EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

ALEX RUSSELL , REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

SADC , NUTANIX

As businesses expand their digital footprint , there is a growing need for a comprehensive strategy to better manage the costs involved in cloud-everything . This is where Financial Operations , FinOps steps in , representing a shift in the approach towards cloud financial management .

The demand for a robust FinOps strategy arises from the realisation that traditional approaches fall short in meeting the dynamic demands of contemporary cloud environments . It is not just about cost containment ; it is about optimising spending while ensuring seamless operations across private and public clouds .

Amid these challenges , FinOps practitioners operate at the intersection of finance , technology , and organisational strategy . It is a role that demands not just technical acumen but also a keen understanding of business goals . As the cloud ecosystem evolves , FinOps professionals play a crucial role in deciphering complex cloud cost data , ensuring efficient resource allocation , and providing valuable insights that impact the bottom line .

This has resulted in the emergence of FinOpsas-a-Service , an innovative solution meticulously crafted to streamline the challenges faced by FinOps practitioners . This service offers a low-stress setup and configuration , kickstarting the FinOps journey with a comprehensive onboarding workshop . Reporting service advisors collaborate with users to define reporting requirements , ensuring a tailored approach to the cost centre strategy .

Professionals navigating this landscape seek solutions that not only address immediate financial concerns but also provide a strategic framework for sustainable growth and innovation .

The intricacies of managing costs across private and public clouds require a better understanding of diverse interfaces , user access , and naming conventions . Aligning budgets with the correct cost centres proves to be laborious and error prone .

Tasks such as identifying idle services , rightsizing underutilised resources , and managing reserved instances , RIs demand manual effort and intricate knowledge of purchasing options . Establishing an efficient chargeback strategy for organisational accountability adds another layer of complexity .

The hands-on approach extends beyond onboarding ; FinOps-as-a-Service delivers optimisation recommendations in as little as 24 hours . This rapid turnaround empowers organisations to elevate cost management and operational efficiency in their cloud operations . The one-click optimisation feature across clouds eliminates the need for manual reconciliation in spreadsheets , making cost management a seamless and automated process .

Customisation lies at the core of FinOps-as-a-Service . Users can configure reports based on specific business requirements , whether it is cloud accounts , EC2 RI utilisation , or unused resources across clouds . Reporting advisors collaborate with finance platform owners to capture costs , review potential anomalies , and establish best practices .

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