Cloud computing has become an integral part of today’s educational institutions. With more faculty, staff, and students utilizing cloud-based resources, it is crucial for IT departments to keep track of user subscriptions. Oftentimes, users independently budget for cloud services without IT’s knowledge, leading to underutilized or redundant resources.
IT should conduct audits to identify unused cloud services, storage, and processing power. It is common for resources to be provisioned but left in an active state without proper deprovisioning, resulting in unnecessary costs for the organization.
Furthermore, organizations may have multiple cloud providers offering similar services or outdated data stored in the cloud that should be purged. By tightening up cloud usage, IT can ensure that they are only paying for actively used services.
Find Opportunities for Cost Optimization
The key benefit of cloud computing is the ability to pay only for what you use. By effectively managing cloud resources, organizations can eliminate redundant infrastructure and leverage existing license agreements to reduce costs.
Paige Johnson, Vice President of Education Marketing at Microsoft, emphasizes the importance of investing in cloud training for IT staff to optimize cloud environments without additional hiring. This will help retain institutional knowledge while enhancing cloud expertise.
IT staff should utilize cloud management tools provided by cloud providers to monitor usage, security, uptime, and performance. These tools can help fine-tune applications for optimal performance at a minimal cost.
Regain Cost Control
Understanding and controlling cloud costs is essential for CIOs and CFOs. Just like deciphering complex telecommunications bills, cloud bills can be equally puzzling. Many cloud providers offer cost analysis tools to help organizations gain insight into their cloud spending.
By gaining a comprehensive understanding of cloud costs, organizations can identify and eliminate unnecessary expenses, ensuring that cloud services align with the organization’s business goals. CIOs and CFOs should focus on optimizing and controlling cloud costs to stay within budget as IT shifts towards cloud computing.
