How we optimized infrastructure spend at GitLab

Infrastructure spend optimization is a critical focus for companies migrating to the cloud, including GitLab, which has developed a five-stage framework to manage and reduce cloud costs while maintaining service quality. This framework, akin to a data maturity model, progresses from basic cost visibility to predictive spend management, allowing organizations to understand, allocate, and optimize infrastructure costs at increasingly granular levels. GitLab's approach involves identifying high-cost areas such as CI runners and storage, implementing lifecycle policies, and making architectural changes to reduce expenses without compromising service quality. As they advance through these stages, GitLab aims to predict future spending and control costs through proactive monitoring, while planning and prioritizing cost-saving initiatives based on cost impact, customer effect, future potential, and effort required. The structured process is managed through issue boards, with progress tracked and reviewed to ensure alignment with business objectives, and is documented in their Cost Management Handbook to guide both internal teams and external companies interested in similar optimization strategies.

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