AWS Compute Optimizer now supports unused NAT Gateway recommendations

Posted on: Nov 26, 2025

Today, AWS announces that AWS Compute Optimizer now supports idle resource recommendations for NAT Gateways. With this new recommendation type, you will be able to identify NAT Gateways that are unused, resulting in cost savings.

With the new unused NAT Gateway recommendation, you will be able to identify NAT Gateways that show no traffic activity over a 32-day analysis period. Compute Optimizer analyzes CloudWatch metrics including active connection count, incoming packets from source, and incoming packets from destination to validate if NAT Gateways are truly unused. To avoid recommending critical backup resources, Compute Optimizer also examines if the NAT Gateway resource is associated in any AWS Route Tables. You can view the total savings potential of these unused NAT Gateways and access detailed utilization metrics to verify unused conditions before taking action.

This new feature is available in all AWS Regions where AWS Compute Optimizer is available except the AWS GovCloud (US) and the China Regions. To learn more about the new feature updates, please visit Compute Optimizer’s product page and user guide.