AWS Cost Optimization for Healthcare System
The Challenge
After their initial credit and free tiers expired, the client faced skyrocketing AWS bills that threatened the financial viability of their cloud infrastructure. The primary objective was to implement a strategic AWS cost optimization plan that would significantly reduce recurring monthly expenses—without compromising performance, service quality, or the stringent security standards essential for their healthcare application.
Our Strategic Approach
Skynats deployed a rigorous cost-audit and security-first optimization framework, powered by proven AWS cost control strategies to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen cloud security governance:
- Infrastructure Audit: We cataloged every running instance, tagging them by environment (dev, stage, prod) and analyzing usage patterns.
- Right-Sizing: We identified over-provisioned resources that could be downgraded or terminated without adverse effects.
- Security Hardening: While auditing for cost, we simultaneously identified and patched security vulnerabilities.
- Process Implementation: We introduced strict procedures for instance lifecycle management to prevent future resource sprawl.
Technical Implementation Details
Our aws cost optimization went beyond just turning off servers:
- Resource Downgrading: Systematically resized EC2 instances and RDS databases to match actual load requirements.
- Network Isolation: Re-architected the network to isolate production stages, enhancing security while streamlining traffic costs.
- Lifecycle Management: Implemented automated checklists for initializing, maintaining, and decommissioning instances.
- Patch Management: Established weekly and monthly maintenance windows to ensure ongoing security compliance.
- Penetration Testing: Validated the optimized environment against rigorous security tests.
The Outcome
We achieved a direct 30% reduction in monthly AWS billing analysis. Furthermore, the optimized environment didn't just cost less—it performed better. It passed third-party penetration tests with flying colors, validating that cost efficiency does not have to come at the expense of security.