Free tier usage monitoring in AWS - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

Check AWS Free Tier Usage with CLI

You want to check your AWS Free Tier usage using the AWS CLI. Which command will correctly show the current usage details for your account?

A aws free-tier describe-usage --period 2024-01

B aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --filter FreeTier=true

C aws billing get-free-tier-usage --start 2024-01-01 --end 2024-01-31

D aws ce get-free-tier-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31

💡 Hint

Use the AWS Cost Explorer (ce) commands to get free tier usage data.

The AWS CLI command aws ce get-cost-and-usage with appropriate filters is the correct way to retrieve free tier usage data for a specified time period. The command aws ce get-free-tier-usage does not exist.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding Free Tier Usage Alerts

Which AWS service allows you to set up alerts to notify you when your Free Tier usage approaches or exceeds limits?

A AWS Budgets

B AWS Trusted Advisor

C AWS CloudWatch Alarms

D AWS Config

💡 Hint

Think about which service helps track and alert on cost and usage thresholds.

AWS Budgets allows you to create custom budgets and receive alerts when your usage or costs exceed thresholds, including Free Tier limits.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Troubleshoot Missing Free Tier Usage Data

You ran aws ce get-free-tier-usage but received an empty result. What is the most likely reason?

A Your account is not eligible for Free Tier benefits.

B The AWS CLI version is outdated and does not support this command.

C You did not specify the correct time period in the command.

D Free Tier usage data is only available in the AWS Management Console, not via CLI.

💡 Hint

Consider account eligibility and permissions for free tier data.

If your AWS account is not eligible for Free Tier (for example, it is older than 12 months or has used up the free tier), the command will return no data.

🔀 Workflow

advanced

Set Up Free Tier Usage Alert Workflow

Which sequence correctly describes the workflow to set up an alert for Free Tier usage exceeding 80%?

A 3,1,2,4

B 2,1,4,3

C 1,3,2,4

D 1,2,3,4

💡 Hint

Think about the logical order of creating, configuring, monitoring, and receiving alerts.

First, create the budget with threshold, then configure notifications, monitor the dashboard, and finally receive alerts when thresholds are crossed.

✅ Best Practice

expert

Best Practice for Continuous Free Tier Usage Monitoring

What is the best practice to continuously monitor AWS Free Tier usage and avoid unexpected charges?

A Manually check the AWS Free Tier usage page once a month.

B Use third-party tools only without AWS native monitoring.

C Set up AWS Budgets with automated alerts and integrate with AWS SNS for notifications.

D Rely solely on AWS Trusted Advisor recommendations without alerts.

💡 Hint

Consider automation and timely notifications for best monitoring.

Setting up AWS Budgets with automated alerts and integrating with SNS for notifications ensures you get real-time updates and can act quickly to avoid charges.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of AWS free tier usage monitoring?

easy

A. To avoid unexpected charges by tracking usage

B. To increase the AWS free tier limits automatically

C. To disable all AWS services after free tier expires

D. To get free AWS support for all services

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand free tier usage monitoring

   It is designed to track how much of the free tier you have used to prevent surprise bills.

2. Step 2: Compare options with purpose

   Only To avoid unexpected charges by tracking usage matches the goal of monitoring usage to avoid unexpected charges.

3. Final Answer:

   To avoid unexpected charges by tracking usage -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Free tier monitoring = avoid surprise charges [OK]

Hint: Free tier monitoring means tracking usage to avoid bills [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking free tier monitoring increases limits
• Believing it disables services automatically
• Assuming it provides free support

2. Which AWS CLI command correctly lists your free tier usage costs using Cost Explorer?

easy

A. aws free-tier usage --period 2024-01

B. aws ce list-usage --start 2024-01-01 --end 2024-01-31

C. aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --metrics "BlendedCost"

D. aws cost-explorer show-usage --from 2024-01-01 --to 2024-01-31

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct AWS CLI syntax for Cost Explorer

   The correct command uses 'aws ce get-cost-and-usage' with --time-period and --metrics parameters.

2. Step 2: Check options for correct syntax

   Only aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --metrics "BlendedCost" matches the official AWS CLI syntax for cost and usage retrieval.

3. Final Answer:

   aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --metrics "BlendedCost" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct AWS CLI syntax = aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --metrics "BlendedCost" [OK]

Hint: Use 'aws ce get-cost-and-usage' with time period and metrics [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent commands like 'list-usage'
• Wrong parameter names like --start or --from
• Mixing service names incorrectly

3. Given this AWS CLI command output snippet for free tier usage:

{
  "ResultsByTime": [
    {"TimePeriod": {"Start": "2024-04-01", "End": "2024-04-30"}, "Total": {"BlendedCost": {"Amount": "0.00", "Unit": "USD"}}}
  ]
}

What does this output indicate about your free tier usage for April 2024?

medium

A. You have used services but incurred no cost within free tier limits

B. You have exceeded free tier limits and were charged

C. No AWS services were used in April 2024

D. The command failed to retrieve usage data

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the 'Amount' field in output

   The 'Amount' is "0.00" USD, meaning no cost was charged.

2. Step 2: Interpret zero cost with usage

   Zero cost with usage means usage stayed within free tier limits, so no charges applied.

3. Final Answer:

   You have used services but incurred no cost within free tier limits -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Zero cost means usage within free tier [OK]

Hint: Zero cost in output means usage stayed free [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming zero cost means no usage
• Thinking zero cost means command error
• Confusing free tier limits with no charges

4. You run this AWS CLI command to check free tier usage but get an error:

aws ce get-cost-and-usage --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 --metrics BlendedCost

What is the likely cause of the error?

medium

A. Incorrect date format in --time-period

B. AWS CLI is not installed

C. Using 'ce' instead of 'cost-explorer' in the command

D. Missing quotes around the BlendedCost metric value

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax for --metrics parameter

   The metric name must be enclosed in quotes, e.g., "BlendedCost".

2. Step 2: Validate other parts of the command

   Date format and 'ce' alias are correct; AWS CLI installation error would be different.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing quotes around the BlendedCost metric value -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Metric names need quotes in AWS CLI [OK]

Hint: Always quote metric names in AWS CLI commands [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not quoting metric names
• Changing date format incorrectly
• Confusing service aliases
• Assuming AWS CLI not installed without checking

5. You want to set up an automated alert to notify you when your AWS free tier usage approaches its limit. Which AWS service combination is best suited for this task?

hard

A. AWS CloudTrail with AWS Lambda

B. AWS Budgets with Amazon SNS notifications

C. Amazon CloudWatch Logs with AWS Config

D. AWS IAM with AWS Organizations

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify service for cost and usage alerts

   AWS Budgets allows setting thresholds and alerts for cost and usage.

2. Step 2: Identify notification method

   Amazon SNS can send notifications via email or SMS when budget thresholds are met.

3. Final Answer:

   AWS Budgets with Amazon SNS notifications -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Budgets + SNS = automated cost alerts [OK]

Hint: Use AWS Budgets and SNS for free tier alerts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using CloudTrail which tracks API calls, not costs
• Confusing CloudWatch Logs with cost alerts
• Using IAM or Organizations which manage access, not alerts