AWS Cost Optimize

AWS Cost Optimize

This workflow analyzes Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) files and AWS resources to generate cost optimization recommendations. It creates individual GitHub issues for each optimization opportunity plus one EPIC issue to coordinate implementation, enabling efficient tracking and execution of cost savings initiatives.

When to invoke

• "Optimize AWS costs for this app."
• "Find AWS cost savings in our Terraform or CloudFormation."
• "Right-size EC2, RDS, Lambda, ECS, S3, and NAT Gateways."
• "Create GitHub issues for AWS cost optimization opportunities."

Prerequisites and context

• AWS CLI configured and authenticated (aws sts get-caller-identity succeeds)
• GitHub MCP server configured and authenticated
• Target GitHub repository identified
• AWS resources deployed (IaC files optional but helpful)

Procedure

Step 1: Get AWS Cost Optimization Best Practices

Action: Retrieve cost optimization best practices before analysis Tools: fetch to retrieve AWS documentation Process:

1. Load Best Practices:
   • Fetch https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cost-management/latest/userguide/cost-optimization-best-practices.html
   • Fetch the AWS Well-Architected Cost Optimization pillar summary
   • Use these practices to inform subsequent analysis and recommendations

Step 2: Discover AWS Infrastructure

Action: Dynamically discover and analyze AWS resources and configurations Tools: AWS CLI + Local file system access Process:

1. Account & Region Discovery:

   • Execute aws sts get-caller-identity to confirm account
   • Execute aws configure get region to determine default region

2. Resource Discovery (per region):

   • EC2 instances: aws ec2 describe-instances --query 'Reservations[].Instances[].[InstanceId,InstanceType,State.Name,Tags]'
   • RDS instances: aws rds describe-db-instances --query 'DBInstances[].[DBInstanceIdentifier,DBInstanceClass,Engine,MultiAZ]'
   • Lambda functions: aws lambda list-functions --query 'Functions[].[FunctionName,Runtime,MemorySize,Architectures]'
   • ECS clusters/services: aws ecs list-clusters then aws ecs describe-services
   • S3 buckets: aws s3api list-buckets --query 'Buckets[].Name'
   • ElastiCache clusters: aws elasticache describe-cache-clusters
   • NAT Gateways: aws ec2 describe-nat-gateways
   • Load Balancers: aws elbv2 describe-load-balancers

3. IaC Detection:

   • Scan for IaC files: **/*.tf, **/*.yaml (CloudFormation/SAM), **/*.json (CloudFormation), **/cdk.json, lib/**/*.ts (CDK)
   • Parse resource definitions to understand intended configurations
   • Do NOT use application code files — only IaC files as the source of truth
   • If no IaC files found: STOP and report to user

Step 3: Collect Usage Metrics & Validate Current Costs

Action: Gather utilization data and verify actual resource costs Tools: AWS CLI (CloudWatch, Cost Explorer) Process:

1. CloudWatch Metrics (last 7 days):

   # EC2 CPU utilization
   aws cloudwatch get-metric-statistics \
     --namespace AWS/EC2 --metric-name CPUUtilization \
     --dimensions Name=InstanceId,Value=<id> \
     --start-time $(date -u -d '7 days ago' +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) \
     --end-time $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) \
     --period 3600 --statistics Average
   
   # Lambda duration
   aws cloudwatch get-metric-statistics \
     --namespace AWS/Lambda --metric-name Duration \
     --dimensions Name=FunctionName,Value=<name> \
     --start-time $(date -u -d '7 days ago' +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) \
     --end-time $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ) \
     --period 86400 --statistics Average,Maximum
   

2. AWS Cost Explorer:

   aws ce get-cost-and-usage \
     --time-period Start=$(date -u -d '30 days ago' +%Y-%m-%d),End=$(date -u +%Y-%m-%d) \
     --granularity MONTHLY --metrics BlendedCost \
     --group-by Type=DIMENSION,Key=SERVICE
   

3. Calculate Baseline Metrics: CPU/Memory averages, Lambda invocation rates, data transfer patterns, and a realistic current monthly total.

Step 4: Generate Cost Optimization Recommendations

Action: Analyze resources to identify optimization opportunities Process:

1. Apply Optimization Patterns:

   Compute:

   • EC2: Right-size based on CPU/memory (<20% average → downsize), convert On-Demand to Savings Plans, migrate to Graviton/ARM (up to 40% cheaper)
   • Lambda: Reduce memory for idle functions, switch to arm64 (20% cheaper)
   • ECS/EKS: Use Fargate Spot for dev/batch workloads

   Database:

   • RDS: Right-size instance class, convert single-AZ for dev, use Aurora Serverless v2 for variable load
   • DynamoDB: Switch Provisioned → On-Demand for unpredictable traffic
   • ElastiCache: Right-size node type based on memory utilization

   Storage:

   • S3: Lifecycle policies (Standard → Standard-IA after 30d → Glacier after 90d), enable Intelligent-Tiering
   • EBS: Delete unattached volumes, convert gp2 → gp3 (same performance, 20% cheaper)

   Network:

   • Consolidate NAT Gateways for non-production environments
   • Use VPC endpoints for S3/DynamoDB to avoid NAT Gateway charges

2. Calculate Priority Score:

   Priority Score = (Value Score × Monthly Savings) / (Risk Score × Implementation Days)
   High: Score > 20 | Medium: Score 5-20 | Low: Score < 5
   

Step 5: User Confirmation

Action: Present summary and get approval before creating GitHub issues

 AWS Cost Optimization Summary

 Analysis Results:
• Total Resources Analyzed: X
• Current Monthly Cost: $X
• Potential Monthly Savings: $Y
• Optimization Opportunities: Z
• High Priority Items: N

 Recommendations:
1. [Resource]: [Current] → [Target] = $X/month savings - [Risk] | [Effort]
...

 This will create Y individual GitHub issues + 1 EPIC issue.

 Proceed with creating GitHub issues? (y/n)

Wait for user confirmation before proceeding.

Step 6: Create Individual Optimization Issues

Action: Create separate GitHub issues for each optimization. Label with "cost-optimization" (green) and "aws" (orange).

Title: [COST-OPT] [Resource Type] - [Brief Description] - $X/month savings

Body:

##  Cost Optimization: [Brief Title]

**Monthly Savings**: $X | **Risk Level**: [Low/Medium/High] | **Effort**: X days

###  Description
[Clear explanation of the optimization and why it's needed]

###  Implementation

**IaC Files Detected**: [Yes/No]

```bash
# IaC modification (preferred) or AWS CLI fallback
```

###  Evidence
- Current Configuration: [details]
- Usage Pattern: [evidence from CloudWatch]
- Cost Impact: $X/month → $Y/month

###  Validation Steps
- [ ] Test in non-production environment
- [ ] Verify no performance degradation via CloudWatch
- [ ] Confirm cost reduction in AWS Cost Explorer

###  Risks & Considerations
- [Risk and mitigation]

**Priority Score**: X | **Value**: X/10 | **Risk**: X/10

Step 7: Create EPIC Coordinating Issue

Action: Create master tracking issue. Label with "cost-optimization" (green), "aws" (orange), "epic" (purple).

Title: [EPIC] AWS Cost Optimization Initiative - $X/month potential savings

Body: Executive summary with account/region details, Mermaid architecture diagram of current resources, prioritized checklist linking all individual issues (High → Medium → Low), progress tracking, and success criteria (>80% of estimated savings realized, no performance degradation).

Error Handling

• AWS Authentication Failure: Guide through aws configure
• No Resources Found: Create informational issue about AWS resource deployment
• Insufficient Permissions: List required IAM read-only permissions
• GitHub Creation Failure: Output formatted recommendations to console
• Cost Explorer Not Enabled: Guide user to enable in AWS Console

Output template

## AWS cost optimization result

**Status:** issues created | recommendations only | blocked
**Account/region:** `<account>/<region>`
**Current monthly cost:** `$<amount>`
**Potential monthly savings:** `$<amount>`

| Priority | Resource | Current | Target | Monthly savings | Risk | Effort | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| High | `<resource>` | `<current>` | `<target>` | `$<amount>` | `<Low/Medium/High>` | `<days>` | `<CloudWatch/Cost Explorer/IaC>` |

Quality gate

• All cost estimates verified against actual configurations and AWS pricing
• Individual GitHub issues created for each optimization
• EPIC issue provides comprehensive coordination and tracking
• All recommendations include specific AWS CLI or IaC commands
• User confirmation obtained before creating issues