CTOs Guide to Cloud Cost Optimization - How did FREENOW manage to cut cloud costs by 40%?

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, global lockdowns brought travel to a standstill, slashing FREENOW's business by an unprecedented 80%. With no clear end to the crisis in sight, preserving cash quickly became a top priority. Like many startups, FREENOW had not prioritized optimizing cloud costs—a hindsight that revealed significant savings potential. Faced with an urgent need to adapt, we successfully reduced our cloud infrastructure costs by 40% in just two weeks. In this talk, I will share the actionable strategies, quick wins, and best practices that enabled us to achieve these savings. Whether you're a startup or a mature business, you'll leave with practical insights that can help you optimize your cloud spending without compromising on performance or scalability.