New Checklist Empowers Mid-Sized Businesses to Safely Slash Cloud Waste on AWS and Azure

A new, detailed checklist has been released, offering IT heads, cloud leads, and engineering managers at mid-sized companies a structured approach to cloud cost optimization on AWS and Azure. The guide outlines 22 specific checks, categorized into seven parts, designed to uncover wasted cloud spend. Each check specifies where to look within the cloud provider's console, what evidence to collect, who should own the confirmation of the finding, and the potential risks involved in taking action. This development is significant because it directly addresses a common pain point for many organizations: reducing cloud costs without introducing instability. By mandating a 'scan first, fix later' methodology, the checklist ensures that changes are not made haphazardly. The emphasis on assigning ownership to each finding is particularly impactful, as it fosters accountability and ensures that individuals familiar with the workload validate any proposed changes. This approach minimizes the risk of inadvertently impacting production systems while pursuing cost savings. This initiative aligns with the broader FinOps trend, which advocates for bringing engineering, finance, and business teams together to manage cloud spend effectively. The checklist reinforces the principle that engineers should have ownership over the cost of the infrastructure they build and operate. The industry has seen a continuous push towards greater cost visibility and control, especially as cloud adoption matures and organizations seek to optimize their investments. The Flexera State of the Cloud Report 2026, for instance, estimated that 29% of IaaS and PaaS cloud spend is wasted, highlighting the persistent need for robust cost optimization strategies. In practice, practitioners should integrate this checklist into their regular cloud governance routines. It's recommended to conduct a joint review session between engineering and finance teams, utilizing the cloud provider's cost reports to systematically work through each item. The key takeaway is to prioritize discovery and ownership assignment before any deletion or modification. For example, identifying idle resources like unattached public IPv4 addresses (which AWS has charged for since February 2024) can lead to small but cumulative savings. The guide also implicitly warns against premature commitment to savings plans or reservations before right-sizing, as this can lock in waste at a discounted rate. By following this structured approach, organizations can achieve sustainable cost reductions while maintaining operational stability.