Avoiding the top 3 Pitfalls in AWS Subscription Management

Steve Rastall (Founder & CEO) 23-Oct-2024 11:16:59

AWS Managed Cloud Service

Background

As more businesses continue to adopt the cloud for their IT infrastructure, the demand for cloud services, especially Amazon Web Services (AWS), has grown rapidly. AWS provides a vast array of services to help businesses manage their cloud infrastructure, and with AWS subscription management, businesses can efficiently manage their cloud resources and scale up or down based on demand.

However, without proper AWS subscription management, businesses risk overspending, can have lack of visibility into their cloud environment, and security issues.

1. Over-Provisioning

Over-provisioning occurs when businesses are subscribed to AWS services they are not using or overestimate the 'amount' of services they need. This can lead to a significant increase in cloud spending, which can put a strain on the organization's budget.

To avoid over-provisioning, businesses should have a clear understanding of their cloud usage patterns and optimize their cloud infrastructure accordingly. AWS offers tools like AWS cost explorer that provide cost optimization recommendations, including unused resources, unutilized reserved instances, and opportunities to use cheaper services. Implementing these recommendations can result in significant cost savings for the business but always review these recommendations before implementing because they are often standard feedback and don't take into account your specific workloads.

The disadvantage of using the inbuilt tools is that you have no outside perspective and they are automated. To get a good sounding board and a level of expertise from a UK based AWS team, then a partner with a cloud management solution including a cost management element like IG CloudOps can be a good option.

2. Lack of Visibility

Lack of visibility is another significant issue in AWS subscription management. Many businesses have little to no insight into their cloud usage, making it challenging to optimize their cloud infrastructure effectively. Without visibility, businesses may not be aware of any unusual activity or potential security threats.

To address this issue, businesses should implement tools that provide complete visibility into their cloud environment. AWS offers a range of monitoring and logging services, including Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon CloudTrail, and AWS Config, which enable businesses to track and analyze their cloud usage, and identify potential issues or opportunities for optimization.

The drawback to these tools is that each requires a mini project for your team to review, learn, configure and review. For a turn-key cloud management solution that gives you these sorts of insights on day-one have a look at CloudOps.

3. Not Using a Third-Party Cloud Management Tool

The third pitfall in AWS subscription management is not using a third-party cloud management tool to get an outside perspective. Although AWS offers tools that enable businesses to manage their cloud infrastructure, having a third-party perspective can provide a more comprehensive view of the cloud environment.

Third-party cloud management tools offer businesses greater control over their cloud environment, providing them with a single platform to monitor and manage their cloud services. These tools can also help businesses optimize their cloud spending, identify potential security threats, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

In addition, third-party cloud management tools offer businesses the ability to manage their cloud infrastructure across multiple cloud providers, providing a more holistic view of their cloud environment.

CloudOps covers all of these areas and is driven by leading open-source technology. Change how you manage your cloud infrastructure today with unified cloud management.

What does this mean for anyone who manages AWS?

AWS subscription management is critical to achieving an efficient and cost-effective cloud infrastructure. Over-provisioning, lack of visibility, and not using a third-party cloud management tool are the top three pitfalls in AWS subscription management that businesses need to avoid. By implementing cost optimization tools, monitoring and logging services, and a third-party cloud management tool, businesses can achieve greater visibility into their cloud environment, optimize their cloud spending, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

If you're looking for help managing your AWS subscriptions, consider using a third-party cloud management tool like CloudOps to gain a comprehensive view of your cloud environment and optimize your cloud spending.