Many small businesses like yours have turned to the cloud for its many benefits, such as scalability, increased efficiency, and cost savings. But while using the cloud can improve your bottom line, it's important to still be mindful of cloud-related costs.
In this blog post, we will provide tips on how to limit your cloud spending without compromising the quality or security of your cloud service.
Tip No. 1: Don't get more than you need
One way to keep your cloud costs down is to subscribe only to the services and features that your business actually needs. There's no point in paying for something that you're not using, so be sure to carefully assess your needs before signing up for any service.
Understanding your usage patterns can help you decide on which services and how much bandwidth you need. Study how and how often your team uses the cloud to help you identify areas where you can cut back on spending. For example, if you find that they only use a certain feature during peak seasons, you may be able to save money by scaling back your subscription during these times.
Related reading: 8 Key steps for migrating to the cloud: What every SMB should know
Tip No. 2: Automate what you can
Automation reduces, if not eliminates, the need for manual tasks, thus saving you time and money. It can also help improve your employees’ efficiency, enabling them to spend less time on routine work and focus on more important projects.
When choosing an automation solution, be sure to select one that integrates well with your existing tools and systems to ensure a smooth transition.
Tip No. 3: Optimize cloud usage
Most cloud subscriptions are on-demand and only charge for the resources you use. This may sound great in theory — until users become careless with their cloud usage. This is why it’s critical to review how your business uses the cloud. It's also essential to create a policy about how employees should utilize cloud resources so you can maintain efficiency while reducing costs.
One way you can better understand your cloud usage patterns and optimize your resources is by leveraging data analytics. By tracking how and when your users are accessing cloud resources, you can identify areas where usage is high and look for ways to reduce wastage. For example, you may find that some users are consuming more than their fair share of storage, or that particular applications are using more memory than necessary. With this information, you can right-size your resources, or select the optimal mix of memory, storage, networking, and features for each workload.
Tip No. 4: Schedule your use of cloud solutions
If you don’t need to use cloud resources 24/7, then you can take advantage of certain cloud plans. Many cloud providers offer discounts for customers who schedule their usage in advance. For example, Google Cloud offers Spot Virtual Machines (VMs), which are short-lived instances that are up to 91% cheaper than on-demand VMs. This option is perfect for fault-tolerant workloads and batch jobs.
If you use the cloud for long-term projects, consider investing in reserved instances, which are basically prepaid subscriptions that come with significant discounts off the regular price of on-demand services. Amazon Web Services’ reserved instances, for example, offer up to 72% savings compared to their on-demand counterparts.
Tip No. 5: Explore different pricing models, services, and providers
Many providers give discounts to loyal customers who sign long-term contracts or pay upfront for their services. But if you are unable to take advantage of these discounts, be sure to negotiate with your provider for lower rates. The sky's the limit when it comes to cloud solutions offerings in the market, so always be on the lookout for one that meets your needs, budgets, and standards.
But while maintaining low costs is critical in running a business, remember that ensuring the quality and security of your cloud services is just as important. When evaluating providers, consider factors such as uptime, cybersecurity features, and customer support. If you choose a provider that offers high-quality service at a reasonable price, you can ensure that your business can take advantage of the many benefits of the cloud without breaking the bank.
If you're not sure where to start with making the most of your cloud investments, contact Online Computers today. Our team of IT experts can help you find and implement the best cloud solution for your business.
