Are cloud units a good measure of cloud value? [Video]

Finops uses cloud units to connect cloud costs with business value. But applying a simple and generic metric to complex and unique business uses leaves me with a lot of questions.

Credit: Underawesternsky – shutterstock.com

If we’ve learned anything from the constant evolution of cloud computing and its integration into enterprise operations, it’s that generic metrics are rarely good at measuring success. Don’t get me wrong, cloud units are better than no metrics. Most enterprises use no metrics at all, even if they won’t admit it.

Metrics must be aligned with cloud value, otherwise enterprises could get into trouble. Many of those running finops in Global 2000 enterprises are likely to agree with me. Thus, I felt compelled to write this.

What are cloud units?

The concept of cloud units originated within the cloud finops space. Cloud units are designed to tie cloud costs and resources to a standardized unit of business value, such as cost per user, transaction, or workload. The hope was to …