Data-driven Spending in the Cloud

A cloud of binary bits

Data-driven Spending in the Cloud

As more broadcast organisations consider migrating their post-production workflows to the cloud, discussions around how to optimise cloud-based workflows and manage costs effectively, is obviously a key priority.

Moving media operations to the cloud can maximise resources, and can be transformational in terms of flexibility and efficiency. Yes, the benefits are numerous, but broadcast companies remain hesitant about integrating workflows into the cloud, in part because of the perceived uncertainty around the costs of cloud working. In simple terms, efficiency in the cloud means only paying for what you consume and only consuming what you need. Taking the right approach will help achieve this.

According to the report “Cloud Production Technologies – Market Forecast 2021-2026”, from Rethink Research, cloud-based video production costs are set to triple, from $602 million in 2020 to about $2.48 billion in 2026. A data-driven approach to spending in the cloud can help to reduce unnecessary costs. As we discussed in a previous blog, provided systems integration is carefully planned, and a clear management and monitoring infrastructure is implemented, organisations can use the cloud with certainty that they are getting optimal results.

Only spend where you need to

Let’s look at data-driven spending in more detail. There are three key aspects that need to be managed effectively in order to stop cloud working costs increasing unnecessarily, these being storage, egress and scheduling.

01 It’s important to understand your storage metrics

Making sure that you use the right storage platform that matches your data requirements is key, otherwise you will fall into the trap of paying for storage that you may not need.
When it comes to storage, each organisation’s needs are different. To determine what the ‘right solution’ is for your business, you first need to understand the type and scale of data that your company holds.
If the scale of data is variable (in contrast to on-premises storage solutions) cloud storage can be quickly and easily spun-up and spun-down to match requirements.

02 Avoiding unnecessary egress fees

Are your workflows optimised for the cloud? If you’re pushing data to the cloud, only to download it all again at a later date, do other workflows such as editing and media processing need to transition to the cloud too?
Egress fees are determined by the volume of data being moved and its destination, it’s important to be clear on this.
Creeping egress costs are avoidable with careful planning and a clear management and monitoring infrastructure. This links back to understanding how regularly your data is accessed. Pulling data back to base to use that aged transcoder or other ‘sunk cost’ might not just be time foolish, but expensive too.
To maximise cost effectiveness, cloud platforms with higher egress fees should only be used for workflows that require the specific capabilities of the cloud or content that need to be utilised infrequently. Know your content and choose solutions to match, whether that’s nearline or deep archive storage. Conversely a cloud provider with low to no egress costs, might be offering little more than a bit bucket service, with no processing tools to offer natively. Find the balance between affordable storage and efficient workflows.

03 Learn to schedule effectively

The beauty of a cloud-based approach is that it allows for truly flexible working, meaning that you only need to pay for what you are using.
Broadcasters can (and should) adapt to peaks and troughs in editing workflows.
Virtual workstation management lets a business create time schedules and monitor inactivity so that when a workstation is not in use, it is also not incurring fees.

Monitor and manage with ease

All of this needs to be monitored and managed on an ongoing basis. This is not as difficult as it sounds with the right tools in place. Our Remote Edit Dashboard provides quick and easy remote workstation deployment and management. It lets users easily deploy new remote workstations, in the time it takes to make a coffee, and what’s more, no specialist technical knowhow is required.

With the insights needed to monitor cloud usage, in terms of both storage and capacity, users can also test and report on end-user connectivity and can view active and idle resources. It provides visibility into ongoing cloud costs so the infrastructure can be managed to a budget, eliminating wasted resources.

These insights into cloud costs, more or less in real time, give companies the knowledge needed to build and maintain a cost efficient virtual post-production environment. Having the right tools that allow you to analyse and interpret your system data, means you can make informed decisions and only spend in the cloud where you need to, saving money where you don’t.

Lack of visibility combined with inadequate cloud infrastructure, means managing workstations is a real pain point when it comes to remote editing. Cloud-based monitoring helps to make workflows more streamlined, and more cost effective. With the Remote Edit Dashboard, a post-production manager/co-ordinator can see all of the workstations that are in use, adjust accordingly based on usage, then track and monitor workflows to make them as efficient as possible.

If you want to monitor and manage your cloud-based editing to improve workflow efficiency and reduce costs, find out more details about our Remote Edit Dashboard here.