MSFTCOST01-BP02 Run assessment tools
AWS Optimization and Licensing Assessment (OLA) is a complimentary program for new and existing customers to assess and optimize current on-premises and cloud environments, based on actual resource utilization, third-party licensing, and application dependencies.
Desired outcome: The desired outcome of an AWS OLA is to significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency in both on-premises and cloud environments by optimizing resource utilization, streamlining third-party licensing, and understanding application dependencies, resulting in a more cost-effective and agile IT infrastructure aligned with business needs.
Common anti-patterns:
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Overprovisioning resources based on peak usage estimates rather than actual utilization data, leading to unnecessary costs and wasted capacity across both on-premises and cloud environments.
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Maintaining duplicate or redundant software licenses without understanding application dependencies and actual usage patterns, resulting in excessive licensing costs and complicated compliance management.
Benefits of establishing this best practice:
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Immediate cost reduction through the elimination of underutilized resources and redundant licensing, delivering significant savings on cloud and software spending.
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Enhanced operational efficiency through data-driven decision making, enabling better capacity planning and resource allocation based on actual usage patterns rather than assumptions.
Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established: High
Implementation guidance
To implement an AWS OLA, form a cross-functional team and collect comprehensive utilization data across all environments. Document software licenses and map application dependencies. Develop a prioritized optimization plan addressing immediate opportunities like resource right-sizing and license consolidation, followed by long-term strategic initiatives. Establish regular review cycles to ensure continuous optimization and alignment with business goals.
Implementation steps
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Contact your AWS account manager or AWS Sales
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Schedule an initial discovery meeting
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Sign the OLA agreement
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Provide access to required systems and data
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Participate in data collection and assessment workshops
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Review preliminary findings with AWS team
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Receive and analyze final OLA report
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Develop action plan based on recommendations
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Schedule follow-up meetings for implementation support
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Implement optimization strategies with AWS guidance
Resources
Related documents:
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