What is Cloud Economics?

As cloud computing has come of age, more and more organisations are shifting to running their services in the cloud. For many, the immediate complexity of managing the migration has turned to the challenge of how to reduce costs, accurately forecast budgets, and deliver on the promise of accelerating delivery and efficiency. The perils of the “lift and shift”, or" “as-is” migration to the cloud can lead to significantly larger-than-expected budgets, and can be difficult to get under control.

Having to move to an immediate cost-reduction transformation programme rather than seizing the opportunity of the cloud can reduce the impact of moving to the cloud, and can be frustrating for senior leadership and investors.

“Finops”, in keeping with other platform & Cloud-compute roles such as DevOps, SecOps and GitOps, has emerged as a hands-on role aimed at understanding and managing the cost of running cloud compute. Cloud Economics builds on that role, identifying cost saving opportunities, and critically, helping to provide insight into transformation opportunities and future cost reductions.

What can I offer? 

I have worked with many medium and large size businesses on cloud adoption and transformation. The following services are typical, but for any other enquiries, please reach out. Contact details are below.

A Fractional Cloud Economist :

Many organisations now recognise the need for ongoing scrutiny and management of the cloud technical estate from a cost perspective, and critically, the ability to forecast and transform the use of cloud technologies to achieve both lower cost and a lower operational overhead.

Bridging finance and technology, I can work with stakeholders on a fractional basis to identify targets and work with technical teams to plan and meet those objectives. Examples might include:

  • Establishing a baseline of cost from which to plan future savings

  • Identifying immediate, no risk savings opportunities

  • Consideration of possible longer term discount opportunities, relative merits, and risks posed to the organistation through underspend

  • Validating the cloud-native transformation strategy, and what impact it might have on cost

  • Working with senior stakeholders to understand how the Product and Technical strategies will impact possible cost savings measures and reduce operational overheads.

State-of-the-Nation summaries, before, after or during cloud transformation:

With a history of working with stakeholders at all levels in the business, I can deliver high-level, concise overviews of cost savings and opportunities, as well as helping to forecast costs.

A hands-on-the-keyboard service :

With considerable technical experience within the AWS environment, I can work hands-on with technical teams. Examples might include

  • Forensics of cost management in particular high cost services

  • Working day to day with technical teams, coaching and demonstrating how to understand cost and prepare resources for tracking cost

  • Considering cost implications when comparing different solutions.