Cloud Computing
4 instance spec cards filed under this workload class.
Cloud Computing2026-10-13
Cloud Compute in 2026: Stop Overpaying for On-Demand VMs
workloadGeneral-purpose cloud compute instances running long-lived services and batch jobs
runtimePersistent virtual machines with hourly or per-second billing, optionally interrupted
scalingHorizontal for stateless tiers, vertical for stateful or legacy components, event-driven for queue workers
costOn-demand is the highest relative tier; committed and interruptible options sit progressively lower
ops Moderate; requires capacity planning, commitment tracking, and interruption handling
On-demand compute is the default setting of the cloud era, and defaults are where money quietly disappears.
Cloud Computing2026-10-13
AWS vs. Azure vs. GCP: Pick the Right Cloud for Compute
workloadGeneral-purpose compute workloads (web/API services, batch jobs, data processing) deployed on cloud virtual machines and managed compute platforms
runtimeLong-running virtual machine instances plus managed container and serverless execution environments
scalingHorizontal auto-scaling of instance fleets, with vertical resizing for individual instances and event-driven scaling for serverless functions
costMid-to-premium relative cost; committed-use and spot-style discounts materially lower effective rates
ops Moderate to high, driven by identity, networking, and infrastructure-as-code sprawl across accounts and regions
Choosing a cloud for compute is less about picking a winner and more about matching a provider's defaults to the shape of your workload.
Cloud Computing2026-10-13
Cloud Cost Control: Why You Must Stop Paying On-Demand in 2026
workloadLong-running, always-on cloud compute instances (virtual machines) for steady-state applications
runtimePersistent virtual machine instances with continuous uptime
scalingHorizontal scaling with manual or auto-scaling groups; vertical scaling by resizing instances
costOn-demand pricing is the highest relative cost tier; committed-use discounts can reduce costs by roughly 30-70%
ops Moderate: requires capacity planning, commitment management, and monitoring
On-demand pricing for cloud compute instances is the default billing model, but it is also the most expensive way to run steady-state workloads.
Cloud Computing2026-10-13
Spot and Graviton: Two Ways You're Overpaying AWS
workloadFault-tolerant batch, stateless web, and queue-driven compute jobs
runtimeContainerized or VM-based long-running and short-lived processes
scalingHorizontal, with event-driven bursts for queue workers
costLow to moderate relative to on-demand baseline pricing
ops Moderate to high due to interruption handling and capacity diversity
Two of the most common ways teams overspend on cloud compute are not exotic mistakes.