5 ways to reduce server running costs

This is Nakagawa from the Technical Sales Department

This time, I would like to introduce some of the methods I have come up with to reduce server running costs.
I hope that reading this blog will help you reduce costs even a little.

Beyond has also started offering a new service called "Cloud Cost Review Honpo."
If you have any questions about reducing your cloud costs, please contact us here.

1. Review server specifications (CPU, memory)

We regularly check the CPU and memory load status, and reduce costs by lowering the server machine's specifications when they are excessive

This is a cost-saving method using cloud servers, which allow for flexible changes to machine size.

■Notes:
- If you do not resize your server based on resource availability over several months, your server may not be able to withstand high loads.
- With most clouds, changing server specifications requires a server restart.

2. Review the disc

You can reduce costs by transferring log data, backup data, large video files, image files, and other data that you don't normally use but need to store for a long period of time to a storage service

For example, by moving from disks to cloud storage in AWS, GCP, and Azure, you can achieve the following savings:
■AWS (approximately 74% off)
EBS (standard SSD) ⇒ S3 (standard)
■GCP (approximately 56% off)
Standard disks ⇒ Cloud Storage
■Azure (approximately 74% off)
Managed Disks (standard SSD) ⇒ Blob Storage (standard storage)

If you use disk space in terabytes (TB), the cost can be quite high, so it
may be a good idea to reconsider how you use your disks.

■Note:
Most storage services cannot execute dynamic content, so they only support static files such as video files and image files.

3. Review the server configuration

Costs can be reduced by consolidating servers with separate functions, such as web servers and database servers, into a single server.

■Notes:
Because web and database functions are run on a single server, the load on the server will increase.
Also, because the server configuration will change, it may be necessary to rebuild the server and modify some programs.

4. On-premise to cloud migration

By migrating from on-premise to cloud,
you can eliminate the need for physical equipment maintenance such as CPU, memory and disk replacement, reducing the cost of server management.

The cloud uses a pay-as-you-go model where you are charged only for what you use, which helps reduce unnecessary costs.

■Note:
Depending on your current usage, it may not necessarily be cheaper, so you will need to compare it with your current server usage and calculate whether you can reduce costs.

5. Review your contract plan

Each cloud has a variety of contract plans.
By paying in advance, you can reduce costs by signing up for a plan that is cheaper than usual.

For example, AWS, GCP, and Azure offer the following contract plans:
■AWS (up to 72% off)
Reserved Instances
■GCP (up to 70% off)
Committed Use Discounts
■Azure (up to 72% off)
Reservations

■Points to note
The contract plans mentioned above are services that allow you to use the server cheaply by paying in advance, so if you do not plan to use it for a long period of time, you may end up incurring unnecessary fees.

summary

In order to reduce server running costs, there is a possibility that things necessary for stable operation, such as redundancy and availability, will be reduced, so we do not recommend implementing everything just because it will be cheaper

However, if you can reduce server costs, that amount will go directly to your company's profits, so
it's a good idea to understand the advantages and disadvantages and make appropriate cost reductions.