September 2021 Summaries

Vantage has launched Per-Resource Costs, a new suite of analytics that enables users to view the cost of individual AWS resources, offering a more granular breakdown of expenses than previously available. This service allows users to see day-by-day cost data for each resource, categorized by factors such as data transfer and compute costs, providing insights into specific cost drivers and allowing for more effective cost management. Previously, users could only see aggregated AWS service-level costs and trends, while the new feature offers detailed accrued costs for each resource and tracks changes over time. Available to all Vantage users who opt-in, Per-Resource Costs can be accessed through various tiers and is integrated into the Vantage platform, requiring users to generate and associate AWS Cost and Usage Reports for detailed analysis. The feature is designed to improve visibility into cost structures, enabling users to identify specific resources contributing to costs and to monitor the impact of cost-saving measures.

Migrating from Amazon Web Services' (AWS) GP2 to GP3 general-purpose Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes can lead to significant cost savings of around 20% while also enhancing performance. Despite these benefits, only 15% of users have transitioned to GP3 because AWS often defaults to GP2, and many customers are unaware of the potential savings. Switching to GP3 is straightforward, requiring a simple AWS CLI command without disrupting existing operations. For volumes smaller than 170GB, the savings are precisely 20%, while larger volumes see a minimum of 8% savings, even when maintaining performance levels. Tools like Vantage can help identify GP2 volumes eligible for conversion, and third-party solutions are available to automate this transition, further optimizing cloud infrastructure costs.

Vantage has introduced a new feature allowing customers who incur over $7,500 per month in AWS costs to conduct monthly bill reviews with the Vantage customer success team at no additional charge. This service is available to subscribers of the Business or Custom plans and can be easily scheduled via the Vantage console. The initiative aims to simplify the understanding of complex AWS billing, offering personalized feedback and recommendations, and addressing customer inquiries during 30-minute Zoom meetings. Customers are encouraged to prepare questions in advance, and the feedback gathered may influence future updates to the Vantage platform. This service is designed to provide clarity and assistance in navigating cloud costs, distinguishing itself from traditional support calls, which are more issue-focused.