In 2025, cloud costs continue to rise, often silently. For startup CTOs and tech leads juggling infrastructure performance, tight budgets, and rapid scaling, AWS billing has become a monthly source of anxiety. The problem isn’t AWS itself, it’s the hidden inefficiencies, unmanaged workloads, and scattered security practices that slowly drain your runway. This playbook offers real strategies that work. Not vague recommendations or one-size-fits-all advice, but actionable steps drawn from working with teams who’ve successfully optimized their AWS usage while maintaining secure, scalable environments. Let’s dive straight into what matters. Why AWS Bills Are Still Rising, Even When Usage Doesn’t If you’ve already tried “right-sizing” or turning off idle instances, you’re not alone. These are common first steps. But AWS billing remains confusing, and for many startups, costs keep creeping up. Why? Over-provisioning for peak demand without ever scaling back. Data storage left unc...