How can you optimize cloud costs?

Moving to the cloud can streamline operations, improve flexibility, and cut down on hardware expenses—but if you’re not intentional, those savings can disappear quickly. Cloud costs have a tendency to creep up, especially when businesses store more data than they need or utilize the wrong types of storage.

Here’s how to get more value out of your cloud investment without paying for more than you use.

Know what data actually needs to live in the cloud

One of the most common mistakes businesses make is treating cloud storage like a digital filing cabinet. Over time, inactive files accumulate, and your storage bill increases month by month. But not all data needs to be stored the same way—or even in the cloud at all.

Archived or infrequently accessed data is a perfect candidate for lower-cost storage tiers, or even local/offline storage options, depending on compliance needs.

Here’s a simple rule: If you’re not accessing or updating it regularly, don’t store it like you are.

Use the right storage types for the right data

Cloud providers typically offer multiple storage tiers with different pricing models. You’ll pay more for high-availability, high-performance storage—and much less for slower, long-term archive storage.

To optimize your costs:

• Classify your data based on how often it’s used
• Move older or inactive files into archive tiers
• Set retention policies to offload stale data automatically

Think of it like using a checking account for active spending and a savings account for funds you don’t need right away. The concept is the same—and the savings can be substantial.

Avoid storing just for the sake of storing

When in doubt, ask: Do we need this in the cloud? Is this the right tier for it? Are we cleaning up as we go? A little organization goes a long way.

TeamLogic IT can help you assess your current cloud setup and develop a strategic storage plan that protects what matters—without paying for what doesn’t.