Modern Hyper clouds like Azure (and AWS!) are incredible, running your business with advanced services like Kubernetes clusters, Serverless functions, Scale Sets, Data Factory and even those classic VMs we often still lean on. Everything you run needs maintenance. And from a business perspective, it’s very important to realize costs can creep up fast in the all-you-can-eat Cloud world. Plus, if you don’t watch out, performance or security might become an issue. So, how do you keep your IT landscape in good shape without your budget getting out of control? Let’s dig into it.
The Cloud as a living entity
Your Cloud setup is like a modern car, stylish, most likely quite high-tech, and filled with big screens and fancy buttons, yet it still requires maintenance to keep running. Whether you’re running modern serverless apps or robust VMs, every component needs oversight. Slow apps, vulnerable data, or falling out of compliance can lead to chaos fast. Staying proactive, rather than just reacting when issues arise, is the key.
What really matters
In our experience, keeping your Cloud environment healthy isn’t about fussing over every detail. It’s about focusing on what counts:
- Performance: Are your apps quick and dependable? A Kubernetes cluster might work just fine one day, but a sudden spike in traffic or a missed update can bog it down if you’re not watching.
- Security: With everything talking to everything, risks are always lurking. Regular checks can spot weak spots before they’re exploited, especially with data spread across services or even multiple Clouds.
- Rules: Compliance isn’t exactly glamorous, but in 2025, it’s non-negotiable. So it needs to top of mind in every organization’s Cloud journey.
The Cost dilemma
Here’s where it gets interesting, Cloud costs can feel like a moving target (and they often are). Someone in a different team might spin up a Serverless function for a quick check, only to forget it’s still racking up charges weeks later. Or maybe your VMs are overpowered for what you actually need (or a better PaaS version is available).
Gartner’s stat about FinOps shows more companies are waking up to this in 2025. The Cloud’s flexibility is often called its strength, but it’s also why bills can balloon if you’re not deliberate. The old “set it and forget it” mindset? That’s a recipe for a shock at month-end.
Serviced Providers often also sell you the Cloud consumption and the Cloud provider itself will not always be very pro-active when it comes to saving on that Cloud consumption.
In 2025, over 60% of organizations will use FinOps practices to optimize cloud costs, up from 30% in 2021.” – Gartner
Smarter ways to spend
Controlling costs in your Cloud environment doesn’t mean skimping, it means spending right:
- Match the Need: Oversized resources are like buying a truck when a car would do. Scale Sets can adjust, but only if you tune them to your workload.
- Flex with Demand: The beauty of the cloud is it can stretch or shrink. Why pay for peak capacity during a quiet month?
- Plan Ahead: For steady workloads—like that VM you’re always running—reserved options can trim the fat off your bill.
Prevention beats reaction
The best way to keep your Cloud happy is to stop problems before they start. Updates shouldn’t be ignored or a scramble; they should happen quietly in the background. And with all the data flowing through your systems, why not use it? Spotting a trend, like a Serverless app eating more resources (and with is costs) than expected, can save you from a bigger more complex problem down the road.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the cloud. That’s why we meet you where you are. Are you ready to transform your DevOps practices? Contact us today to start your journey with DevOps Masterminds.