Automation of Cost Optimization in AWS

The Context

My client’s no-code platform empowers users to create enterprise-grade web applications quickly and effortlessly. However, this ease of deployment comes with a cost—managing the infrastructure to ensure both performance and affordability.

One of my recent projects centered on AWS cost optimization, specifically automating the hibernation of applications during periods of inactivity. This approach resulted in substantial savings and streamlined resource management, demonstrating how businesses can effectively balance scalability and cost.

The Challenge

Hosting hundreds of applications in AWS incurs significant expenses, particularly when applications run 24/7 without accounting for fluctuating user activity. My client needed a solution that could:

• Automatically monitor usage patterns.
• Identify and hibernate idle applications.
• Reduce costs without compromising infrastructure efficiency.

This solution had to integrate seamlessly with their existing AWS setup, adhere to cost optimization best practices, and maintain simplicity in execution.

The Solution

Automating Application Hibernation in AWS

To address these requirements, I designed a system leveraging several AWS services to track application activity and automate hibernation:

• CloudWatch Metrics: Monitor application traffic.
  
  

 

• CloudWatch Alarms: Detect inactivity.
  
  

 

• EventBridge: Trigger actions based on events.
  
  

• Lambda Functions: Perform automated state transitions.
  
  

Here’s how the solution works:

Monitoring Traffic with CloudWatch

Each ECS task emits CloudWatch metrics, logging hourly request counts. If an application receives no traffic for 24 consecutive hours, a CloudWatch alarm transitions to the ALARM state, signaling inactivity.

Automating Actions with EventBridge and Lambda

The ALARM state triggers EventBridge, which emits an event containing the inactive application’s details. This event invokes a Lambda function, which uses the AWS CLI to adjust the ECS service’s desired count to zero, effectively stopping the application.

This seamless integration of AWS services simplifies cost control while adhering to AWS cost optimization best practices.

Immediate Benefits of AWS Cost Optimization

The implementation of this automated hibernation system delivered several immediate benefits:

1. Significant Cost Savings: Idle applications no longer consumed resources, drastically reducing expenses.
2. Enhanced Efficiency: Infrastructure adapted dynamically to usage patterns, ensuring resources were used effectively.
3. Streamlined Management: The automated process eliminated manual intervention, freeing engineering resources for other priorities.

This project showcases how a strategic approach to cost optimization in AWS can achieve tangible results without sacrificing operational efficiency.

Future Enhancements: Adding Auto-Awaken Features

While the automated hibernation system solved a critical issue, an area for improvement remains: user experience. Currently, users attempting to access hibernated applications are met with failed requests.

Designing an Auto-Awaken Feature

A proposed enhancement involves adding an auto-awaken capability:

1. CloudFront Viewer-Response Function: Detect requests that fail due to inactive application servers.
2. Lambda Invocation: Trigger a Lambda function to increase the ECS service’s desired count, bringing the application back online.

This enhancement would complement the existing solution, offering a seamless user experience while maintaining cost optimization in AWS.

Conclusion

AWS cost optimization is essential for businesses managing large-scale cloud infrastructures. By automating resource management with tools like CloudWatch, EventBridge, and Lambda, companies can significantly reduce costs while maintaining scalability and performance.

Are you ready to implement effective AWS cost optimization strategies for your organization? Contact us to learn how Selacloud can help.