right sizing
10 articles on right sizing — what drives the cost, how it is priced, and where the savings actually are.
A method for right-sizing database instances that actually works
CPU utilization alone is a bad sizing signal for databases, because the binding constraint is usually memory or connections. Here is a four-signal method that produces a defensible instance choice instead of a guess.
EC2 compute-optimized vs general-purpose cost: C-family or M-family
The C-family (compute-optimized) gives more CPU per dollar with less memory, while the M-family (general-purpose) balances CPU and memory at a higher price. Picking the wrong one wastes money on RAM you do not use or forces oversizing to get enough CPU. Here is how to choose on cost.
Fargate task right-sizing cost: stop over-allocating vCPU and memory
Fargate bills for exactly the vCPU and memory you allocate to a task, so over-allocating is pure waste that scales with task count. Right-sizing tasks to real usage often cuts Fargate spend by 30 to 50 percent. Here is how to size tasks to what they actually use.
Azure VM right-sizing guide: cutting compute waste by family
Most Azure VM bills carry oversized instances that never touch their allocated CPU or memory. Right-sizing to the correct family and size, then layering reservations, is the highest-return Azure cost move. Here is how to do it.
GCP custom machine types cost: paying only for the vCPU and memory you need
Compute Engine custom machine types let you pick vCPU and memory independently instead of taking a predefined shape, which can cut cost when your workload does not match a standard ratio. Here is how the pricing works and when custom pays off.
Right-size EC2 instances guide: matching size to real load
Over-provisioned EC2 instances are the most common cloud waste. Right-sizing matches instance type and size to actual CPU, memory, and network use, cutting cost with no performance loss. Here is a practical right-sizing playbook.
Right-size Kubernetes pods guide: requests, limits, and cost
Kubernetes pod requests reserve node capacity whether used or not, so over-set requests waste cluster resources and money. Right-sizing requests and limits to real usage packs more work onto fewer nodes. Here is how.
Right-size RDS instances guide: databases without the bloat
RDS instances are often provisioned larger than the workload needs, and unlike stateless compute, resizing a database takes care. Here is how to right-size RDS instance class, storage, and IOPS to real usage without risking the database.
T3 vs T3a cost: a cheaper burstable instance for the same shape
T3a instances use AMD processors to deliver the same burstable profile as T3 Intel instances at a lower price. For most general-purpose workloads the swap is a simple, low-risk saving. Here is how they compare.
Right-sizing EC2 instances: the 20/50 rule and full process
Right-sizing cuts steady-state EC2 spend 20-40% in one pass. The 20/50 rule (average under 20%, peak under 50%) finds candidates. Here's the full pipeline: gather metrics, decide size, validate against periodic peaks, deploy in waves with monitoring.