{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"FinOps in Action","title":"Making Cost a First-Class Engineering Concern ft. Jai Padmanabhan | Ep #62","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/58e52251\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2242,"description":"Why does cloud cost optimization only start after it’s already too late?In this episode of FinOps in Action, I sit down with Jai Padmanabhan, who shares why cloud cost is no longer just a finance concern; it’s a core responsibility for engineering teams. Drawing on decades of experience leading platforms in complex and regulated environments, Jai explains how the shift to the cloud fundamentally changed how organizations think about cost, and why treating it as an afterthought leads to reactive, high-pressure optimization later on.He breaks down how teams can build cost awareness into their day-to-day workflows, from setting budgets and enforcing guardrails to leveraging automation that scales infrastructure up and down based on real demand. Jai also explores the trade-offs between efficiency and reliability, emphasizing why SLAs should always take priority in production and how over-optimization can introduce unintended consequences. From storage strategies in regulated industries to the hidden complexity of data transfer costs, he shares practical insights on where organizations commonly overspend and how to avoid it. Here’s what we talked about:The dangers of reactive cost optimization after the bill shows upBuilding cost awareness into engineering teams through budgets and guardrailsHow Kubernetes changes the approach to cost optimizationStorage optimization strategies, especially in regulated industriesHow AI usage is impacting cloud spend (and why it’s still early)Why FinOps should be treated as everyone’s responsibilityChapters:00:00 - FinOps First Class & Guest Intro01:14 - Cost Becomes Engineering06:59 - Kubernetes Autoscaling10:26 - Risk Versus Savings12:48 - Dev Prod Mindset14:36 - Storage In Regulated18:31 - Big Savings Surprises22:24 - Day One Playbook24:40 - AI Spend Management27:57 - Security And Compliance31:58 - Final FinOps Advice37:03 - Connect And Wrap 🎧 Subscribe for more FinOps leadership conversations → https://www.finopsinaction.com/ Quote...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/19z3-eWZl6c0TEQCJZvYXIgN4CxYIhl9_e56I_mkpWs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wYTdj/YWRhNmM4YzM4NzQ0/NDVlNzFhYmE2NmVi/Y2ZiZC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}