What's new in Cloud FinOps?

Send us a textIn this episode, Frank and SteveO reflect on the year's developments in cloud computing, discussing significant updates from AWS,  Azure, and Google Cloud.Thank you to all the listeners!!!

Send us a textIn this episode, Frank and SteveO discuss the latest updates in cloud computing for October 2024, covering significant announcements from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. They delve into new features, pricing changes, and innovations in cost management, data storage, and AI integration. The conversation also highlights insights from the recent FinOps XE conference, emphasizing the evolving landscape of FinOps and sustainability in cloud operations.

Send us a textThis month, we talk with Dvir and discuss integrating engineering principles into FinOps to manage cloud costs effectively. We stress proactive cost management, trust in recommendations, and understanding business context. We also cover the challenges of cost observability, utilized waste, and monitoring resources.Some takeawaysProactive involvement in cost management leads to better outcomes.Language and communication are crucial in discussing costs with engineers.Trust in recommendations is essential for effective FinOps practices.Understanding the business context is key to identifying waste.Maturity in organizational policies enhances accountability.Cost observability is a critical aspect of FinOps.Engineers should be made responsible for their resource usage.Effective communication can drive better financial decisions in tech

Send us a textIn this episode, Frank and SteveO celebrate four years of their podcast while discussing the latest advancements in Cloud FinOps, including Amazon's new EC2 Graviton instances, Azure's confidential VMs, and cost management innovations. They explore dynamic scaling in cloud services, AWS Healthomics, and the importance of sustainability in computing. The conversation also touches on SMS innovations, SageMaker customization, application rationalization, and automated complaint rate recommendations in SES, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the current cloud landscape.The podcast celebrates its four-year anniversary, highlighting its growth and listener engagement.everything else is noise :D

Send us a textIn this episode, SteveO and Frank chat with James Hall from GreenPixie about sustainability in cloud computing. James talks about his shift to GreenOps and the need for good data and practices for developers and sustainability teams. They also discuss FinOps, the water needs of data centers, energy source differences by region, and AI's effect on energy use. The talk wraps up with energy efficiency solutions for the tech sector.[Frank] Thanks for the patience, I selected the wrong microphone during the recording. Takeaways:Green Ops focuses on enabling teams with data and best practices.Sustainability in cloud computing is about using resources efficiently.Water usage effectiveness is a key metric for data centers.Regional energy sources significantly impact carbon footprints.AI's energy consumption is a growing concern for sustainability.Location-based energy accounting provides a clearer picture of impact.Renewable energy certificates can mislead sustainability efforts.Innovative startups are creating solutions for energy efficiency.Understanding FinOps is crucial for sustainability in cloud environments.The demand for energy is increasing, necessitating optimization efforts.Innovative data center solutions can enhance energy efficiency.Timeliness and granularity in data are crucial for sustainability.Cloud data centers are generally more efficient than traditional ones.Companies must be accountable for their carbon reporting.The CSRD will enforce stricter sustainability reporting standards.Sustainability teams need accurate data to drive change.Continuous methodology updates are essential in the cloud environment.Collaboration among stakeholders is key to improving sustainability practices.Understanding carbon consumption is vital for effective green ops.Companies should focus on optimizing compute and storage for sustainability.

Send us a textIn this episode, SteveO and Frank discuss the FOCUS project with Udam Dewaraja, exploring its origins, development, and future directions. The conversation highlights the importance of a common taxonomy in FinOps, the engagement of cloud providers, vendors and practitioners, and the growth of the Focus community. Udam shares insights on the current state of the Focus specification, the use case library, and the need for a broader understanding of FinOps beyond just cloud costs. The episode concludes with reflections on the maturity of FinOps and the ongoing challenges in data normalization and accuracy.Takeaways:Focus aims to create a common taxonomy for cloud costs.The project started from a need for data normalization.Engagement from major cloud providers was crucial for Focus's success.The use case library is essential for practical applications of Focus.Focus is not just for cloud costs but can be applied to SaaS and private cloud.The specification provides a common language for understanding costs.Community feedback is vital for the evolution of Focus.FinOps maturity requires systematic approaches to cost management.Normalization challenges persist as the industry evolves.Collaboration among practitioners is key to advancing FinOps.#Focus #FinOps #Cloud #Taxonomy #Specification #Community #CloudProviders #UseCases #DataNormalization #Future Directions

Send us a textIn this episode, Frank and Steve discuss the latest news in Cloud FinOps, including AWS G4DN Workspaces, AWS Parallel Computing Service, Google Compute Engine C3 and X4 instances, Azure C4 VMs, Amazon Open Search Service, AlloyDB free trial, Azure NetApp file storage, and more. They also touch on topics like cost optimization, carbon emissions, and the AWS Console mobile app.takeawaysAWS announces G4DN Workspaces, Parallel Computing Service, and support for Graviton 3 in Open Search ServiceGoogle introduces C3 and X4 instances in Compute EngineAzure releases C4 VMs and NetApp file storage with cool accessAmazon S3 no longer charges for certain HTTP error codesAWS introduces enhanced rate-based rules for lower rate limitsAzure offers Carbon Optimization and Spanner GraphDelegated administrator for cost optimization hub in AWSAlloyDB offers a free trial and Azure updates pricing and calculators

Send us a textIn this episode, Frank and Steve discuss the July 2024 FinOps announcements from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. They cover topics such as committed use discounts, fully licensed commitments, hibernation for VMs, cost management features, and service discontinuations. The conversation is filled with insights and analysis of the latest developments in the cloud industry.There are new machine types available on GCP, such as the C3 bare metal machine types and the sixth generation Intel-based VMs.Serverless compute options, like Azure Databricks and OpenSearch serverless, provide efficient and cost-effective ways to run workloads without managing infrastructure.Storage enhancements, such as the Convert Azure Premium SSD v2 disk and Amazon FSX for Open ZFS, offer improved performance and cost optimization.Log management tools, like Azure Monitor Logs and AWS Cost Categories, help users collect, analyze, and act on telemetry data from various resources.Cost optimization features, like AWS Focus 1.0 and GCP backup commitment-based use discounts, provide ways to optimize cloud spending. Committed use discounts are available for backup for GKE, allowing users to commit to a consistent amount of usage in exchange for a discounted rate.AWS now offers fully licensed commitments and portable license commitments for purchasing VMware engine commitments, providing customers with more options for using VMware in the cloud.VM hibernation is now generally available in Azure and AWS, allowing users to save compute costs by persisting the VM state in memory and deallocating the VM.Azure has introduced a cost card in the portal, allowing engineers to estimate costs and adjust as needed before deploying VMs.Google Cloud's FinOps Hub now allows users to view their carbon footprint and estimated greenhouse gas emissions for their Google Cloud usage.AWS has announced the discontinuation of several services, including Cloud9, SimpleDB, Forecast, and CodeCommit, indicating a shift in focus and priorities.

Mel, an engineer at PwC, offers a peek into the life of an engineer balancing technical tasks and meetings. She discusses her daily routine, the productivity kill of random meetings, and the benefits of pair and mob programming. The conversation highlights the need for better communication between engineering and finance teams to tackle cost management. Mel also emphasizes the challenges of juggling multiple tools and systems, revealing the intricacies of effective collaboration and debugging in today’s engineering landscape.

Dr. James Mitchell, a commodities trading and renewable energy expert, joins the conversation to explore the financial language in FinOps. He draws intriguing parallels between cloud computing and electricity markets while decoding cloud vendors' jargon. The discussion emphasizes the importance of bridging finance and engineering teams for better collaboration. Additionally, Mitchell examines the concept of isomorphic economies and highlights the challenges of regulating the global cloud industry. Key insights on flexibility in pricing and managing commitments like financial portfolios also emerge.