Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are popular for their scalability and flexibility. But as teams grow, relying solely on these platforms can lead to cost overruns, slow incident response, and security risks. Here's why:
Cloud platforms are a great starting point, but to scale successfully, you need to go beyond their limitations with better tools, practices, and expertise.
Cloud expenses are spiralling out of control for many high-growth teams. In fact, 82% of IT professionals now see high cloud costs as a pressing issue, highlighting the shortcomings of native platform tools for managing budgets effectively. Teams often lack clarity on where their money is going, and with global cloud services projected to reach £580 billion by 2025, this lack of transparency is a growing concern.
Platform billing dashboards might tell you what you've spent, but they rarely explain why costs are increasing or offer actionable solutions. Teams are left grappling with complicated forecasts, often stuck between under-provisioning, which risks service disruptions, and over-budgeting, which wastes resources. The complexity of billing models only adds to the confusion - teams struggle to identify which services are driving up costs. Without the right tools to provide visibility, obvious waste often goes unnoticed, such as oversized instances running non-stop or forgotten test environments that were never shut down.
Managing costs has become as critical as driving growth, especially in today's uncertain economy. Nearly 60% of IT leaders believe a recession is either imminent or already happening, and 63% rank cost management among their top three priorities. For high-growth startups burning through cash, unchecked cloud spending can mean the difference between securing the next funding round or running out of resources entirely.
The lack of transparency in cost management mirrors similar challenges faced in handling incidents effectively.
Traditional approaches to incident response, designed for on-premises systems, often fall apart in cloud environments. Distributed architectures and complex service dependencies make it harder to quickly identify root causes. The same lack of visibility that complicates cost control also hinders effective incident tracking across multiple services.
Without comprehensive logging across all services, teams spend too much time diagnosing problems instead of fixing them. Insufficient logging makes forensic investigations difficult, often forcing organisations to implement broader fixes because the exact cause remains unclear.
"Traditional incident response (IR) learned from on-premises investigations doesn't work in the cloud." – Mitiga Security Team
Real-world examples demonstrate how quickly things can escalate. In 2018, Uber faced a data breach affecting over 57 million customers due to a misconfigured AWS storage bucket that lacked proper encryption and authentication. Similarly, Capital One's 2019 breach impacted over 100 million customers, exploiting vulnerabilities in a misconfigured multi-cloud setup.
The average duration of DDoS attacks increased from 30 minutes in 2021 to 50 minutes in 2022, extending potential downtime and compounding operational challenges. For teams without dedicated operations resources, such extended incidents can cripple business functions and damage customer trust.
A particularly troubling issue is that incident response teams often lack deep expertise in specific cloud platforms and their tools. When a SaaS platform goes down and customers start leaving, there's no time to learn the intricacies of AWS CloudTrail or Azure monitoring on the fly.
The shared responsibility model in cloud environments creates significant blind spots. While cloud providers handle infrastructure security, everything else - such as IAM (Identity and Access Management) settings and data encryption - falls squarely on the team. This division of responsibility highlights why relying solely on platform-specific tools often leaves high-growth teams exposed.
Human error continues to be a leading cause of cloud security breaches. For instance, in 2017, Equifax's breach impacted 147 million people due to improper IAM configurations. Similarly, British Airways faced a £20 million fine in 2020 for GDPR violations after a breach exposed sensitive details of over 400,000 customers.
For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and scaleups, meeting compliance standards like ISO 27001 or GDPR demands constant monitoring, detailed documentation, and strong security controls - features that native platform tools rarely provide. While 93% of SMBs are aware of cyber risks and 83% have contingency plans, only 36% invest in new tools to address these risks effectively.
"SMBs are increasingly aware of the cyber risks they face, but remain vulnerable to modern threats. Many know they need stronger protection but are held back by limited time, resources and expertise." – Lisa Campbell, CrowdStrike
The stakes are high: nearly 1 in 5 SMBs would be forced to close after a successful cyberattack, and for nearly one-third, even a minor financial loss of under £7,700 could be devastating. Recent incidents continue to reveal vulnerabilities. In early 2020, researchers found 11 billion records exposed from the adult site CAM4 due to a misconfigured Elasticsearch database.
As the cloud security software market heads towards nearly £30 billion by 2026, many high-growth teams still rely on basic platform security features that fail to meet their compliance needs.
Fast-growing teams often struggle with cost overruns, sluggish incident responses, and security vulnerabilities. By incorporating CloudOps practices, these challenges can be tackled head-on. CloudOps bridges traditional IT operations with cloud-specific strategies like automation, visibility, and governance, helping teams manage resources effectively without being tied to a single vendor. Let’s dive into some key CloudOps practices, starting with FinOps, which is all about taking control of cloud spending.
FinOps introduces financial accountability to cloud spending, helping teams balance speed, cost, and quality. Why is this important? Because inefficient resource use can drain up to 30% of cloud budgets.
"FinOps is the practice of bringing financial accountability to the variable spend model of the cloud, enabling distributed teams to make business trade-offs between speed, cost, and quality." – FinOps Foundation
The foundation of FinOps lies in achieving clear visibility into your cloud environment. This starts with implementing a robust tagging strategy to categorise costs by stacks, customers, environments, projects, or teams. Automating cost management is equally crucial. For instance, AWS highlights that using scheduling tools to shut down non-production environments outside business hours can slash costs by up to 70%. Similarly, stopping instances in development and test environments during off-hours can save between 60% and 66% of cloud expenses.
Smart purchasing decisions also make a big difference. Transitioning steady workloads to Reserved Instances or Savings Plans and regularly rightsizing EC2 instances can significantly cut monthly bills. Building cost awareness across all departments is another critical step. According to the 2024 State of FinOps report, 61.8% of organisations are still in the early "crawl phase" of their FinOps journey, leaving plenty of room for improvement and growth for those who act early.
While managing costs is essential, having real-time insights into system performance is just as important.
Basic monitoring tools often provide only surface-level metrics, leaving teams in the dark about the root causes of system issues. Observability platforms, on the other hand, dive deeper, offering insights into the behaviour and performance of cloud-native applications. This growing need for a comprehensive approach to monitoring is reflected in the observability tools market, which is forecasted to reach USD 4.1 billion by 2028.
When selecting an observability platform, focus on features like ease of deployment, automated management, and real-time centralised monitoring. Tools like Datadog, which starts at around £15 per host per month (billed annually), can deliver the kind of detailed insights that native platform tools often miss. Centralised monitoring is particularly beneficial for distributed architectures, consolidating multiple platform-specific dashboards into a single view. This unified perspective can significantly cut down the time spent diagnosing issues during incidents. Intelligent alerting further enhances the process by filtering out unnecessary noise and pinpointing the problems that truly need attention.
Even with refined cost management and monitoring, there’s no substitute for expert guidance.
Despite improved FinOps and observability practices, many high-growth teams may still lack the specialised expertise required to handle complex cloud environments. With 96% of companies using at least one public cloud and 84% also relying on private cloud solutions, the resulting complexity can easily overwhelm internal teams.
On-demand cloud engineering support offers a practical solution. By accessing experienced DevOps and SRE professionals as needed, teams can avoid the expense of full-time hires. This approach is especially valuable during incidents, scaling challenges, or security reviews, allowing product engineers to stay focused on developing features instead of getting bogged down with infrastructure troubleshooting. Around-the-clock incident response ensures that even after-hours production issues are swiftly addressed, preventing minor hiccups from escalating into major disruptions. This kind of expert support helps teams maintain control over their infrastructure, costs, and core systems while staying agile and flexible.
For teams experiencing rapid growth, moving beyond the inherent limitations of cloud platforms requires a mix of platform-native tools, external solutions, robust incident response planning, and careful cost management. With global spending on public cloud services projected to exceed £720 billion by 2025, it’s worth noting that inefficiencies account for 32% of cloud expenditure. To address this, combining practices like FinOps, observability, and expert support with external integrations can pave the way for effective scaling.
Building a hybrid architecture that balances platform-native tools and external solutions starts with identifying specific integration needs. The aim is to leverage the strengths of each while addressing gaps that platform tools may not cover.
Begin by assessing your current IT setup. Identify the systems, applications, and data sources that require integration. Common areas where external tools shine include cross-cloud visibility, advanced cost analytics, and specialised security features. For example, Kubernetes is a popular choice for containerised applications, offering flexibility across multiple cloud providers without tying you to one vendor. Similarly, selecting an iPaaS or API management tool tailored to your environment ensures smooth data flow.
"Ensuring interoperability across different cloud platforms stands as a critical success factor for cloud integration in 2025." – IT Convergence
Integration success hinges on designing clear workflows and connecting systems using interoperable APIs or middleware. Testing these connections thoroughly is key to ensuring seamless operations. Interestingly, organisations using a pipe-and-filter integration style report a 68% higher success rate in multi-cloud integrations.
Security is another cornerstone of effective integration. Adopting a Zero Trust model that continuously verifies user identities and automates security testing can provide a significant edge. This is especially crucial as 63% of organisations face challenges in maintaining consistent security and compliance across multi-cloud setups.
Finally, no integration strategy is complete without a well-defined incident response plan, which we explore next.
A robust incident response plan tailored to cloud environments is essential. It should outline clear roles, escalation paths, and automated triggers to handle incidents ranging from performance issues to security breaches. This complements the CloudOps strategies discussed earlier.
Automation is a game-changer in incident response. Tools that monitor cloud resources, detect anomalies, and trigger immediate actions can drastically reduce response times. For instance, orchestration tools can isolate affected resources or revoke compromised credentials in seconds.
Centralised logging is another must-have. Aggregating logs from various cloud providers into a single repository simplifies diagnostics and reduces the need to juggle multiple dashboards. Pair this with intelligent alerting systems that filter out unnecessary noise, and you’ll have a streamlined approach to resolving issues quickly.
Equipping your team with the right skills is equally important. Regular cloud-specific training and certifications ensure your incident response teams are prepared for evolving challenges. Additionally, third-party security tools can enhance visibility and threat detection beyond the capabilities of individual platforms.
Given that it takes organisations an average of 287 days to identify and contain a breach, having a well-rehearsed incident response plan is not just helpful - it’s essential.
Managing cloud costs effectively requires more than just relying on basic billing dashboards. A comprehensive approach that incorporates financial operations practices can help maintain control and visibility.
Start by regularly auditing your environment to identify and eliminate waste, such as unused virtual machines or outdated snapshots. For predictable workloads, reserved instances and savings plans can help reduce costs for applications with stable usage patterns.
Tagging is another powerful tool for cost management. By implementing consistent tagging strategies - such as tagging by environment, project, or team - you can track spending more accurately and pinpoint areas of inefficiency.
Automation also plays a vital role in cost control. Use auto-scaling policies to adjust resources based on demand and schedule shutdowns for non-production environments, like development or testing, during off-hours. For example, limiting these environments to business hours can result in significant savings.
Finally, set up budget controls and alerts to monitor for unexpected cost spikes. Tools like AWS Cost Explorer or Azure Cost Management can help track usage trends and flag unusual spending, enabling you to address issues before they escalate.
A mid-sized EdTech company found itself grappling with spiralling cloud costs after a rushed migration to meet rapid scaling demands. While the move to the cloud was necessary for growth, it came with a hefty price tag - £1.2 million annually on cloud infrastructure spread across AWS and Azure. Despite this considerable investment, their operations were riddled with inefficiencies, and their cloud bill exceeded the budget by 15%.
The main issue? Oversized resources. Development and testing environments were running 24/7 with production-level specifications, wasting compute credits. Instances had been provisioned based on peak load estimates, yet auto-scaling wasn’t implemented, leaving expensive resources idle during off-peak hours.
Adding to their woes was poor visibility across their multi-cloud setup. Workloads were scattered between providers, with no centralised monitoring system. Engineers faced delays during incidents, spending excessive time navigating multiple dashboards and logging tools to identify issues.
To complicate matters further, security gaps emerged as the company expanded. Without proper governance, configuration errors went unnoticed, and security patches were inconsistently applied. This left the company vulnerable, a concern supported by the fact that 39% of businesses experienced data breaches in their cloud environments last year.
These challenges highlighted the urgent need for a structured approach to address inefficiencies and risks.
The company started by conducting a detailed cost analysis to identify areas of waste. Cloud cost management tools were introduced, offering detailed insights into spending across AWS and Azure.
Rightsizing resources became the top priority. By using Terraform for automated provisioning, they ensured resources were consistently sized and optimised. Development and testing environments were also scheduled to shut down outside business hours, significantly cutting unnecessary costs.
To improve visibility and accountability, a tagging strategy was implemented. Resources were categorised by environment, project, and team, enabling precise tracking of expenses and clear accountability at the departmental level.
Adopting FinOps practices created a culture of cost awareness. Resource owners received personal dashboards, and automated budget alerts flagged spending anomalies early. Regular audits uncovered and eliminated waste, such as unused virtual machines and outdated snapshots.
Monitoring was another area of focus. Instead of relying solely on platform-native tools, the team centralised logging, combining data from both cloud providers into a single system. This approach simplified incident response and offered deeper insights than platform-specific dashboards.
Automation further streamlined operations. Advanced monitoring tools were configured to detect anomalies and trigger immediate actions, such as auto-scaling or isolating affected systems, ensuring issues were resolved before they could disrupt users.
The results were impressive. The company reduced its cloud costs by 20% within six months, saving approximately £240,000 annually. These savings were reinvested into product development and team growth, fuelling further innovation.
Incident response times improved significantly, with a 50% reduction in resolution times. Thanks to centralised monitoring and automation, issues were identified and addressed before they escalated.
Operational stability also improved, achieving 99.9% uptime across their hybrid cloud environment. Enhanced monitoring, proactive maintenance, and automation resolved prior performance challenges.
Perhaps the most notable achievement was maintaining flexibility while avoiding vendor lock-in. By leveraging tools like Kubernetes for container orchestration and Terraform for infrastructure management, the company retained the ability to optimise workloads across providers based on cost and performance.
"The success of adoption and migrations comes down to your people - and the investments you make in a talent transformation program. Until you focus on the #1 bottleneck to the flow of cloud adoption, improvements made anywhere else are an illusion." – Drew Firment, Cloud Engineer
One of the biggest lessons from this case was that platform-native tools alone weren't enough to meet the scaling needs of a fast-growing organisation. Combining external monitoring solutions, FinOps principles, and automation tools proved essential for achieving cost efficiency and operational improvements without sacrificing flexibility.
This case demonstrates how integrating external CloudOps practices can overcome the limitations of platform-specific tools. With thoughtful planning, the right technology, and a focus on operational excellence, high-growth teams can navigate the challenges of scaling while staying agile and cost-efficient.
Relying solely on platform-based strategies is a risky move for high-growth teams managing today’s complex cloud infrastructures. While cloud platforms provide a solid base, they often fall short in critical areas like cost management, incident response, and operational visibility - issues that can undermine scaling efforts.
The numbers paint a clear picture: 98% of organisations report cloud skills gaps, 78% of enterprises faced challenges in 2023, and nearly half of cloud spending is projected to be wasted (47%). These gaps highlight the need for a more integrated approach, often referred to as CloudOps.
To address these challenges, teams should combine platform tools with CloudOps practices. This includes adopting FinOps for better cost management, enhancing monitoring capabilities beyond what platform-native tools offer, and seeking expert assistance when internal resources fall short.
Avoiding vendor lock-in is another critical step. Strategies like multi-cloud adoption, containerisation with tools like Kubernetes, and infrastructure-as-code using Terraform are becoming the norm - 89% of organisations are already leveraging multi-cloud approaches.
"Avoiding cloud vendor lock-in is about designing adaptability into a cloud operating model. If an organisation is running virtual servers or containers, these are moveable between platforms. But that's just one element. Data, security, governance, operating models also need to move. Avoiding cloud vendor lock-in is within everybody's grasp but businesses need to ensure that these critical aspects are also moveable to give them real choice."
- Chris Gabriel, director of technology at Logicalis
High-growth teams need to act quickly and strategically. Start by identifying operational gaps. Are infrastructure challenges delaying product development? Are cloud bills consistently higher than expected? Are incident response times too slow? These are clear indicators that a platform-only approach is no longer sufficient.
Focus on addressing the most pressing gaps first. For many, this means tackling cost management by implementing resource tagging, setting budget alerts, and rightsizing environments. Others may need to prioritise monitoring and observability to improve reliability and reduce response times during incidents.
Where internal expertise is limited, consider bringing in external specialists. A staggering 85% of IT decision-makers acknowledge that skills gaps in cloud operations are holding back their business goals. Instead of building entire teams from scratch, many organisations successfully augment their capabilities with expert support in areas like security, compliance, and cost optimisation.
Finally, design your systems with flexibility in mind. Opt for open-source tools, API-driven platforms, and avoid deep dependencies on vendor-specific services when alternatives are available. This approach ensures you can adapt to changing requirements without being locked into a single provider.
With the cloud-native application market expected to grow from £4.6 billion in 2023 to £13.3 billion by 2028, the message is clear: relying on platform capabilities alone is no longer enough to stay competitive. The teams that succeed will be those that thoughtfully integrate platform strengths with external tools, proven practices, and expert guidance to build scalable, cost-efficient operations.
To achieve sustainable growth, cloud platforms must be bolstered by strong operational practices and a commitment to adaptability.
Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud have become essential for many businesses, offering scalability and convenience. However, for fast-growing teams, relying solely on these platforms can bring some serious challenges.
Cost management is one of the biggest headaches. With unpredictable pricing structures and hidden charges, budgets - especially for small to medium-sized businesses and scaleups - can quickly spiral out of control. Beyond costs, these platforms often fall short when it comes to customisation and operational control. This lack of flexibility can make it harder to fine-tune performance or respond swiftly to issues, which can slow teams down and impact efficiency.
Another major concern is vendor lock-in. When a business becomes too dependent on one provider, it can limit their ability to adapt or scale effectively in the future. While cloud platforms are undeniably useful, they often don’t cater to the specific, evolving needs of modern teams aiming to grow sustainably and maintain agility.
FinOps, or Financial Operations, is all about helping fast-growing teams manage their cloud costs effectively. It provides a clear framework that connects finance and engineering, ensuring cloud spending is aligned with broader business objectives.
With FinOps, teams can monitor their cloud usage in real time. This means spotting unnecessary expenses, streamlining resource allocation, and cutting down on waste. The result? Teams can save as much as 30% on cloud costs while encouraging a mindset focused on cost efficiency and smarter decision-making.
For teams in the UK, FinOps ensures that every pound spent on cloud services is used wisely. It supports sustainable growth and operational efficiency, all while leaving room for innovation.
Relying only on cloud platforms can sometimes leave gaps in critical areas like cost optimisation, incident management, and operational efficiency. That's where external tools step in, offering advanced capabilities such as improved monitoring, stronger security measures, and smoother incident handling. These tools help your team grow without compromising on security or blowing the budget.
Equally important is having expert support to navigate the complexities of cloud environments, prevent misconfigurations, and address security challenges. By blending the strengths of cloud platforms with specialised tools and expert advice, high-growth teams can create an infrastructure that's more resilient, scalable, and efficient.