Cloud computing is profoundly changing the way businesses are managed, regardless of their size or scope.  The ability to share, store and manage data by using public networks is particularly remarkable because it enhances the flexibility, efficiency, and resources of any company, big or small. While setting up an internal network could be costly and require a lot of resources and capital, relying on a cloud service provider is significantly cheaper and more efficient. Cloud is very easy to scale, because different customers can choose to purchase various services based on their particular needs. Whether you represent a huge corporation or run a small homegrown business, you can tailor your cloud subscription to your exact specifications: no need to pay for what you don’t need to use!

The idea of only paying for the services you use might seem quite straightforward. However, how can you exactly know what you are going to need for sure? Learn more about what you can do to avoid unnecessary spending on cloud services.

Define your strategy to avoid unnecessary expenses.

It is very important to understand that operating your business through a cloud service is not the same thing as running your business the traditional way, right on your premises. If you are planning on migrating your workload onto a cloud network, you are going to need to prepare for the change and craft viable strategy, which will enable you to reap all the benefits of the cloud.

By planning ahead and defining your strategy, you will be able to know exactly what you need and avoid running into unnecessary expenses when setting up your cloud infrastructure.

Avoid the “zombie” problem.

Nope, we aren’t talking about The Walking Dead, but about servers that lay there, underutilized! One of the most significant issues experienced by companies who migrate to cloud computing networks is that they might not make the most out of the servers they have at their disposal. Therefore, they find themselves faced with a real zombie apocalypse, which servers that are sitting there, costing a lot of money without really serving (no pun intended!) any purpose.

This is a perfect example of how certain companies fail to adapt promptly to the cloud workflow, often translating into additional costs and expenses they could easily avoid by planning ahead and understanding the actual asset utilization they will need.

Redefining your priorities.

In order to save money and optimize your cloud strategy, it is very important to define your priorities and make the most out of the service capacity you intend to purchase. Most of the major cloud service providers, including AWS, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud provide flexible and cost-effective solutions for businesses of all sizes. If you prioritize your needs, you will be able to make the most out of affordable cloud solution and easily save a substantial amount of money in the process.

Manage your cloud expenses.

As with any aspect of your business, it is vital to understand the fundamental expenses and costs required to operate your could infrastructure.

Please set a budget for your business’ IT spending and cloud management.
It is paramount to understand how and where are you are actually going to allocate your budget. In the vast majority of cases, the best way to accurately get to know how you are spending your money is to tag your resources properly. This way, you will be able to identify what each particular resource is costing you and improve the efficiency of your operation by refining your strategy and optimizing your expenses. In addition to that, you are also going to be able to identify the aforementioned “zombie servers,” which are causing you costs, without providing any real value to your business.