Cloud Cost Automation Checklist

This starter checklist provides a simple, structured way to ensure your cloud environment has the right automation in place from day one.

1. Billing Data Foundation

• Enable CUR / billing export
• Store data in S3, GCS, Azure Blob
• Load into a warehouse (BigQuery, Redshift, Snowflake)

2. Tagging & Metadata

• Required tags (owner, cost center, environment)
• Automated tag compliance checks
• Fallback classification logic

3. Cost Alerts

• Daily spend alarms
• Monthly budget alerts
• Anomaly detection

4. Reporting & Dashboards

• 12-month trend charts
• Team or account breakdowns
• High-level executive summaries

5. Optimization Workflows

• Idle resource detection
• Automated rightsizing (optional)
• Data transfer monitoring

Summary

This checklist provides the minimum viable automation stack for any FinOps-minded team — ensuring visibility, control, and predictable cloud spend.