Structured cost
governance

Azure cost optimization strategy #1

Step 1

Why do Azure costs spiral out of control with such regularity? Because the rules around them are either too loose, unenforced, or – even worse – they don’t exist.

The surest way to gain or regain control of Azure expenses is to establish a proactive cost optimization initiative with an expert partner that can help you:

Establish rules around spending targets.
Set up alerts around specific activities or thresholds.
Block certain unapproved actions that could increase spending.
Apply tags and chargeback strategies to identify departmental ownership of cloud resources and responsibility for related costs.
Determine next steps for remediation of wasteful spending.

These steps might also be considered the remit of a cloud center of excellence (CCoE) function. Learn more about how SHI can help you create an effective CCoE for Azure environments.

Here’s how SHI can help >>>

Implementing cost governance

SHI’s cloud governance services help you build custom cost governance frameworks based on Azure best practices and historic data. These frameworks address complex challenges, such as:

Waste

As we work with your business and IT leaders, one of the first steps SHI takes to help you eliminate excess cloud spending and unchecked sprawl is to formally establish what is or is not acceptable within your organization’s cloud environment. These rules can include waste characteristics that trigger alarms for remediation and rightsizing, as well as timelines for deleting unused assets.

Reservation management

Your organization is likely paying for reservations you’re not even using. We bring transparency to reservations and support exchanges or returns to recoup costs.

Azure Hybrid User Benefit licensing

Our cloud experts ensure usage rights, such as Azure Hybrid User Benefit (AHUB) licensing arrangements, are fully exploited. Doing so allows eligible organizations to bring their existing on-premises Windows and SQL server licenses to Azure, along with active software assurance or subscriptions. SHI helps determine the best way to utilize licenses and allowances to avoid overspending. Our approach is nuanced and tailored, since not all AHUB rules apply to all customers.