Fall is here again!
These headlines might not be as good as a maple-sugar doughnut and a pumpkin-spiced coffee, but they’re excellent news for FinOps practitioners nonetheless (and they won’t put you into a sugar coma):
- Skyrocketing cloud costs are a global issue but the solution is simple, accessible — and right in front of you.
- AWS rolled out some more updates that could positively affect your cloud cost management strategy.
- Plenty of FinOps events are coming up, so grab your notes and get ready to network.
Top Cloud Cost Headlines From August 2025
1. Cloud cost optimization is a concern for the entire IT sector.
You’re not the only one feeling like cloud costs are out of control. Consulting company Crayon conducted a 2025 cost optimization report, and the results speak for themselves: 94% of IT leaders worldwide struggle to manage and optimize cloud costs.
Thankfully, the majority (57%) also realize that cloud cost optimization using FinOps principles is the solution. When you can track and analyze every unit cost, finding areas for improvement becomes easy. It’s the actual tracking that most people have trouble with.
If you’re still trying to figure out how to allocate resource costs — even (or especially!) in AI applications — book a CloudZero demo. We’ll show you how easy it is to monitor every penny, so you’ll know when it’s time to dial back, scale up, or look for savings opportunities.
2. AWS released notes on several cost management-related updates.
We’re always happy to see the major cloud providers making iterative improvements to help customers manage costs more efficiently. Some of the changes AWS reported for August include:
- Amazon CloudWatch now allows developers to use custom metrics to identify errors, latency, and other issues that could be contributing to inefficient applications and high cloud bills.
- AWS released a model context protocol (MCP) server for Billing and Cost Management that allows developers to look at historical spending patterns, find areas for optimization, and predict future costs.
- AWS Billing and Cost Management now supports the use of custom dashboards. Developers will be able to combine data from savings plans and reserved instances with AWS Cost Explorer metrics and analyze the information using a variety of visualization options.
- AWS Deadline Cloud — which supports various graphics rendering services — now has an option to submit workloads under a “wait and save” option. This method is perfect for non time-sensitive workloads where keeping costs low is a top priority.
- The AWS Billing and Cost Management Console now supports an extra six recommended actions. These calls-to-action help customers identify when there’s a billing or payment problem that needs to be resolved. Using these alerts, users can avoid service disruptions and find opportunities to optimize spending.
3. The FinOps Foundation posted a couple of upcoming events you won’t want to miss!
In the mood to talk FinOps with other industry leaders? You’re in luck.
Register here to join the FinOps Foundation Virtual Summit call on Sept. 18. The primary topic will be a presentation on using FinOps for AI applications, including core concepts and practical tips.
Following that discussion, there will be several announcements and updates. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on FinOps X 2026 details, participate in the State of FinOps 2026 survey, and ask any burning questions about FinOps for AI during the Q&A session at the end.
Next, sign up for the Washington, D.C. FinOps X day happening on Oct. 21 if you haven’t done so already. These single-day FinOps X events emphasize networking and learning, so come equipped with business cards and a handy note-taker.
Still have room in your event calendar? Join our CloudZero get-togethers!
Who knew being a FinOps practitioner could be your entry ticket to so many great parties?
On Sept. 24, we’ll be hosting a “Clouds & Craftsmanship” night in partnership with Cast AI. We’ll be dining and drinking in style at Shinola Detroit and chatting with other cloud leaders in a relaxed atmosphere. This is an exclusive, invite-only event, so put in a request to join ASAP!
We’re also hosting a virtual meeting on Sept. 25 called FinOps Training at Scale hosted by Larry Advey, our in-house FinOps director. This session offers strategies on how to expand your FinOps practice across the organization without impacting innovation.
We hope to see you soon!
The Cloud Cost Playbook
The step-by-step guide to cost maturity
