The Duckbill Group

AWS billing data isn't real-time, and hoping it'll magically become real-time is pointless. Here's what actually works: Instrument your known cost drivers directly with something like OpenTelemetry. Sure, it's not 'easy,' but it's straightforward and gives you the immediate insights you actually need. Focus on leading indicators to take control of your spend. 📊

What is the most USELESS AWS service that has ever been rolled out? AWS provides a LOT of services for it's cloud customers. Every AWS service is for someone, very few AWS services are for everyone. .....but it's probably something related to GenAI 😂

Want real-time AWS billing data? Here's the truth: It doesn't exist. The billing system updates about every 8 hours And before you reach for additional monitoring tools, ask yourself: Do you really want to pay Datadog to monitor the money you're paying AWS? Stop trying to chase real time information and instead focus on COST UNDERSTANDING to actually make an impact on your spend.

Things change fast in AWS. Case in point: Compute Optimizer has evolved from basic to brilliant. Combined with the new Cost Optimization Hub that aggregates all optimization recommendations, AWS's native tooling is becoming surprisingly powerful. These AWS first-party tools deserve another look before you spend money on third-party solutions. Curious how we can help? Reach out to us today. https://lnkd.in/gzca4b68

What is the most ridiculous spend item we've ever seen? It's temping to look at a bill and assume you are looking at a configuration error. But understanding the architecture needs and business requirements FIRST gives you the context you need to relate it to these cost drivers. Curiosity is your friend. Context is king. Understanding > Blaming. The moment you point fingers, you've already lost the plot.

This is one of the BIGGEST mistakes we see companies make with their AWS Contract Negotiation… You are leaving 💰💰💰 on the table by waiting TOO LONG to negotiate your AWS contracts. The secret? Start 6 months before your renewal. If you wait too long, you'll be backed into a corner with commitments you didn't even know you made. Pro tip: Don't be the company that starts negotiating 30 days before renewal. Be strategic, be prepared, be proactive. Want to avoid the common pitfalls and maximize your cloud investment? Let's chat.

🚨 Stop conflating cost optimization with cost cutting. Understanding the costs to deliver a service is the first step towards optimizing spend. It’s tempting to slash infrastructure spend—but at what cost? ❓ Do you really need those backups (spoiler: yes you probably do) ✅ Prioritize what your team needs to deliver value. In most reasonable cases, your infrastructure costs less than the people running it. Spend wisely, not recklessly.

🚨 Stop conflating cost optimization with cost cutting. Understanding the costs to deliver a service is the first step towards optimizing spend. It’s tempting to slash infrastructure spend—but at what cost? ❓ Do you really need those backups (spoiler: yes you probably do) ✅ Prioritize what your team needs to deliver value. In most reasonable cases, your infrastructure costs less than the people running it. Spend wisely, not recklessly.

💰 Think you’ve nailed your AWS contract strategy? Most companies focus on maximizing just one aspect—like cross-service discounts—and end up missing the bigger picture. The secret? Prioritize in this order: 1️⃣ Cross-service discounts 2️⃣ Service-specific discounts 3️⃣ Credits This approach helps you calculate the *Effective Discount Rate*—a true measure of your contract’s impact on your AWS bill. 🎯 Ready to rethink your approach? Let’s talk about AWS contracts, strategies, and leaving nothing on the table.

AWS re:Invent is here! 🎉 Here's where you can find The Duckbill Group crew. - 🍸 re:Invent Welcome Reception Monday, 4 PM | Venetian Expo Hall, Booth #1590 - 💬 Drop In Office Hours with Mike & Corey Tuesday, 3 PM | Venetian Hotel, St. Mark’s Square - 🔍 One-on-One Strategy Sessions Limited spots remaining—book now for tailored AWS cost optimization advice and strategy for organizations with over one million per month in AWS spend. https://lnkd.in/gn-KJGvY - 🎉 “Can’t Beat Corey” Can you name more AWS services in 60 seconds than Corey? Prove it! Wednesday, 3 PM–4 PM | Venetian Expo Hall, Duckbill Booth #1590 - 🍸 The Duckbill Group & RedMonk Drinkup Wednesday, 7 PM | Atomic Liquors RSVP here: https://lu.ma/ihlwnco3