Avoid budget blowouts: How businesses can keep cloud costs under control

Cloud computing offers flexibility, scalability, and potential cost savings. However, many businesses find that cloud expenses can rise quickly without careful management. This is especially concerning for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public sector organizations with tight budgets.

Subscription Models: A Blessing or a Burden?

Most cloud services use subscription-based pricing. You pay based on users or usage. In Ghana, where budgets are often fixed annually, this model can be challenging.

Underestimating users or keeping inactive accounts can lead to high bills. IT leaders must regularly audit user access and service subscriptions. Deleting old accounts and consolidating tools can save significant money.

Save Money by Cleaning Up Digital Clutter

Data accumulates quickly in businesses. Whether it’s outdated memos or old transaction logs, storage costs add up. Companies should encourage regular file reviews.

Every quarter, staff should delete unnecessary files or archive infrequently used data. Tools like Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint offer local storage options that help with archiving. Small steps across departments can lead to substantial savings.

Avoid Leaving Cloud Systems Running After Hours

Leaving cloud services running when not in use wastes money. This is common in software development environments with active virtual machines overnight.

A Ghanaian health startup cut its monthly bill by 65% by automating shutdowns after hours. That saved money could support product development or customer engagement efforts. Scheduled shutdown scripts can prevent paying for idle resources.

Embrace Automation to Do More with Less

Labour costs in Ghana are relatively low but skilled IT professionals are valuable resources. Cloud automation reduces manual work and costly human errors.

Automatic server provisioning, daily backups, and monitoring ensure consistency. This frees up IT teams for innovation instead of maintenance tasks.

You’re Not Stuck with One Cloud Vendor

Starting with one provider doesn’t mean you have to stay with them forever. Many organizations hesitate to switch vendors due to perceived complexity or lack of support.

However, cloud pricing changes frequently; better plans may be available elsewhere. Some providers offer pricing benefits based on data hosting locations within Africa.

Regularly reviewing contracts and comparing pricing tiers is essential for cost management.

Looking Ahead: Cloud for Growth

Ghana's digital landscape is growing rapidly through government initiatives like Ghana.gov and tech ecosystems in East Legon and Spintex. Local cloud experts are increasingly available as well.

To maximize the benefits of the cloud, organizations must manage it wisely. Smart cloud use involves strategy alongside technology planning and efficient management practices.

With good planning and regular reviews, Ghanaian businesses can fully harness the potential of cloud computing without exceeding their budgets.

The writer is a seasoned cloud architect and systems administrator at eSolutions Consulting. He has led major projects like the Office 365 rollout for Ghana’s government and infrastructure deployment for the Ghana Revenue Authority.

Recognized for his strategic use of emerging technologies, he has earned multiple Microsoft Partner of the Year awards.

For tailored solutions that help your business grow, reach out via email or call 0540123034.