specializing in infrastructure automation and management tools. Founded in 2012, HashiCorp has become a key player in the DevOps and cloud infrastructure space, offering a suite of products that help organizations streamline their infrastructure operations, enhance security, and optimize cloud costs. HashiCorp’s products are designed to address the challenges of…