AWS Cloud Financial Management
Category: AWS Cost and Usage Report
Data Exports for FOCUS 1.0 is now in general availability
Today AWS announced the general availability release of Data Exports for FOCUS 1.0. You can now create exports of your AWS cost and usage data with the FOCUS 1.0 schema with significant specification conformance improvements compared to the public preview released in June 2024. FOCUS (FinOps Open Cost and Usage Standard), supported by the FinOps Foundation, is an open-source cloud cost and usage specification that provides standardization to normalize cost and usage data and simplify cloud financial management across multiple sources. With Data Exports for FOCUS 1.0, you can easily aggregate, query, and analyze cost and usage data from various sources.
How and why you should move to Cost and Usage Report (CUR) 2.0?
We want to show you the benefits of CUR 2.0 and provide steps on how to migrate to CUR 2.0, so you don’t lose out! CUR 2.0 builds upon the Legacy CUR, while offering several key improvements for your cost tracking. Both 2.0 and Legacy allow you to analyze AWS costs in greater detail and accuracy, especially by including Resource IDs and hourly time granularity.
AWS’ debut to FinOps X: recap and product announcement highlights
Our product teams have spared no effort in the past few months developing new capabilities, so that we can bring the latest advancements to FinOps X. Let’s take a moment to recap the product announcements made at FinOps X and how they can help accomplish your FinOps goals.
Announcing Data Exports for FOCUS 1.0 (Preview) in AWS Billing and Cost Management
Starting today, you can create exports of your AWS cost and usage data with the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) 1.0 schema as a preview feature. For those of you who aren’t yet familiar with the FOCUS standard, FOCUS is a new open-source cloud billing data specification that provides consistency and standardization to simplify cloud cost reporting and analysis across multiple sources. With Data Exports for FOCUS 1.0 (preview), you can configure recurring delivery of your AWS cost and usage data with the FOCUS 1.0 schema to your designated Amazon S3 bucket, and use these exports for your desired FinOps activities, such as cost reporting and allocation.
Aligning Cloud Costs with the General Ledger for Accurate Financial Analysis
Given cloud invoice timing and the corporate closing calendar, variances between the AWS CUR and the GL are common for many companies. Our recommendation is to document your financial closing process, and educate leadership on any identified variance drivers. Calculating the variance percentage between the finalized AWS CUR and your GL entry to use as a talking point can also enhance understanding of the financial process.
Recap of AWS re:Invent 2023 Cloud Financial Management Product Launch Announcements
If you’re scratching your head and trying to catch up with all the re:Invent launch announcements from the AWS Cloud Financial Management team, let me walk you through how your FinOps experience may be improved for better with the latest capabilities that were just released last week at AWS re:Invent 2023. I’ve also included recordings of these launch announcements, so you can watch these at your own pace.
New – Cost and Usage Dashboard powered by Amazon QuickSight
Today, we announced the general availability of Data Exports, a new AWS Billing and Cost Management feature that enables you to create exports of your billing and cost management data using SQL column selections and row filters. As part of AWS Data Exports, you can now also deploy a Cost and Usage Dashboard powered by Amazon QuickSight directly from the AWS Billing and Cost Management console. The Cost and Usage Dashboard uses a summary view of the AWS Cost and Usage Report 2.0 (CUR 2.0) and provides pre-built visuals to facilitate interactive analysis and sharing of cost insights with a broader stakeholder group who may not have access to AWS console.
Introducing Data Exports for AWS Billing and Cost Management
Today, we announced the general availability of Data Exports, a new Billing and Cost Management feature that enables you to create exports of your billing and cost management data using SQL column selections and row filters to select the data you want to receive. Exports are delivered on a recurring basis to an Amazon S3 bucket for use with business intelligence or data analytics solutions.
AWS re:Invent 2023 Know Before You Go: a guide to Cloud Financial Management programs
If you’re planning to attend the AWS re:Invent 2023 and wondering what Cloud Financial Management sessions and activities you should participate, look no further! In this blog post, we’ll take a sneak peek into these programs. Hope it can help you navigate re:Invent like a true CFM pro and learn and meet with like-minded FinOps professionals.
Cost optimization flywheel
Cost transparencies and insights will help drive data-driven and informed decisions. This blog describes a flywheel approach that an enterprise can utilize to optimize their AWS spend and leverage those saving towards driving continuous innovation.