If you're launching a startup, you’ve probably wondered where to host your solution. It's essential to understand that an application consists of lines of code that must run on a server, allowing users to access it.
With traditional hosting, you purchase a server and deploy your application on it. In contrast, the cloud simplifies this process: you upload a ZIP file or a source code folder, and you don’t have to worry about crashes. The cloud ensures high reliability by automatically restarting your application if it crashes, eliminating the need for a 24/7 engineer.
Cloud providers offer managed services that simplify development, enhance scalability, and reduce the need for maintenance, allowing startups to focus on their core code and business needs.
But dependency on specific cloud provider technologies can create lock-in, making it difficult to migrate to other providers or infrastructure in the future.
Choosing the right cloud platform is a crucial decision for any startup, and the good news is, all the major players – AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure – offer generous startup programs to help you get started.
This article will compare the key features of these programs to help you pick the best fit for your needs.
FeatureAWS ActivateGoogle for Startups Cloud ProgramMicrosoft for StartupsFree CreditsUp to $100,000 (1 year)Start: $100,000 (2 years)Varies by stage (up to $150,000/year)Total Credits (Max)$100,000Scale: $200,000 ($350,000 for AI)Up to $450,000 (tiered)Additional Benefits* Business & Technical Guidance * Partner Offers * Migration Support* Free Training * Mentorship * Firebase Credits* BizSpark Program * Azure Credits * Developer Tools * Microsoft ProductsIdeal forEarly-stage startupsEarly to mid-stage startups, AI-focused startupsLater-stage startups, Microsoft product users
Short summary
Free Credits and Funding:
AWS Activate: Up to $100,000 in AWS credits over a year.
Google for Startups Cloud Program: Offers two tiers – Start ($100,000) and Scale ($200,000) – in Google Cloud credits over 2 years, with an extended limit of $350,000 for AI-focused startups.
Microsoft for Startups: Azure credits vary depending on the program stage (individual, seed, or Series A+), but can reach up to $150,000 per year.
Additional Benefits:
AWS Activate: Provides access to business and technical guidance, curated resources, partner offers, and migration support.
Google for Startups Cloud Program: Offers free training, mentorship opportunities, and credits for Firebase, Google's mobile app development platform.
Microsoft for Startups: Includes access to BizSpark program with free Azure services, Azure credits, developer tools, and various Microsoft products.
Additional Tips:
Read the fine print: Understand eligibility requirements, credit limitations, and spending restrictions for each program.
Explore free tiers: All three platforms offer free tiers with limited service usage, allowing you to experiment before committing.
Talk to experts: Consider seeking advice from cloud specialists or mentors familiar with these programs to make an informed decision.
Free Cloud for Startups: Avoiding the Hidden Cost Traps
While free cloud credits and technical support through provider startup programs sound incredibly appealing for cash-strapped startups, it's important to be wary of the potential hidden costs. Too often, startups neglect optimizing their cloud infrastructure for long-term scale during the free period, leading to skyrocketing costs once it ends. There's also the risk of vendor lock-in, making it expensive to migrate to another provider down the line.
One startup leveraged the Google Cloud Startup Program's free credits and support to quickly build and scale their innovative product. However, when the free period lapsed, they faced crippling infrastructure costs from lack of optimization along with substantial expenses to move to a different cloud due to lock-in. Proper planning for post-free period usage and avoiding vendor lock-in is crucial.
Startups should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each cloud's startup program, considering long-term scalability, costs, and flexibility needs. Working with experienced cloud consultants can help startups develop a cloud strategy aligned with their long-term roadmap to avoid falling into costly pitfalls after the initial free period.
Read more this case study: DevOps for Microsoft HoloLens Application Run on GCP
AWS Activate
AWS Activate is a comprehensive program designed to provide startups with resources to quickly get started on the AWS Cloud. It offers qualifying startups a range of benefits including AWS credits, training, support, and tools to build and scale their businesses.
Key features of AWS Activate include:
AWS Credits: Startups can receive up to $100,000 in AWS service credits to offset their cloud computing costs.
Technical Support: Access to AWS technical experts for architectural and product guidance.
Training: Free training resources, including self-paced labs and AWS Essentials courses.
Third-Party Tools: Discounts on select third-party tools and services from AWS Partners.
Community: Opportunities to connect with other startup founders and the AWS startup community.
The program aims to reduce the undifferentiated heavy lifting for startups, allowing them to focus on their core product and leverage the scalable AWS infrastructure. AWS Activate supports startups from the idea stage through growth phases as they build, launch, and scale their applications on AWS.
Google for Startups Cloud Program
The Google for Startups Cloud Program is Google's offering to provide startups with resources and support to build on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It aims to help early-stage startups gain a competitive advantage by leveraging Google's cloud infrastructure and technologies.
Key benefits of the Google for Startups Cloud Program include:
Cloud Credits: Qualifying startups receive GCP credits up to $100,000 to cover compute, storage, and other services.
Technical Support: Access to GCP technical experts, architectural guidance, and best practice recommendations.
Learning Resources: Training programs, workshops, office hours, and other educational resources tailored for startups.
Community & Networking: Opportunities to connect with other founders, investors, and the broader Google Cloud startup community.
Partnerships: Exclusive partner offers and discounts on third-party solutions and services.
The program focuses on providing startups with the tools, mentorship, and ecosystem support to build, scale, and optimize their applications on Google Cloud. It fosters collaborations with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital firms to better serve the needs of early-stage startups.
Microsoft for Startups program
Microsoft for Startups is Microsoft's global program designed to help startups successfully launch and grow their companies by leveraging Microsoft's cloud platform, Azure, along with technical resources, business support, and a world-class partner ecosystem.
Key benefits of the Microsoft for Startups program include:
Azure Credits: Qualifying startups can receive up to $120,000 in Azure credits to build and run their applications and workloads on Azure.
Technical Support: Access to cloud architects, technical advisors, developer tools, and best practice guidance for building on Azure.
Marketplace Exposure: Opportunity to publish and showcase startup solutions on the Azure Marketplace, connecting with Microsoft's global customer base.
Partner Ecosystem: Connections to Microsoft's partner network, including venture capital firms, incubators, and accelerators for networking and potential investments.
Community & Events: Access to global startup community events, meetups, and co-working spaces for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The program aims to provide startups with a comprehensive cloud platform, technical resources, business mentorship, and a thriving ecosystem to accelerate their growth and innovation trajectories from idea to unicorn.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cloud Partner
Consider your stage: If you're a very early-stage startup, Google's program with its larger credit pool might be ideal. For later-stage startups with specific needs, Microsoft's tiered program with BizSpark benefits could be attractive.
Focus on your technology stack: If you're heavily invested in AI/ML, Google's expertise and additional credits might be a significant advantage. For startups already using Microsoft products, Azure's integration might be smoother.
Think long-term: While free credits are important, consider the ongoing costs and support offered by each platform.
By carefully evaluating your needs and comparing the offerings of AWS Activate, Google for Startups Cloud Program, and Microsoft for Startups, you can select the cloud partner that will best fuel your startup's growth. Remember, the best program is the one that aligns with your specific business goals and future technology roadmap.
As climate change, resource depletion, and environmental issues loom large, businesses are turning to technology as a powerful ally in achieving their sustainability goals. This isn't just about saving the planet (although that's pretty important), it's also about creating a more efficient and resilient future for all.
Data is the new oil, and when it comes to sustainability, it's a game-changer. Technology empowers businesses to collect and analyze vast amounts of data, allowing them to make informed decisions about their environmental impact. By automating processes, streamlining operations, and enabling data-driven decision-making, businesses can minimize waste, reduce energy consumption, and optimize resource utilization.
Digital technologies, such as cloud computing, remote collaboration tools, and virtual platforms, have the potential to reduce the need for physical infrastructure and travel, thereby minimizing the associated environmental impacts.
One of the primary challenges is striking a balance between sustainability goals and profitability. Many businesses struggle to reconcile the perceived trade-off between environmental considerations and short-term financial gains. Implementing sustainable practices often requires upfront investments in new technologies, infrastructure, or processes, which can be costly and may not yield immediate returns. Convincing stakeholders and shareholders of the long-term benefits and value of sustainability can be a complex task.
The Environmental Impact of IT Infrastructure
One of the primary concerns regarding IT infrastructure is energy consumption. Data centers, which house servers, storage systems, and networking equipment, are energy-intensive facilities. They require substantial amounts of electricity to power and cool the hardware, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and straining energy grids. According to estimates, data centers account for approximately 1% of global electricity consumption, and this figure is expected to rise as data volumes and computing demands continue to grow.
Furthermore, the manufacturing process of IT equipment, such as servers, computers, and other hardware components, involves the extraction and processing of raw materials, which can have detrimental effects on the environment. The mining of rare earth metals and other minerals used in electronic components can lead to habitat destruction, water pollution, and the depletion of natural resources.
E-waste, or electronic waste, is another pressing issue related to IT infrastructure. As technological devices become obsolete or reach the end of their lifecycle, they often end up in landfills or informal recycling facilities, posing risks to human health and the environment. E-waste can contain hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into soil and water sources, causing pollution and potential harm to ecosystems.
By addressing the environmental impact of IT infrastructure, businesses can not only reduce their carbon footprint and resource consumption but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Striking a balance between technological innovation and environmental stewardship is crucial for achieving long-term sustainability goals.
DevOps and Sustainability
DevOps practices play a pivotal role in optimizing resources and reducing waste, making them a powerful ally in the pursuit of sustainability. By seamlessly integrating development and operations processes, DevOps enables organizations to achieve greater efficiency, agility, and environmental responsibility.
At the core of DevOps is the principle of automation and continuous improvement. By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes, DevOps eliminates manual efforts, reduces human errors, and minimizes resource wastage. This efficiency translates into lower energy consumption, decreased hardware utilization, and a reduced carbon footprint.
CI/CD for Improved Eco-Efficiency
Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) are essential DevOps practices that contribute to sustainability. CI/CD enables organizations to rapidly and frequently deliver software updates and improvements, ensuring that applications run optimally and efficiently. This approach minimizes the need for resource-intensive deployments and reduces the overall environmental impact of software development and operations.
Moreover, CI/CD facilitates the early detection and resolution of issues, preventing potential inefficiencies and resource wastage. By integrating automated testing and quality assurance processes, organizations can identify and address performance bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities, and other issues that could lead to increased energy consumption or resource utilization.
Monitoring and Analytics for Identifying and Eliminating Inefficiencies
DevOps emphasizes the importance of monitoring and analytics as a means to gain insights into system performance, resource utilization, and potential areas for improvement. By leveraging advanced monitoring tools and techniques, organizations can gather real-time data on energy consumption, hardware utilization, and application performance.
This data can then be analyzed to identify inefficiencies, such as underutilized resources, redundant processes, or areas where optimization is required. Armed with these insights, organizations can take proactive measures to streamline operations, adjust resource allocation, and implement energy-saving strategies, ultimately reducing their environmental footprint.
For a deeper dive into how monitoring and analytics can drive efficiency and sustainability, explore this case study of a software development company that optimized its workload orchestration using continuous monitoring.
Our case study: Implementation of Nomad Cluster for Massively Parallel Computing
Cloud Computing and Sustainability
Cloud computing has emerged as a transformative technology that not only enhances efficiency and agility but also holds significant potential for promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact. By leveraging the power of cloud services, organizations can achieve remarkable energy and resource savings, while simultaneously minimizing their carbon footprint.
Energy and Resource Savings through Cloud Services
One of the primary advantages of cloud computing in terms of sustainability is the efficient utilization of shared resources. Cloud service providers operate large-scale data centers that are designed for optimal resource allocation and energy efficiency. By consolidating workloads and leveraging economies of scale, cloud providers can maximize resource utilization, reducing energy consumption and minimizing waste.
Additionally, cloud providers invest heavily in implementing cutting-edge technologies and best practices for energy efficiency, such as advanced cooling systems, renewable energy sources, and efficient hardware. These efforts result in significant energy savings, translating into a lower carbon footprint for organizations that leverage cloud services.
Flexible Cloud Models for Cost Optimization for Sustainable Operations
Cloud computing offers flexible deployment models, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, allowing organizations to tailor their cloud strategies to meet their specific needs and optimize costs. By embracing the pay-as-you-go model of public clouds or implementing private clouds for sensitive workloads, businesses can dynamically scale their resource consumption, avoiding over-provisioning and minimizing unnecessary energy expenditure.
Cloud providers offer a diverse range of compute and storage resources with varying payment options and tiers, catering to different use cases and requirements. For instance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances with multiple pricing models, including Dedicated, On-Demand, Spot, and Reserved instances. Choosing the most suitable instance type for a specific workload can lead to significant cost savings.
Dedicated instances, while the most expensive option, are ideal for handling sensitive workloads where security and compliance are of paramount importance. These instances run on hardware dedicated solely to a single customer, ensuring heightened isolation and control.
On-demand instances, on the other hand, are billed on an hourly basis and are well-suited for applications with short-term, irregular workloads that cannot be interrupted. They are particularly useful during testing, development, and prototyping phases, offering flexibility and scalability on-demand.
For long-running workloads, Reserved instances offer substantial discounts, up to 72% compared to on-demand pricing. By investing in Reserved instances, businesses can secure capacity reservations and gain confidence in their ability to launch the required number of instances when needed.
Spot instances present a cost-effective alternative for workloads that do not require high availability. These instances leverage spare computing capacity, enabling businesses to benefit from discounts of up to 90% compared to on-demand pricing.
Our case study: Cutting Costs by 81%: Azure Spot VMs Drive Cost Efficiency for Jewelry AI Vision
Additionally, DevOps teams employ various cloud cost optimization practices to further reduce operational expenses and environmental impact. These include:
- Identifying and deleting underutilized instances
- Moving infrequently accessed storage to more cost-effective tiers
- Exploring alternative regions or availability zones with lower pricing
- Leveraging available discounts and pricing models
- Implementing spend monitoring and alert systems to track and control costs proactively
By adopting a strategic approach to resource utilization and cost optimization, businesses can not only achieve sustainable operations but also unlock significant cost savings. This proactive mindset aligns with the principles of environmental stewardship, enabling organizations to thrive while minimizing their ecological footprint.
Read more: Sustainable Solutions with AWS
Reduced Physical Infrastructure and Associated Emissions
Moving to the cloud isn't just about convenience and scalability – it's a game-changer for the environment. Here's why:
Bye-bye Bulky Servers
Cloud computing lets you ditch the on-site server farm. No more rows of whirring machines taking up space and guzzling energy. Cloud providers handle that, often in facilities optimized for efficiency. This translates to less energy used, fewer emissions produced, and a lighter physical footprint for your business.
Commuting? Not Today
Cloud-based tools enable remote work, which means fewer cars on the road spewing out emissions. Not only does this benefit the environment, but it also promotes a more flexible and potentially happier workforce.
Cloud computing offers a win-win for businesses and the planet. By sharing resources, utilizing energy-saving data centers, and adopting flexible deployment models, cloud computing empowers organizations to significantly reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing efficiency or agility. Think of it as a powerful tool for building a more sustainable future, one virtual server at a time.
Effective Infrastructure Management and Sustainability
Effective infrastructure management plays a crucial role in achieving sustainability goals within an organization. By implementing strategies that optimize resource utilization, reduce energy consumption, and promote environmentally-friendly practices, businesses can significantly diminish their environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency.
Virtualization and Consolidation Strategies for Reducing Hardware Needs
Virtualization technology has revolutionized the way organizations manage their IT infrastructure.
By ditching the extra servers, you're using less energy to power and cool them. Think of it like turning off all the lights in empty rooms – virtualization ensures you're only using the resources you truly need. This translates to significant energy savings and a smaller carbon footprint.
Fewer servers mean less hardware to manufacture and eventually dispose of. This reduces the environmental impact associated with both the production process and electronic waste (e-waste). Virtualization helps you be a more responsible citizen of the digital world.
Our case study: IoT Device Management Using Kubernetes
Optimizing with Third-Party Services
In the pursuit of sustainability and resource efficiency, businesses must explore innovative strategies that can streamline operations while reducing their environmental footprint. One such approach involves leveraging third-party services to optimize costs and minimize operational overhead. Cloud computing providers, such as Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, offer a vast array of services that can significantly enhance the development process and reduce resource consumption.
A prime example is Amazon's Relational Database Service (RDS), a fully managed database solution that boasts advanced features like multi-regional setup, automated backups, monitoring, scalability, resilience, and reliability. Building and maintaining such a service in-house would not only be resource-intensive but also costly, both in terms of financial investment and environmental impact.
However, striking the right balance between leveraging third-party services and maintaining control over critical components is crucial. When crafting an infrastructure plan, DevOps teams meticulously analyze project requirements and assess the availability of relevant third-party services. Based on this analysis, recommendations are provided on when it's more efficient to utilize a managed service, and when it's more cost-effective and suitable to build and manage the service internally.
For ongoing projects, DevOps teams conduct comprehensive audits of existing infrastructure resources and services. If opportunities for cost optimization are identified, they propose adjustments or suggest integrating new services, taking into account the associated integration costs with the current setup. This proactive approach ensures that businesses continuously explore avenues for reducing their environmental footprint while maintaining operational efficiency.
One notable success story involves a client whose services were running on EC2 instances via the Elastic Container Service (ECS). After analyzing their usage patterns, peak periods, and management overhead, the DevOps team recommended transitioning to AWS Fargate, a serverless solution that eliminates the need for managing underlying server infrastructure. Fargate not only offered a more streamlined setup process but also facilitated significant cost savings for the client.
By judiciously adopting third-party services, businesses can reduce operational overhead, optimize resource utilization, and ultimately minimize their environmental impact. This approach aligns with the principles of sustainability, enabling organizations to achieve their goals while contributing to a greener future.
Our case study: Deployment of a Node.js and React App to AWS with ECS
Green Code and DevOps Go Hand-in-Hand
At the heart of this sustainable approach lies green code, the practice of developing and deploying software with a focus on minimizing its environmental impact. Green code prioritizes efficient algorithms, optimized data structures, and resource-conscious coding practices.
At its core, Green Code is about designing and implementing software solutions that consume fewer computational resources, such as CPU cycles, memory, and energy. By optimizing code for efficiency, developers can reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with running applications on servers, desktops, and mobile devices.
Continuous Monitoring and Feedback
DevOps promotes continuous monitoring of applications, providing valuable insights into resource utilization. These insights can be used to identify areas for code optimization, ensuring applications run efficiently and consume less energy.
Infrastructure Automation:
Automating infrastructure provisioning and management through tools like Infrastructure as Code (IaC) helps eliminate unnecessary resources and idle servers. Think of it like switching off the lights in an empty room – automation ensures resources are only used when needed.
Containerization
Containerization technologies like Docker package applications with all their dependencies, allowing them to run efficiently on any system. This reduces the need for multiple servers and lowers overall energy consumption.
Cloud-Native Development
By leveraging cloud platforms, developers can benefit from pre-built, scalable infrastructure with high energy efficiency. Cloud providers are constantly optimizing their data centers for sustainability, so you don't have to shoulder the burden alone.
DevOps practices not only streamline development and deployment processes, but also create a culture of resource awareness and optimization. This, combined with green code principles, paves the way for building applications that are not just powerful, but also environmentally responsible.
How Businesses Are Using DevOps, Cloud, and Green Code to Thrive
Case Study 1: Transforming a Local Landfill Solution into a Global Platform
ReSource International, an Icelandic environmental solutions company, developed elandfill.io, a digital platform for monitoring and managing landfill operations. However, scaling the platform globally posed challenges in managing various components, including geospatial data processing, real-time data analysis, and module integration.
Gart Solutions implemented the RMF, a suite of tools and approaches designed to facilitate the deployment of powerful digital solutions for landfill management globally.
Case Study 3: The #1 Music Promotion Services Cuts Costs with Sustainable AWS Solutions
The #1 Music Promotion Services, a company helping independent artists, faced rising AWS infrastructure costs due to rapid growth. A multi-faceted approach focused on optimization and cost-saving strategies was implemented. This included:
Amazon SNS Optimization: A usage audit identified redundant notifications and opportunities for batching messages, leading to lower usage charges.
EC2 and RDS Cost Management: Right-sizing instances, utilizing reserved instances, and implementing auto-scaling ensured efficient resource utilization.
Storage Optimization: Lifecycle policies and data cleanup practices reduced storage costs.
Traffic and Data Transfer Management: Optimized data transfer routes and cost monitoring with alerts helped manage unexpected spikes.
Results: Monthly AWS costs were slashed by 54%, with significant savings across services like Amazon SNS and EC2/RDS. They also established a framework for sustainable cost management, ensuring long-term efficiency.
Partner with Gart for IT Cost Optimization and Sustainable Business
As businesses strive for sustainability, partnering with the right IT provider is crucial for optimizing costs and minimizing environmental impact. Gart emerges as a trusted partner, offering expertise in cloud computing, DevOps, and sustainable IT solutions.
Gart's cloud proficiency spans on-premise-to-cloud migration, cloud-to-cloud migration, and multi-cloud/hybrid cloud management. Our DevOps services include cloud adoption, CI/CD streamlining, security management, and firewall-as-a-service, enabling process automation and operational efficiencies.
Recognized by IAOP, GSA, Inc. 5000, and Clutch.co, Gart adheres to PCI DSS, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and GDPR standards, ensuring quality, security, and data protection.
By partnering with Gart, businesses can optimize IT costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and foster a sustainable future. Leverage Gart's expertise to align your IT strategies with environmental goals and unlock the benefits of cost optimization and sustainability.
In my experience optimizing cloud costs, especially on AWS, I often find that many quick wins are in the "easy to implement - good savings potential" quadrant.
[lwptoc]
That's why I've decided to share some straightforward methods for optimizing expenses on AWS that will help you save over 80% of your budget.
Choose reserved instances
Potential Savings: Up to 72%
Choosing reserved instances involves committing to a subscription, even partially, and offers a discount for long-term rentals of one to three years. While planning for a year is often deemed long-term for many companies, especially in Ukraine, reserving resources for 1-3 years carries risks but comes with the reward of a maximum discount of up to 72%.
You can check all the current pricing details on the official website - Amazon EC2 Reserved Instances
Purchase Saving Plans (Instead of On-Demand)
Potential Savings: Up to 72%
There are three types of saving plans: Compute Savings Plan, EC2 Instance Savings Plan, SageMaker Savings Plan.
AWS Compute Savings Plan is an Amazon Web Services option that allows users to receive discounts on computational resources in exchange for committing to using a specific volume of resources over a defined period (usually one or three years). This plan offers flexibility in utilizing various computing services, such as EC2, Fargate, and Lambda, at reduced prices.
AWS EC2 Instance Savings Plan is a program from Amazon Web Services that offers discounted rates exclusively for the use of EC2 instances. This plan is specifically tailored for the utilization of EC2 instances, providing discounts for a specific instance family, regardless of the region.
AWS SageMaker Savings Plan allows users to get discounts on SageMaker usage in exchange for committing to using a specific volume of computational resources over a defined period (usually one or three years).
The discount is available for one and three years with the option of full, partial upfront payment, or no upfront payment. EC2 can help save up to 72%, but it applies exclusively to EC2 instances.
Utilize Various Storage Classes for S3 (Including Intelligent Tier)
Potential Savings: 40% to 95%
AWS offers numerous options for storing data at different access levels. For instance, S3 Intelligent-Tiering automatically stores objects at three access levels: one tier optimized for frequent access, 40% cheaper tier optimized for infrequent access, and 68% cheaper tier optimized for rarely accessed data (e.g., archives).
S3 Intelligent-Tiering has the same price per 1 GB as S3 Standard — $0.023 USD.
However, the key advantage of Intelligent Tiering is its ability to automatically move objects that haven't been accessed for a specific period to lower access tiers.
Every 30, 90, and 180 days, Intelligent Tiering automatically shifts an object to the next access tier, potentially saving companies from 40% to 95%. This means that for certain objects (e.g., archives), it may be appropriate to pay only $0.0125 USD per 1 GB or $0.004 per 1 GB compared to the standard price of $0.023 USD.
Information regarding the pricing of Amazon S3
AWS Compute Optimizer
Potential Savings: quite significant
The AWS Compute Optimizer dashboard is a tool that lets users assess and prioritize optimization opportunities for their AWS resources.
The dashboard provides detailed information about potential cost savings and performance improvements, as the recommendations are based on an analysis of resource specifications and usage metrics.
The dashboard covers various types of resources, such as EC2 instances, Auto Scaling groups, Lambda functions, Amazon ECS services on Fargate, and Amazon EBS volumes.
For example, AWS Compute Optimizer reproduces information about underutilized or overutilized resources allocated for ECS Fargate services or Lambda functions. Regularly keeping an eye on this dashboard can help you make informed decisions to optimize costs and enhance performance.
Use Fargate in EKS for underutilized EC2 nodes
If your EKS nodes aren't fully used most of the time, it makes sense to consider using Fargate profiles. With AWS Fargate, you pay for a specific amount of memory/CPU resources needed for your POD, rather than paying for an entire EC2 virtual machine.
For example, let's say you have an application deployed in a Kubernetes cluster managed by Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service). The application experiences variable traffic, with peak loads during specific hours of the day or week (like a marketplace or an online store), and you want to optimize infrastructure costs. To address this, you need to create a Fargate Profile that defines which PODs should run on Fargate. Configure Kubernetes Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) to automatically scale the number of POD replicas based on their resource usage (such as CPU or memory usage).
Manage Workload Across Different Regions
Potential Savings: significant in most cases
When handling workload across multiple regions, it's crucial to consider various aspects such as cost allocation tags, budgets, notifications, and data remediation.
Cost Allocation Tags: Classify and track expenses based on different labels like program, environment, team, or project.
AWS Budgets: Define spending thresholds and receive notifications when expenses exceed set limits. Create budgets specifically for your workload or allocate budgets to specific services or cost allocation tags.
Notifications: Set up alerts when expenses approach or surpass predefined thresholds. Timely notifications help take actions to optimize costs and prevent overspending.
Remediation: Implement mechanisms to rectify expenses based on your workload requirements. This may involve automated actions or manual interventions to address cost-related issues.
Regional Variances: Consider regional differences in pricing and data transfer costs when designing workload architectures.
Reserved Instances and Savings Plans: Utilize reserved instances or savings plans to achieve cost savings.
AWS Cost Explorer: Use this tool for visualizing and analyzing your expenses. Cost Explorer provides insights into your usage and spending trends, enabling you to identify areas of high costs and potential opportunities for cost savings.
Transition to Graviton (ARM)
Potential Savings: Up to 30%
Graviton utilizes Amazon's server-grade ARM processors developed in-house. The new processors and instances prove beneficial for various applications, including high-performance computing, batch processing, electronic design automation (EDA) automation, multimedia encoding, scientific modeling, distributed analytics, and machine learning inference on processor-based systems.
The processor family is based on ARM architecture, likely functioning as a system on a chip (SoC). This translates to lower power consumption costs while still offering satisfactory performance for the majority of clients. Key advantages of AWS Graviton include cost reduction, low latency, improved scalability, enhanced availability, and security.
Spot Instances Instead of On-Demand
Potential Savings: Up to 30%
Utilizing spot instances is essentially a resource exchange. When Amazon has surplus resources lying idle, you can set the maximum price you're willing to pay for them. The catch is that if there are no available resources, your requested capacity won't be granted.
However, there's a risk that if demand suddenly surges and the spot price exceeds your set maximum price, your spot instance will be terminated.
Spot instances operate like an auction, so the price is not fixed. We specify the maximum we're willing to pay, and AWS determines who gets the computational power. If we are willing to pay $0.1 per hour and the market price is $0.05, we will pay exactly $0.05.
Use Interface Endpoints or Gateway Endpoints to save on traffic costs (S3, SQS, DynamoDB, etc.)
Potential Savings: Depends on the workload
Interface Endpoints operate based on AWS PrivateLink, allowing access to AWS services through a private network connection without going through the internet. By using Interface Endpoints, you can save on data transfer costs associated with traffic.
Utilizing Interface Endpoints or Gateway Endpoints can indeed help save on traffic costs when accessing services like Amazon S3, Amazon SQS, and Amazon DynamoDB from your Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).
Key points:
Amazon S3: With an Interface Endpoint for S3, you can privately access S3 buckets without incurring data transfer costs between your VPC and S3.
Amazon SQS: Interface Endpoints for SQS enable secure interaction with SQS queues within your VPC, avoiding data transfer costs for communication with SQS.
Amazon DynamoDB: Using an Interface Endpoint for DynamoDB, you can access DynamoDB tables in your VPC without incurring data transfer costs.
Additionally, Interface Endpoints allow private access to AWS services using private IP addresses within your VPC, eliminating the need for internet gateway traffic. This helps eliminate data transfer costs for accessing services like S3, SQS, and DynamoDB from your VPC.
Optimize Image Sizes for Faster Loading
Potential Savings: Depends on the workload
Optimizing image sizes can help you save in various ways.
Reduce ECR Costs: By storing smaller instances, you can cut down expenses on Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR).
Minimize EBS Volumes on EKS Nodes: Keeping smaller volumes on Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) nodes helps in cost reduction.
Accelerate Container Launch Times: Faster container launch times ultimately lead to quicker task execution.
Optimization Methods:
Use the Right Image: Employ the most efficient image for your task; for instance, Alpine may be sufficient in certain scenarios.
Remove Unnecessary Data: Trim excess data and packages from the image.
Multi-Stage Image Builds: Utilize multi-stage image builds by employing multiple FROM instructions.
Use .dockerignore: Prevent the addition of unnecessary files by employing a .dockerignore file.
Reduce Instruction Count: Minimize the number of instructions, as each instruction adds extra weight to the hash. Group instructions using the && operator.
Layer Consolidation: Move frequently changing layers to the end of the Dockerfile.
These optimization methods can contribute to faster image loading, reduced storage costs, and improved overall performance in containerized environments.
Use Load Balancers to Save on IP Address Costs
Potential Savings: depends on the workload
Starting from February 2024, Amazon begins billing for each public IPv4 address. Employing a load balancer can help save on IP address costs by using a shared IP address, multiplexing traffic between ports, load balancing algorithms, and handling SSL/TLS.
By consolidating multiple services and instances under a single IP address, you can achieve cost savings while effectively managing incoming traffic.
Optimize Database Services for Higher Performance (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.)
Potential Savings: depends on the workload
AWS provides default settings for databases that are suitable for average workloads. If a significant portion of your monthly bill is related to AWS RDS, it's worth paying attention to parameter settings related to databases.
Some of the most effective settings may include:
Use Database-Optimized Instances: For example, instances in the R5 or X1 class are optimized for working with databases.
Choose Storage Type: General Purpose SSD (gp2) is typically cheaper than Provisioned IOPS SSD (io1/io2).
AWS RDS Auto Scaling: Automatically increase or decrease storage size based on demand.
If you can optimize the database workload, it may allow you to use smaller instance sizes without compromising performance.
Regularly Update Instances for Better Performance and Lower Costs
Potential Savings: Minor
As Amazon deploys new servers in their data processing centers to provide resources for running more instances for customers, these new servers come with the latest equipment, typically better than previous generations. Usually, the latest two to three generations are available. Make sure you update regularly to effectively utilize these resources.
Take Memory Optimize instances, for example, and compare the price change based on the relevance of one instance over another. Regular updates can ensure that you are using resources efficiently.
InstanceGenerationDescriptionOn-Demand Price (USD/hour)m6g.large6thInstances based on ARM processors offer improved performance and energy efficiency.$0.077m5.large5thGeneral-purpose instances with a balanced combination of CPU and memory, designed to support high-speed network access.$0.096m4.large4thA good balance between CPU, memory, and network resources.$0.1m3.large3rdOne of the previous generations, less efficient than m5 and m4.Not avilable
Use RDS Proxy to reduce the load on RDS
Potential for savings: Low
RDS Proxy is used to relieve the load on servers and RDS databases by reusing existing connections instead of creating new ones. Additionally, RDS Proxy improves failover during the switch of a standby read replica node to the master.
Imagine you have a web application that uses Amazon RDS to manage the database. This application experiences variable traffic intensity, and during peak periods, such as advertising campaigns or special events, it undergoes high database load due to a large number of simultaneous requests.
During peak loads, the RDS database may encounter performance and availability issues due to the high number of concurrent connections and queries. This can lead to delays in responses or even service unavailability.
RDS Proxy manages connection pools to the database, significantly reducing the number of direct connections to the database itself.
By efficiently managing connections, RDS Proxy provides higher availability and stability, especially during peak periods.
Using RDS Proxy reduces the load on RDS, and consequently, the costs are reduced too.
Define the storage policy in CloudWatch
Potential for savings: depends on the workload, could be significant.
The storage policy in Amazon CloudWatch determines how long data should be retained in CloudWatch Logs before it is automatically deleted.
Setting the right storage policy is crucial for efficient data management and cost optimization. While the "Never" option is available, it is generally not recommended for most use cases due to potential costs and data management issues.
Typically, best practice involves defining a specific retention period based on your organization's requirements, compliance policies, and needs.
Avoid using an undefined data retention period unless there is a specific reason. By doing this, you are already saving on costs.
Configure AWS Config to monitor only the events you need
Potential for savings: depends on the workload
AWS Config allows you to track and record changes to AWS resources, helping you maintain compliance, security, and governance. AWS Config provides compliance reports based on rules you define. You can access these reports on the AWS Config dashboard to see the status of tracked resources.
You can set up Amazon SNS notifications to receive alerts when AWS Config detects non-compliance with your defined rules. This can help you take immediate action to address the issue. By configuring AWS Config with specific rules and resources you need to monitor, you can efficiently manage your AWS environment, maintain compliance requirements, and avoid paying for rules you don't need.
Use lifecycle policies for S3 and ECR
Potential for savings: depends on the workload
S3 allows you to configure automatic deletion of individual objects or groups of objects based on specified conditions and schedules. You can set up lifecycle policies for objects in each specific bucket. By creating data migration policies using S3 Lifecycle, you can define the lifecycle of your object and reduce storage costs.
These object migration policies can be identified by storage periods. You can specify a policy for the entire S3 bucket or for specific prefixes. The cost of data migration during the lifecycle is determined by the cost of transfers. By configuring a lifecycle policy for ECR, you can avoid unnecessary expenses on storing Docker images that you no longer need.
Switch to using GP3 storage type for EBS
Potential for savings: 20%
By default, AWS creates gp2 EBS volumes, but it's almost always preferable to choose gp3 — the latest generation of EBS volumes, which provides more IOPS by default and is cheaper.
For example, in the US-east-1 region, the price for a gp2 volume is $0.10 per gigabyte-month of provisioned storage, while for gp3, it's $0.08/GB per month. If you have 5 TB of EBS volume on your account, you can save $100 per month by simply switching from gp2 to gp3.
Switch the format of public IP addresses from IPv4 to IPv6
Potential for savings: depending on the workload
Starting from February 1, 2024, AWS will begin charging for each public IPv4 address at a rate of $0.005 per IP address per hour. For example, taking 100 public IP addresses on EC2 x $0.005 per public IP address per month x 730 hours = $365.00 per month.
While this figure might not seem huge (without tying it to the company's capabilities), it can add up to significant network costs. Thus, the optimal time to transition to IPv6 was a couple of years ago or now.
Here are some resources about this recent update that will guide you on how to use IPv6 with widely-used services — AWS Public IPv4 Address Charge.
Collaborate with AWS professionals and partners for expertise and discounts
Potential for savings: ~5% of the contract amount through discounts.
AWS Partner Network (APN) Discounts: Companies that are members of the AWS Partner Network (APN) can access special discounts, which they can pass on to their clients. Partners reaching a certain level in the APN program often have access to better pricing offers.
Custom Pricing Agreements: Some AWS partners may have the opportunity to negotiate special pricing agreements with AWS, enabling them to offer unique discounts to their clients. This can be particularly relevant for companies involved in consulting or system integration.
Reseller Discounts: As resellers of AWS services, partners can purchase services at wholesale prices and sell them to clients with a markup, still offering a discount from standard AWS prices. They may also provide bundled offerings that include AWS services and their own additional services.
Credit Programs: AWS frequently offers credit programs or vouchers that partners can pass on to their clients. These could be promo codes or discounts for a specific period.
Seek assistance from AWS professionals and partners. Often, this is more cost-effective than purchasing and configuring everything independently. Given the intricacies of cloud space optimization, expertise in this matter can save you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
More valuable tips for optimizing costs and improving efficiency in AWS environments:
Scheduled TurnOff/TurnOn for NonProd environments: If the Development team is in the same timezone, significant savings can be achieved by, for example, scaling the AutoScaling group of instances/clusters/RDS to zero during the night and weekends when services are not actively used.
Move static content to an S3 Bucket & CloudFront: To prevent service charges for static content, consider utilizing Amazon S3 for storing static files and CloudFront for content delivery.
Use API Gateway/Lambda/Lambda Edge where possible: In such setups, you only pay for the actual usage of the service. This is especially noticeable in NonProd environments where resources are often underutilized.
If your CI/CD agents are on EC2, migrate to CodeBuild: AWS CodeBuild can be a more cost-effective and scalable solution for your continuous integration and delivery needs.
CloudWatch covers the needs of 99% of projects for Monitoring and Logging: Avoid using third-party solutions if AWS CloudWatch meets your requirements. It provides comprehensive monitoring and logging capabilities for most projects.
Feel free to reach out to me or other specialists for an audit, a comprehensive optimization package, or just advice.
