How to Cut AWS Costs Without Sacrificing Performance (12 Expert-Backed Strategies)

Listen to this Post

Looking to reduce AWS costs while maintaining high performance? Here’s how:

➡ Right-Sizing Instances: Adjust instance sizes regularly. Use AWS Compute Optimizer to find the perfect fit for your resources.

➡ Shut down when not in use: Use automations to shutdown dev/test environments on weekends.

➡ Use Reserved Instances & Savings Plans: Plan for long-term savings.

➡ Leverage Spot Instances: Opt for cheaper Spot Instances.

➡ Optimize Storage Costs: Choose the right S3 storage class.

➡ Monitor Costs Proactively: Use AWS Cost Explorer and Budgets.

➡ Utilize Auto Scaling: Adjust resources based on demand.

➡ Optimize Data Transfer Costs: Use CloudFront and VPC endpoints.

➡ Review Database Costs: Consider Aurora Serverless and RDS Reserved Instances.

➡ Implement Tagging Strategy: Use tags to manage resources.

➡ Review & Audit AWS Accounts: Regularly audit and consolidate billing.

➡ Modernize your applications: Implement serverless or containerization to stay ahead.

You Should Know:

1. AWS Compute Optimizer Command:

aws compute-optimizer get-ec2-instance-recommendations --instance-arn <instance-arn>

This command provides recommendations for right-sizing your EC2 instances.

2. Automate Shutdown with AWS Lambda:

import boto3

def lambda_handler(event, context):
ec2 = boto3.client('ec2')
instances = ec2.describe_instances(Filters=[{'Name': 'tag:Environment', 'Values': ['Dev', 'Test']}])
for reservation in instances['Reservations']:
for instance in reservation['Instances']:
ec2.stop_instances(InstanceIds=[instance['InstanceId']])

This Lambda function stops all instances tagged with “Environment: Dev” or “Environment: Test”.

3. Enable AWS Budgets:

aws budgets create-budget --account-id <account-id> --budget file://budget.json

Example `budget.json`:

{
"BudgetName": "MonthlyBudget",
"BudgetLimit": {
"Amount": "100",
"Unit": "USD"
},
"TimePeriod": {
"Start": "2023-10-01",
"End": "2023-10-31"
},
"TimeUnit": "MONTHLY",
"BudgetType": "COST"
}

4. Create a CloudFront Distribution:

aws cloudfront create-distribution --distribution-config file://cloudfront-config.json

Example `cloudfront-config.json`:

{
"CallerReference": "my-distribution",
"Origins": {
"Quantity": 1,
"Items": [
{
"Id": "my-origin",
"DomainName": "my-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com",
"S3OriginConfig": {
"OriginAccessIdentity": ""
}
}
]
},
"DefaultCacheBehavior": {
"TargetOriginId": "my-origin",
"ForwardedValues": {
"QueryString": false,
"Cookies": { "Forward": "none" }
},
"ViewerProtocolPolicy": "allow-all",
"MinTTL": 3600
},
"Comment": "My CloudFront Distribution",
"Enabled": true
}

5. Tagging Resources:

aws ec2 create-tags --resources <instance-id> --tags Key=Environment,Value=Production

This command tags an EC2 instance with “Environment: Production”.

6. Enable Auto Scaling:

aws autoscaling create-auto-scaling-group --auto-scaling-group-name my-asg --launch-configuration-name my-launch-config --min-size 1 --max-size 3 --desired-capacity 2 --vpc-zone-identifier "subnet-12345678"

7. Check S3 Storage Classes:

aws s3api list-buckets --query "Buckets[].Name"
aws s3api get-bucket-lifecycle-configuration --bucket <bucket-name>

Use these commands to list your S3 buckets and check their lifecycle configurations.

What Undercode Say:

AWS cost optimization is a critical skill for any cloud professional. By leveraging tools like AWS Compute Optimizer, Cost Explorer, and Auto Scaling, you can significantly reduce your cloud expenses without compromising performance. Automating routine tasks, such as shutting down unused instances and optimizing storage, can lead to substantial savings. Additionally, adopting modern architectures like serverless and containerization can future-proof your applications while keeping costs in check. Always remember to monitor your spending and regularly audit your AWS accounts to ensure you’re getting the most out of your cloud investment.

For further reading, check out the AWS Cost Management Documentation.

References:

Reported By: Riyazsayyad Aws – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

Join Our Cyber World:

💬 Whatsapp | 💬 TelegramFeatured Image