In partnership with

Case Studies
How to Save + $1,2M with a Few Simple Steps

Arpeely shared how they cut their Google Cloud Platform (GCP) costs by $102,000 each month. They handle a huge amount of data - about 1 million requests every second. Here are the three main ways they saved money:

Smart Resource Planning

They bought long-term commitments for their essential services, which gave them big discounts (about 60% off). They made sure to optimize everything first and only committed to 70% of what they needed, keeping some flexibility.

Better Data Storage

They created a system to move old data from expensive storage (BigQuery) to cheaper storage (GCS Archive). This simple change made storage 16 times cheaper and saved them $15,000 monthly.

Smarter Auto-Scaling

They improved how their system grows and shrinks based on demand. By making careful adjustments to their scaling settings, they reduced the number of running systems by 30% while keeping everything running smoothly.

These changes helped Arpeely save $1.22 million per year, and they found even more ways to reduce costs after that. Small, careful changes in how you use cloud services can lead to big savings without affecting performance.

Read the complete article here

In Partnership with Ternary
Ready to get Granular with Kubernetes?

In this article, Ryland Bowles, Customer Success Manager at Ternary, explores the visualization gaps many companies face when managing Kubernetes.

Discover:

• How to access Kubernetes data across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud native tools.

• The benefits of unifying your data for clearer insights and smarter cost optimization.

• Why you no longer need a specialized point solution just for Kubernetes.

Ready to supercharge your Kubernetes visualization? Read this article to get started.

Industry
Health Sector Struggling to Control Cloud Costs

Healthcare companies are changing how they think about cloud computing costs. This shift comes after years of moving their systems to internet-based storage and computing services.

The main challenge these companies face is managing growing cloud expenses while trying to fund new developments. Healthcare providers are using multiple cloud services more than ever - 73% use more than one cloud provider. Cloud costs are rising due to:

• New security needs to protect against cyber attacks

• More complex rules about data protection

• The addition of AI-powered tools that need lots of computing power

While cloud computing costs will keep growing, especially with AI needs, healthcare organizations can now make smarter choices about where to spend their money.

Read more

Azure
Azure Storage and Virtual Machines Cost Optimization Guide

Storage Cost Savings

Azure offers different storage types - Hot (expensive but fast), Cool, and Cold (cheaper but slower). Moving data from Hot to Cold storage can save about 97% on storage costs. But watch out: Moving data between storage types costs money for the transfer itself.

Virtual Machine Cost Savings

Choose the right size for your virtual machines based on what you need. Smart tips to reduce costs:

• Turn off machines when not in use

• Remove unused storage disks

• Use long-term reservations to get discounts

• Pick newer versions of virtual machines as they often cost less

The article provides helpful tools and queries to find areas where you can save money, like finding unused disks or checking how much processing power your machines actually use.

📺️ VIDEO
How were the Early Days of FinOps? With Dieter Matzion

Learn how FinOps has evolve since the beginning, and what are the key topics to master to become a FinOps Professional in our conversation with Dieter Matzion, FinOps Lead at Roku and a well known expert in the FinOps community.

FinOps
Cloud Cost: A Growing Concern Despite FinOps

Cloud costs remain a major worry for companies in 2025, according to Flexera's State of Cloud 2025 Report, showing some clear trends:

84% of companies say managing cloud costs is their biggest challenge. More companies are creating special teams to handle cloud spending - 59% now have these teams, up from 51% last year

72% of companies are using AI tools in their work

Only 21% of companies have moved their cloud systems back to their own computers

When it comes to choosing between saving money or being environmentally friendly, 57% of companies pick saving money first.

Brian Adler points out that many companies rushed to move their work to the cloud without proper planning. Now, some are bringing work back to their own computers because it's either cheaper or works better there.

Read More

Events
Webinar: See You On April 17th!

We continue with our events, and the next one is at:

Date: April 17th, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM [Europe/Madrid Time]
Format: Online (Zoom)

Spots are Limited, Join Now!

Yet to reveal our agenda (we have something to share beforehand 🫢) it’s going to be a super-interesting discussion with one of the most known figures in the industry.

Plus me, Victor, talking and driving as always.

Will I see you in there?

🎖️ Mention of Honour
Databases Workload Optimization Checklist

Another great article by Oliver Assad, where he explains how to make database services more cost-efficient in the cloud by following a simple checklist. The checklist has 5 main parts to look at:

1. Business Need Check: Ask if you still need the database. Sometimes companies keep old databases they don't use anymore.

2. Speed and Power Check: Look at how much of the database's power you're using. If it's using less than 60% of its power, you can switch to a smaller size.

3. Technical Check: Make sure you're using the right type of database for your needs. Sometimes a simpler database can do the job just as well.

4. License Check: If you're using SQL databases, see if you can use a basic license instead of an expensive one. Consider using free database options when possible.

5. Price Check: Look into special pricing plans that give you better rates when you commit to using the service for a longer time. These plans can save you up to 72% compared to regular prices.

Regularly check these five areas to make sure you're not spending more than you need to on your database services.

Amazing content. Read it here

🏆 Quick Wins Resources

Evergreen FinOps Resources to apply Today!

FinOps Weekly Youtube Channel
34 FinOps KPIs for SaaS
Beginners Guide to Tagging in FinOps

🆕 Announcements

• Google Cloud Next 2025 is setting up a major focus on FinOps

• AWS GenAI Cost Optimization Guidelines Update

Professional Spotlight
Dinesh DM

Sharing TBM & FinOps

One of the first professionals I talked with when learning about FinOps. Dinesh shares super interesting content, with an special good touch on ITAM and TBM stuff!

Whenever You Are Ready, Here’s How We Can Collaborate

1. Master FinOps with us: Learn about Tagging & Naming Conventions with our Mastering FinOps Course, taught by FinOps Author Alfonso San Miguel.

2. Sponsor this newsletter: Promote your company in this newsletter and reach the Cloud audience that wants to maximize business value and reduce costs.

3. Collaborate with SmartClouds: Our brand expands to more than just newsletters. Podcasts, Posts, Webinars, Events, and any collaboration related to FinOps are available.