Stories from the Grill to FinOps
Ever thought about how cooking the perfect steak and managing cloud costs might intertwine in a blog? Well, I hadn't either, but here we are. Let's dive into this delightful comparison.
Last weekend, like so many other weekends, you could find me in my garden next to my firepit. I built this for the sheer joy of it—to enjoy warm moments with friends and family and, most importantly, to cook over an open flame. Passions, they do drive us! This particular weekend was game time. I'd gotten a prime cut and was determined to grill it to perfection over the open flames. Grilling on a BBQ can be challenging, with fluctuating heat levels. And with open fire? You might have roaring flames one moment and just sizzling charcoal the next. This presents a challenge: if it's too hot, I risk burning the steak; too cool, I'm left with long wait times and disappointed faces. So, how does one strike the right balance?
Back in the day, I'd rely on guesswork. Sometimes I'd nail it; the steak would be just right. Other times, it'd be overcooked or underdone. It felt like interpreting a set of variables at the moment, deciding whether to add wood to boost the flames or raise the grill to prevent overcooking. It was all fun and games, but I couldn't help but wonder: how could I maximize the flavour of my prime cut consistently?
Enter the 'Meater'. This handy tool informs me of both the internal temperature of the steak and the external heat from the fire. Say, I'm aiming for a medium to medium-rare steak, around 63 degrees. If the fire's only at 72 degrees, it's going to be a slow cook. The 'Meater' provides this data, empowering me to make informed decisions. Do I move the steak closer to the fire for a quicker cook? Raise the grill for a gentler heat? Or perhaps toss another log onto the fire for an added boost?
Now, if you've read this far, you're either craving for steak or you're ready for me to tie this back to FinOps:
Reserved Instances (RIs): Consider RIs as the choice of steak. Once you've invested upfront, you naturally want the best outcome. If you're not attentive to your RIs, your investment could go to waste. It's like ensuring the fire under your steak remains consistent, providing that optimal temperature.
Rightsizing Resources: This parallels deciding where to place the steak on the grill. Position it too close to the flames, and it's done in a flash. Having the right data in FinOps, much like the 'Meater' for grilling, helps in making informed decisions to save money and avoid pitfalls. True, there might be occasional technical challenges in rightsizing, but a dedicated engineer will always aim for what's best for their organization, leading to cost savings or cost avoidance.
Providing the Right Data: Having a 'Meater' is only half the battle; acting on its insights is crucial. The same principle applies to FinOps. Providing stakeholders with data is essential, but it must be the kind of data that drives informed decisions.
In Conclusion:
Just as a perfectly grilled steak is the crowning jewel of a memorable evening with friends and family, so too is a well-managed FinOps strategy the hallmark of an efficiently run organization. Whether you’re by the firepit or at the helm of a company's financial operations, it all boils down to one simple truth: actionable insights are invaluable. They’re the compass by which we navigate, the tool that transforms guesswork into mastery.
The 'Meater' isn't just a grilling gadget; it symbolizes the essence of informed decision-making. In the vast landscape of FinOps, having the right data and acting on it is akin to turning an ordinary piece of meat into a culinary masterpiece. So, whether you're seeking the sizzle of a perfectly done steak or the satisfaction of optimized cloud costs, arm yourself with knowledge and precision. Because, at the end of the day, whether in the kitchen or the boardroom, it's the informed choices that set us apart and propel us towards excellence. Make every decision count, every action deliberate, and every outcome a testament to the power of informed choice. And always, always aim for the best to get it done… but not overdone 😉.