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Cloud Resource Monitoring Dashboard Example

Overview

This example dashboard focuses on identifying and decommissioning unused or underutilized cloud resources. By actively monitoring resource usage, you can align capacity with actual demand, reduce operational costs, and improve sustainability. Below is an example approach for a monitoring dashboard to ensure you are utilizing resources effectively.

Key Components

  • Resource Inventory: Collect a list of all active compute instances, storage volumes, and other resources to establish a baseline. This could be done using AWS services such as AWS Config, AWS Resource Access Manager, or AWS Organizations.
  • Metrics Collection: Utilize CloudWatch metrics to track CPU and memory utilization, network usage, and storage I/O. Compare historical usage patterns to determine stagnant or under-used resources.
  • Threshold Alarms: Set up overhead thresholds that automatically highlight resources that remain idle or below a set utilization level over a given time (e.g., instances running at CPU usage under 5% for consecutive days).
  • Cost Reports: Integrate AWS Cost Explorer data to reveal cost trends and correlate them with usage metrics. This helps pinpoint areas where potential cost savings can be achieved by decommissioning or rightsizing instances.
  • Automated Recommendations: Leverage AWS Instance Scheduler and AWS Auto Scaling to match capacity with demand. For non-critical workloads, schedule off-hours to reduce run time and resources used.
  • Actionable Insights: Design the dashboard to offer next steps, such as archiving data to lower-cost storage tiers or shutting down resources that are no longer needed.

Implementation Considerations

  • Use tags to categorize resources by environment, owner, or project, making it easier to identify and decommission underutilized assets.
  • Ensure all stakeholders (e.g., application owners, finance teams) have visibility into usage reports and cost breakdowns.
  • Regularly review the dashboard to confirm that resources continue to align with changing demand profiles.

By following these steps and maintaining a proactive decommissioning process, you can minimize resource waste, reduce costs, and support your sustainability objectives.

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