Description: Public cloud cost management involves monitoring and optimizing cloud spending to ensure efficient resource usage. This process is crucial for organizations using cloud services, as it helps identify areas of waste and maximize return on investment. Cost management focuses on planning, tracking, and analyzing expenses associated with the use of cloud resources such as storage, computing, and networking. Key features include cost visibility, budget allocation, expense forecasting, and the implementation of governance policies. Additionally, specific tools and platforms are used to facilitate data collection and reporting, enabling companies to make informed decisions about their cloud infrastructure. The relevance of this management lies in the fact that as organizations increasingly adopt public cloud, cost control becomes a determining factor for financial sustainability and market competitiveness. Without proper cost management, companies may face unpleasant surprises in their monthly bills, which can impact their budgeting and long-term planning.
History: Cost management in public cloud began to gain relevance as cloud services became popular in the 2010s. With the growth of providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, companies started adopting these services to improve agility and reduce operational costs. However, the lack of visibility and control over cloud spending led many organizations to face unexpected bills. This drove the development of specific tools and practices for cost management, enabling companies to optimize their resource usage and avoid unnecessary expenses.
Uses: Public cloud cost management is primarily used to optimize spending on cloud services, allowing organizations to identify and eliminate underutilized or unnecessary resources. It is also applied in budget planning, where companies can set spending limits and forecast future costs. Additionally, it is used for cost allocation to different departments or projects, facilitating transparency and accountability in cloud resource usage.
Examples: An example of public cloud cost management is the use of tools like AWS Cost Explorer, which allows companies to visualize and analyze their spending on AWS. Another case is that of companies implementing automatic shutdown policies for unused instances overnight to reduce costs. Organizations that use budgets and spending alerts to avoid unexpected overspending can also be mentioned.
