Introducing Automated Amazon EBS Volume Optimization in AWS Compute Optimizer

FinOps Article

In an ever-evolving cloud landscape, the quest for efficiency never ceases. As businesses expand their digital horizons, cloud optimization remains a critical concern. Today, AWS Compute Optimizer unveils an automation marvel — a new feature that promises to revolutionize how Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes are optimized. This advancement is more than just a technical improvement; it is a significant leap towards operational excellence, designed to liberate engineering efforts for innovation and strategic work.

Understanding the New Feature

AWS Compute Optimizer’s latest feature introduces sophisticated automation rules that empower organizations to streamline their EBS volume management. Tackling manual optimization tasks that once consumed valuable engineering bandwidth, this automated approach offers a seamless, data-driven strategy to enhance performance while reducing costs.

Review and Apply Recommendations

Before diving into automation, users are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the system’s recommendations. These suggestions are easily accessible via the new “Recommended actions” page, offering a user-friendly interface to evaluate optimization possibilities. From snapshotting and deleting unattached volumes to upgrading volumes from gp2 to gp3 and io1 to io2, each action is geared towards efficiency.

This manual interaction phase is crucial. It not only allows you to understand the intricacies of each recommendation but also serves as an educational platform to master the optimization process, ensuring actions align with organizational goals.

Scaling with Automation Rules

Once comfortable with initial recommendations, the real magic begins with automation. Compute Optimizer enables the creation of automation rules that propagate these optimizations across all chosen resources. These rules can be applied globally, providing a unified strategy across multiple AWS regions and accounts.

The flexibility is vast; users can define criteria based on regions, resource tags, and action types. Whether the goal is to target developmental workloads or implement changes gradually, the interface allows for adjustments that cater to both individual and organizational needs.

Monitor and Refine Your Strategy

An interactive dashboard offers detailed insights into the automation processes. Track event counts, observe monthly savings, and examine each automation event down to its smallest details. This granularity allows organizations to tweak and refine their strategies, ensuring continual alignment with business objectives.

Safety Precautions and Rollbacks

Automation in cloud environments requires robust safety measures, and AWS does not disappoint. The system incorporates various checks to ensure only eligible resources undergo modifications. Moreover, each deletion is preceded by a snapshot creation, safeguarding data integrity.

Should the need arise to reverse an action, the rollback function is seamless. AWS Compute Optimizer can restore data from snapshots or revert volume type upgrades, offering a safety net that allows users to automate with confidence.

Getting Started: Tips for New Users

For those new to Compute Optimizer or automation features, the journey begins effortlessly. As you initiate the service, AWS assists with necessary configurations. Starting with non-production environments is advised, building confidence and experience with the automation tools before scaling up.

The recommended approach is incremental expansions—first addressing developmental environments, then staging, and finally production. This gradual strategy enables fine-tuning of rules, promoting reliability and effectiveness.

Conclusion

With automation now in full swing, AWS Compute Optimizer empowers teams to focus on strategic initiatives, while seamlessly ensuring performance and cost-efficiency. This new feature is more than an enhancement; it symbolizes a new era in cloud management. By starting small and scaling strategically, organizations can harness the full power of automation, paving the way for efficient, innovative, and agile operations.

Visit the AWS Compute Optimizer console to explore these new capabilities and start your optimization journey today. For further guidance, the AWS Compute Optimizer user guide offers in-depth resources.


Whether it’s cleaning up dormant resources in test environments or embracing cutting-edge technology upgrades, this tool equips businesses with the scalability, consistency, and safety they need. As cloud landscapes evolve, AWS Compute Optimizer ensures you stay ahead, optimizing the unfathomable potential of the cloud.