Managing multi-cloud environments is a risky business when you’re working without a compliant framework.
In fact, misinterpreting the value of a resource in cloud computing can disrupt resource distribution in an organization.
With an ever-increasing technology stack, most enterprises find it hard to track, monitor, and govern their cloud costs.
So, what’s the best solution?
Cloud tagging can help optimize cloud costs with multiple cloud providers.
But the reason why cloud tagging has become so prominent is because it addresses the challenges in managing cloud resources.
The best cloud tagging strategies track and monitor resources by improving the documentation of cloud environments.
As a result, this practice helps prevent unnecessary cloud expenditure.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Cloud Tagging? Why Is It Important?
Cloud tagging is a process where users add descriptive tags or metadata to their cloud infrastructure.
It aims toward streamlining cloud infrastructure, helping you organize and monitor a range of resources in a multi-cloud environment.
Cloud tags or labels define the type of resources available, their purpose, and their application.
A tag features two parts: a key that represents the resource in the cloud environment and a value that defines its purpose (staging, production, or development).
Here’s why cloud tagging is important in cloud computing.
Helps With Resource Tracking
Cloud infrastructures continuously transform through the different stages of business development. For this reason, it’s important to keep track of resources being used at each stage through comprehensive tags to ensure cloud consistency.
For instance, SaaS, a cloud computing application, requires data moderation using security measurements. With cloud tagging, you can monitor a resource, understand its functionality, and check whether it complies with regulatory standards.
Ensures Accountability
Cloud tagging ensures cloud governance for cost optimization, reporting, usage, and chargeback.
Well-established tags help monitor costs through regular reporting and analysis. As a result, organizations have a better understanding and control of their resources.
As such, cloud tagging helps streamline your business operations with resources in the cloud environment without disrupting your budget.
Saves Time With Automation
Cloud tags enable automation to a whole new level using deep technology. Cloud tagging can automate various tasks like enforcing policies, overseeing remediation, integrating responses, and sending notifications to users.
Cloud tagging not only reports costs but also the current status of a resource, its availability, and compliance. These reports give insights on cloud performance within the tag coverage, identifying gaps and tracking improvements.
What Is An Effective Cloud Tagging Strategy?
An organization can choose the type of resource they want to use and embed a value to it, all of which is only visible internally. For better cost control, security, and governance, you must establish cloud tagging policies.
An effective cloud tagging approach includes guidelines that cater to your organization’s business needs. To ensure operational success, every member of an organization must follow the policies established in a cloud tagging strategy.
Here’s how you can start.
Choose A Consistent Format
When tagging your cloud resources, stick to the same format. This means deciding on naming protocols that remain consistent within your tagging system.
A clear naming convention helps build the backbone of your cloud infrastructure. But different cloud platforms have different requirements for number and character usage.
Some cloud computing platforms may even draw a limit to the number of keywords you attach to a single resource.
For instance, AWS resources are limited to 50 tags maximum, where each tag key has a singular value.
Tags are also case-sensitive, so you must maintain uniformity when creating and managing cloud tags. For example, #myblueprint and #MyBlueprint may be the same entities but presented differently.
Determine Tagging Requirements
It’s important to be aware of tagging requirements. It helps allocate resources to the right team or business unit.
Once you’ve decided which tags to implement and where, you must introduce basic rules to govern their usage. A good example is getting a buy-in before the rollout versus rolling out and then waiting for a stakeholder’s response.
Document Tagging Procedures
Cloud tagging requires documentation, wherein you define and implement essential policies for better resource management.
The documentation should cover your reasons for applying the tags, their intended use, and time of implementation. Additionally, documentation secures cloud computing processes by ensuring the data is centrally accessible.
Build A Powerful Cloud Tagging Strategy
Integrating the right tags offers operational benefits to an organization. From complete automation to quick identification, cloud tagging and linking ensure end-to-end resource management.
If you want to level up your tagging efforts across all cloud platforms, we can help you achieve absolute autonomy.
Besides resource visibility, we can embed multifunctional tag formats for a range of cloud environments.
To get started, talk to an expert today.
