Cloud Repatriation vs. Optimization: A CIO's Dilemma

The 'Cloud First' mantra is evolving into 'Cloud Smart'. Many Indian enterprises, after the initial rush to AWS and Azure, are facing sticker shock. Data egress fees and unoptimized storage tiers are inflating IT budgets.

The Case for Optimization (FinOps)

Before considering moving hardware back on-premise (Repatriation), ensure you aren't just running 'lazy' cloud architecture. Are you using Spot Instances? Are your reserved instances aligned with actual usage?

• Right-sizing: Downsize over-provisioned EC2/VM instances.
• Storage Lifecycle: Automatically move cold data to Glacier/Archive tiers.
• Tagging Hygiene: You cannot optimize what you cannot measure.

When to Repatriate?

If you have stable, predictable workloads with high data egress requirements (e.g., video rendering, heavy manufacturing data logs), a hybrid model with on-premise hardware might offer better TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).