aws-cost-optimizer

AWS Cost Optimizer

Analyze and optimize AWS costs with actionable recommendations.

Quick Start

Review Cost Explorer, identify top costs, right-size instances, use Reserved Instances, delete unused resources.

Instructions

Cost Analysis Process

1. Identify cost drivers
2. Analyze usage patterns
3. Recommend optimizations
4. Estimate savings
5. Implement changes

Using AWS Cost Explorer

Access Cost Explorer:

• AWS Console → Billing → Cost Explorer
• View costs by service, region, tag

Key metrics to check:

• Monthly costs by service
• Cost trends over time
• Unused or underutilized resources
• Data transfer costs

EC2 Cost Optimization

Right-sizing instances:

Check utilization:

# Get CloudWatch metrics
aws cloudwatch get-metric-statistics \
  --namespace AWS/EC2 \
  --metric-name CPUUtilization \
  --dimensions Name=InstanceId,Value=i-1234567890abcdef0 \
  --start-time 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z \
  --end-time 2024-01-31T23:59:59Z \
  --period 3600 \
  --statistics Average

Recommendations:

• CPU < 20%: Downsize instance type
• CPU > 80%: Upsize or add instances
• Memory < 50%: Consider smaller instance

Reserved Instances:

• 1-year: ~30-40% savings
• 3-year: ~50-70% savings
• Best for predictable workloads

Savings Plans:

• More flexible than Reserved Instances
• Commit to $/hour usage
• Apply across instance families

Spot Instances:

• Up to 90% savings
• For fault-tolerant workloads
• Batch processing, CI/CD, testing

Stop unused instances:

# Find stopped instances
aws ec2 describe-instances \
  --filters "Name=instance-state-name,Values=stopped" \
  --query 'Reservations[].Instances[].[InstanceId,Tags[?Key==`Name`].Value|[0]]'

# Terminate if not needed
aws ec2 terminate-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0

S3 Cost Optimization

Lifecycle policies:

{
  "Rules": [{
    "Id": "Archive old data",
    "Status": "Enabled",
    "Transitions": [
      {
        "Days": 30,
        "StorageClass": "STANDARD_IA"
      },
      {
        "Days": 90,
        "StorageClass": "GLACIER"
      }
    ],
    "Expiration": {
      "Days": 365
    }
  }]
}