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Cost Analysis in nOps

FAQs​

Expand FAQs

1. How does granularity impact the Spend Summary and historical data views?​

Granularity determines which summary cards appear and how historical data is displayed. For example, hourly or daily views show all three cards (Yesterday’s Spend, MTD, and Total Spend), while weekly or monthly views only display MTD and Total Spend. Historical data is also visualized with different chart intervals depending on the selected granularity.

2. What types of filters are available, and how do they enhance data analysis?​

Filters include Cost Type, Tags, Dimensions, Date Range, and Usage Chart options. Advanced logic such as "Include," "Exclude," "Contains," and "Does Not Contain" allows for precise control over which data is shown, enabling users to isolate specific costs or trends.

3. What are dynamic views, and how do they benefit cost analysis?​

Dynamic views, such as the Showback View, adjust automatically based on predefined allocation rules. They provide customized perspectives on costs, helping organizations allocate expenses accurately and make data-driven decisions with tailored insights.

4. How does nOps handle nested tags and cost structures?​

nOps supports nested tags and hierarchical cost allocation, enabling users to drill down into detailed resource insights. This feature allows for complex reporting scenarios, such as filtering by a parent tag and further refining results by child tags or related dimensions.

5. What collaboration tools does nOps Cost Analysis offer?​

nOps allows users to share reports directly via email or Slack, create Jira tickets, and set targets based on the current analysis parameters. This streamlines communication between teams, ensuring that stakeholders have access to real-time insights and action plans.

Cost Analysis in nOps is a cornerstone feature tailored to meet the needs of organizations seeking deep insights into their cloud expenditures. This tool equips teams to optimize costs, enhance resource allocation, and drive operational efficiency by bridging the gap between raw data and actionable intelligence. Designed with user-centric features, nOps Cost Analysis supports AWS and multi-cloud environments, offering unparalleled granularity and customization for technical and business stakeholders.

Cost Analysis in nOps is a powerful tool that provides in-depth insights into cloud spending. It allows users to monitor, manage, and optimize costs effectively. With features like detailed filtering, dynamic views, and customizable reports, it ensures data-driven decision-making for AWS and multi-cloud environments.

How to view into AWS Cost per Product service and Environment using BC+​

Key Features​

Filters​

  • Comprehensive filters like Cost Type, Cost Unit, Tags, and more for precise data analysis.
  • Date Range: Custom date selection and predefined presets like 1D, 7D, MTD, etc.
  • Advanced logic such as "Contains," "Does Not Contain," "Include," and "Exclude" for refined filtering.
  • Usage Chart: Enable graphical representations of usage trends with granularity options.

Spend Summary​

The Spend Summary section provides a snapshot of key spending metrics:

  • Yesterday's Total Spend: Displays spending for the previous day compared to the day before.
  • Month-to-Date Spend (MTD): Tracks spending from the start of the current month compared to the same range in the previous month.
  • Total Spend: Highlights spending for the selected interval and compares it to the previous interval.

Granularity impacts the cards displayed:

  • Hourly/Daily: Shows all three cards.
  • Weekly/Monthly: Shows MTD and Total Spend.
  • Custom ranges: Displays only the Total Spend card.

History (Graph and Table)​

  • Visualize historical trends with line graphs and bar charts.
  • Granularity options include Hourly, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly.
  • Tabular data for a detailed breakdown of costs by tags, accounts, and resources.
  • Pagination allows viewing more than the default 50 items.

Default and Showback Views​

  • Default View: Standard cost analysis based on predefined filters and views.
  • Showback View: Customized cost allocation based on showback methods.
    • Tabs reflect showback values with corresponding graphs and spend tables.
    • Expand showback values for deeper insights.

Comparison with AWS Cost Explorer​

While AWS Cost Explorer provides essential cost analysis capabilities, nOps Cost Analysis extends these functionalities with the following enhancements:

Custom Dimensions​

  • nOps supports advanced dimensions like Showback Values, Cost Allocation Tags, and Labels.
  • Enables multi-level filtering and detailed cost allocation beyond AWS CE's capabilities.

Granularity Options​

  • nOps offers additional granularity options, including custom ranges and hourly views, which AWS CE lacks.

Dynamic Views​

  • The **Showback View in nOps allows for allocation-based analysis that adapts dynamically to organizational needs.
  • AWS CE lacks such flexibility in visualizing allocation-based costs.

Comprehensive Filters​

  • nOps provides logic like "Include," "Exclude," "Contains," and "Does Not Contain," offering more precise data segmentation compared to AWS CE.

Collaboration Tools​

  • nOps enables users to save, send, and share reports directly, including integration with Slack and Jira.
  • AWS CE focuses more on static reporting.

Custom Reports and Targets​

  • Create and manage reports seamlessly within nOps, along with setting and tracking custom targets.
  • AWS CE provides basic reporting without advanced target setting.

Nested Structures​

  • nOps supports nested levels for tags and cost allocation, making it easier to drill down into granular insights.

Report Management​

Filter by Reports​

  • Apply saved report configurations for quick access.
  • Options to filter by Private, Shared, or nOps Global reports.
  • Actions: Edit, delete, or copy the URL of a report.

Manage Report​

  • Redirects to the Cost Analysis Reports page for detailed management of saved reports.

Save/Send Report​

  • Create New Report: Save the current view as a new report.
  • Update Existing Report: Modify and save an existing report.
  • Send Report: Share via email or Slack with a custom message.
  • Create Target: Generate a target based on the parameters.
  • Create Jira: Create a Jira ticket with the current parameters.

How to Use Cost Analysis​

  1. Accessing the Feature

  2. Applying Filters

    • Use the left panel to apply filters like Cost Type, Tags, or Date Range.
    • Click Apply to update the data view.

  3. Viewing Results

    • Explore the Spend Summary, History Graph, and Table for insights.
    • Switch between Default View and Showback View as needed.

  4. Managing Reports

    • Save or send reports for sharing and future reference.
    • Use the Manage Report button for comprehensive report organization.

Examples​

  1. Analyze Costs by Tags

    • Use the Tags filter to isolate costs for a specific tag like Environment.
    • Drill down into tag values for detailed insights.

  2. Track Usage Trends

    • Select a Cost Unit like GB and enable the Usage Chart for visual trends.
    • Adjust granularity for hourly or monthly usage data.

  3. Custom Date Analysis

    • Apply a custom date range to focus on project-specific timelines.

Cost Analysis in nOps empowers teams to make informed decisions and achieve cost efficiency through its robust feature set.