Using AWS Cost Explorer for Cost Management

1. Introduction

1.1 Tutorial Goal

This tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive guide on how to use the AWS Cost Explorer, a powerful tool provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to effectively manage and track your AWS costs.

1.2 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts of AWS Cost Explorer.
• Set up and access AWS Cost Explorer.
• Analyze cost and usage data using AWS Cost Explorer.
• Create and use cost and usage reports for better cost management.

1.3 Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Amazon Web Services and its billing mechanism is required. Having an active AWS account is necessary to follow along with the tutorial.

2. Step-by-Step Guide

2.1 Setting up AWS Cost Explorer

1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the AWS Billing and Cost Management dashboard.
2. In the navigation pane, choose "Cost Explorer".
3. In the dialog box that appears, choose "Enable Cost Explorer". It may take up to 24 hours for AWS to prepare your data for viewing.

2.2 Analyzing Cost and Usage Data

1. In the Cost Explorer, you can view graphical representations of your AWS cost and usage data.
2. You can filter the data by service or by linked account. You can also specify the time range for which you want to view data.

2.3 Creating Cost and Usage Reports

1. In the navigation pane, choose "Cost & Usage Reports".
2. Choose "Create report".
3. Provide a name for the report and specify the time range and the data you want to include in the report.
4. Choose "Review and Complete" to create the report.

2.4 Best Practices and Tips

• Regularly review your AWS cost and usage data to identify any unexpected increases in cost.
• Set up budget alerts to receive notifications when your costs or usage exceed your budgeted amount.
• Use the AWS Cost Explorer API to access your cost and usage data programmatically.

3. Code Examples

AWS Cost Explorer doesn't provide a feature to use code snippets directly. It provides a graphical user interface to interact with. However, you can use the AWS SDKs or AWS CLI to interact with the AWS Cost Explorer API programmatically.

4. Summary

In this tutorial, we have learned how to enable and use AWS Cost Explorer to keep track of our AWS costs and usage. We have also learned how to create cost and usage reports for better cost management.

5. Practice Exercises

5.1 Exercise 1

Enable AWS Cost Explorer and familiarize yourself with the different features it provides.

5.2 Exercise 2

Analyze your AWS cost and usage data for the last month and try to identify the top three services in terms of cost.

5.3 Exercise 3

Create a cost and usage report for the last quarter and try to identify any trends in your AWS usage.

Remember, regular monitoring and analysis of your AWS costs can help you identify unnecessary expenses and optimize your AWS usage. Keep practicing and exploring the AWS Cost Explorer for better cost management.