In the fast-paced world of business and technology, the cloud has become more than just a buzzword—it's an essential part of staying competitive. However, you might be feeling the pressure to balance innovation with cost-effectiveness. Cloud programs can be a game-changer, but they can also lead to unexpected expenses if not managed effectively. In this article, we'll explore five strategies to help you optimise your cloud environment, regardless of whether you choose Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, or any other cloud provider.
1. Stop unhealthy growth to regain control
Many organisations experience cloud cost increases, but not all of them are due to healthy growth. Sometimes, it's a result of poor stewardship or immature consumption practices. In uncertain economic times, understanding your cloud spend becomes crucial. One way to do this is to implement a tagging and reporting system to gain transparency, allocate costs effectively, and introduce financial controls. By doing so, you can ensure that your cloud spend aligns with business priorities and critical use cases.
2. Focus on simple fixes for immediate gains
Managing your cloud program doesn't always require complex solutions. Often, simple fixes can lead to significant cost savings. Releasing unused capacity, scheduling and auto-scaling, and aligning service levels with specific application requirements can make a big difference. Prioritise actions that offer maximum benefit and deploy them across your teams. Training your technologists in cloud best practices will help sustain these results over time.
3. Unlock cloud elasticity to stop wasting resources
Cloud elasticity is a powerful feature that allows you to pay only for what you use. However, many companies struggle to leverage it effectively due to manual provisioning practices and technical debt. Identify inelastic applications and refactor them for better scalability. While "lift and shift" can be an option, consider more advanced capabilities like containerisation for efficient elasticity in the long run.
4. Revisit your vendor agreements for flexibility
In challenging economic environments, vendor agreements can become a burden. Organisations often realise they were too optimistic about their cloud migration timelines. Review your contracts and renegotiate if necessary. Seek deeper discounts or flexibility in your commitments. Incorporate provisions that allow you to adjust your contract based on trigger events or service credit parameters.
5. Be strategic about cloud migrations
It's tempting to slow down cloud migrations and rely on on-premises environments during tough times. However, on-premises data centres come with their own set of costs and challenges. Thoughtful and targeted cloud migrations can actually lower costs and position your business for growth once the downturn ends. Prioritise workloads that generate value and are nearing hardware replacement or upgrade cycles.
Get started for flexibility and performance
In conclusion, the cloud offers increased flexibility and performance at a fraction of traditional IT costs. While navigating the current economic challenges, it's essential to optimise your cloud environment. Whether you choose Azure or another provider, these strategies can help you cut costs, build value, and improve productivity.
As an IT partner with expertise in managing Azure migrations and optimizing Azure-based environments, we're here to assist you. If you're considering a move to the cloud or looking to optimise your existing cloud setup, we invite you to inquire about our "Azure Express Assessment." This valuable evaluation tool provides detailed predictive insights with minimal time input from your side. In collaboration with our colleagues at Microsoft, we're offering this assessment for free (originally priced at $5,000) to a select number of businesses. Contact us today to learn more and take the first step toward a cost-effective and efficient cloud solution.