In 2023, the global cloud computing market was valued at nearly $600 billion. This figure demonstrates how pervasive cloud computing is across industries and geographies. In short, it’s an inescapable component of modern business operations.
However, as the cloud’s potential expands, so do the costs of harnessing its power. A mounting challenge for businesses is optimizing their cloud strategies to maximize benefits while reducing costs. A challenge that calls for innovative and efficient solutions.
While you may be dreading investing in cloud computing tools, we’re about to share some options that could take your business operations to the next level.
They each do something different, helping to solve various problems and make your cloud costs more manageable.
But first, let’s establish why and how these tools can reduce costs.
The need for cost-reduction tools
Cloud computing can get expensive, and fast. Just like you’d want to cut down your electricity or water bills (without losing functionality), it’s the same with cloud costs. Too much money can get used up fast, especially if things aren’t set up right.
In short, these tools are key to managing and reducing cloud costs, making them essential for any business using cloud services.
The top 5 best cloud tools for your business
1. Cloudthread
At the top of our list, we find Cloudthread. Born from the acclaimed YCombinator in 2021, this platform is on a mission to wipe out cloud cost waste. Cloudthread does a stellar job by consolidating AWS savings opportunities in a single dashboard allowing FinOps team to discover, filter, prioritize, group and share optimization items with engineers through JIRA integration.
It’s all about making implementation easier for the tech team and getting the savings faster. Realized savings tracking and unit metrics capabilities of the platform allow to establish the reliable and metered optimization workflow.
This tool helps ensure cloud efficiency, keeping both the FinOps professionals and the tech team satisfied. The unique approach of Cloudthread to engage engineers in cost-saving strategies and their dedication to Cloud FinOps make it a standout tool in the cloud cost management race.
2. Cloudability
Cloudability is a useful tool designed for the financial management of cloud resources. It shows the money side of things in a straightforward way.
With Cloudability, businesses can get a clear picture of their cloud spending. This tool delivers detailed reports about your expenditures.
You can see every bit of your money at work in the cloud. It even hints at areas where you might cut costs. It doesn’t cover all areas of cloud management, but it’s a big help when you need to understand your cloud budget.
3. Cloudfix
Cloudfix is a hands-on tool that helps you handle your AWS expenses. The platform scans your AWS environment and uses data analytics to find cost inefficiencies. It gives clear recommendations on how to fix issues and save money.
The great part about Cloudfix is that it not only identifies the problems, but it also provides the solutions. It prioritizes these solutions based on the potential cost savings, so you know where to focus your efforts first. Whether it’s idle resources, outdated instances, or costly storage, Cloudfix is there to help you trim down your AWS bill.
4. CloudHealth by VMware
CloudHealth by VMware is a platform offering comprehensive cost management and optimization for businesses using multiple cloud services. This tool provides insights and recommendations, allowing you to effectively manage and allocate resources.
One standout feature of CloudHealth is its ability to create custom policies that alert you when your costs exceed your budget or when you’re not following best practices. The platform also offers detailed reports that help you track your spending and find areas for potential savings. With CloudHealth, you can feel confident knowing your cloud costs are being managed wisely.
5. AWS Trusted Advisor
AWS Trusted Advisor acts like a personalized consultant for businesses operating in the AWS cloud environment. This tool analyzes your AWS usage and provides real-time recommendations on how you can improve cost-efficiency, security, performance, and reliability.
For cost-optimization specifically, Trusted Advisor checks for underutilized resources, idle load balancers, and redundant data storage, to name a few.
By identifying such inefficiencies, it enables you to streamline your cloud operations and reduce unnecessary expenditures. It’s a handy tool for any business looking to make the most of their AWS investment.
Final thoughts
Managing costs effectively is critical as businesses embrace cloud computing. The tools discussed, like Cloudthread, Cloudability, CloudHealth, Cloudfix, and AWS Trusted Advisor, offer ways to reduce expenses and streamline operations.
The best choice for your business? It depends on your needs, but you can’t go wrong with any of these tools. By understanding your cloud cost challenges and selecting the right tool, you can transform cloud computing from a cost burden into a strategic asset. It’s all about driving your business forward in the digital era.
