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Using the AWS Cost and Usage Report (CUR) alone is insufficient for effective cloud cost management. Netflix developed Cloud Efficiency Analytics, a platform integrating inventory, usage, and cost data—an approach worth replicating.
While CUR provides cost and usage metrics, it may obscure inefficiencies. For example:
– 1000 EC2 instances covered by Savings Plans, but 100 are underutilized (10% capacity).
– Who owns these resources? What are their Amazon Resource Names (ARNs)?
Key Steps for Cloud Cost Optimization:
1. Maintain a Cloud Inventory
- AWS Resource Explorer helps catalog resources: AWS Resource Explorer Guide
- Track ownership (like traditional CMDB).
2. Monitor Usage Metrics
- Use Amazon CloudWatch or third-party tools.
3. Analyze Cost vs. Utilization
- Netflix’s approach: Netflix Cloud Efficiency
You Should Know:
AWS CLI Commands for Cost & Resource Tracking
1. List EC2 Instances with Low CPU Utilization
aws cloudwatch get-metric-statistics --namespace AWS/EC2 --metric-name CPUUtilization --dimensions Name=InstanceId,Value=i-1234567890abcdef0 --statistics Average --start-time 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z --end-time 2023-10-31T23:59:59Z --period 86400
2. Extract CUR Data via Athena
SELECT line_item_usage_account_id, product_instance_type, SUM(line_item_unblended_cost) AS cost FROM cur_db.cur_table WHERE line_item_product_code = 'AmazonEC2' GROUP BY line_item_usage_account_id, product_instance_type ORDER BY cost DESC;
3. Tag Untagged Resources
aws resourcegroupstaggingapi tag-resources --resource-arn-list arn:aws:ec2:us-east-1:123456789012:instance/i-1234567890abcdef0 --tags Owner=DevTeam
4. Find Unattached EBS Volumes
aws ec2 describe-volumes --filters Name=status,Values=available --query "Volumes[].VolumeId"
5. Check Savings Plan Coverage
aws ce get-savings-plans-coverage --time-period Start=2023-10-01,End=2023-10-31 --granularity MONTHLY
What Undercode Say:
Cloud cost optimization requires more than just CUR. A structured approach combining inventory tracking (CMDB-style), usage analytics, and automated tagging ensures efficiency. Netflix’s method proves that integrating cost, usage, and ownership data is critical for long-term savings.
Prediction:
As cloud environments grow, AI-driven cost anomaly detection will become standard, reducing manual oversight. Expect AWS to enhance Resource Explorer with automated optimization recommendations.
Expected Output:
- Reduced cloud waste via automated resource tracking.
- Improved accountability through tagging and ownership logs.
- Actionable insights from CUR + usage analytics integration.
Relevant URLs:
References:
Reported By: Ivopinto01 Aws – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
