Free tier usage monitoring in AWS - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Free tier usage monitoring

Start Monitoring Setup

↓

Enable Billing Alerts

↓

Create CloudWatch Alarms

↓

Track Free Tier Usage Metrics

↓

Receive Notifications

↓

Adjust Usage or Budget

↓

End

This flow shows setting up AWS free tier usage monitoring by enabling alerts, tracking usage, and receiving notifications to avoid extra charges.

Execution Sample

AWS

aws ce get-free-tier-usage --time-period Start=2024-05-01,End=2024-05-31
aws cloudwatch put-metric-alarm --alarm-name FreeTierUsageAlarm --metric-name FreeTierUsage --namespace AWS/Billing --statistic Maximum --period 86400 --threshold 80 --comparison-operator GreaterThanOrEqualToThreshold --evaluation-periods 1 --alarm-actions arn:aws:sns:region:account-id:NotifyMe

Commands to check free tier usage for May 2024 and create a CloudWatch alarm to notify when usage reaches 80%.

Process Table

Step	Command/Action	Input/Parameter	AWS Response/State Change	Result/Output
1	aws ce get-free-tier-usage	Start=2024-05-01, End=2024-05-31	Returns usage data for free tier services in May	Shows current usage percentages per service
2	aws cloudwatch put-metric-alarm	AlarmName=FreeTierUsageAlarm, Threshold=80	Alarm created in CloudWatch for free tier usage	Alarm monitors usage metric daily
3	CloudWatch monitors usage metric	Daily data points	Evaluates if usage >= 80	Triggers alarm if threshold crossed
4	Alarm triggers	Usage >= 80	Sends notification via SNS topic	User receives alert to check usage
5	User adjusts usage or budget	Based on alert	Usage reduced or budget updated	Avoids unexpected charges
6	End	-	-	Monitoring cycle continues daily

💡 Monitoring runs continuously; stops only if alarms or notifications are disabled.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	Final
FreeTierUsagePercent	0%	e.g. 45%	Alarm set at 80%	Evaluated daily	Triggered if >=80%	Monitored continuously
AlarmState	Not created	Not created	Created	OK or ALARM	ALARM if threshold met	Active or reset
NotificationSent	No	No	No	No or Yes	Yes if alarm triggered	Depends on usage

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the alarm not trigger immediately after creation even if usage is high?

The alarm evaluates usage data periodically (daily). It triggers only when the usage metric crosses the threshold during an evaluation period, as shown in execution_table step 3 and 4.

What happens if the usage goes back below 80% after triggering the alarm?

The alarm state changes back to OK, and notifications stop. This is because CloudWatch alarms track state changes continuously (execution_table step 3 and 4).

Can the free tier usage monitoring stop automatically?

No, monitoring continues daily unless the user disables alarms or notifications, as noted in the exit_note and variable_tracker final states.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table at step 2, what does the command do?

A Creates a CloudWatch alarm to monitor free tier usage

B Fetches current free tier usage data

C Sends a notification to the user

D Disables billing alerts

💡 Hint

Refer to execution_table row 2 under 'AWS Response/State Change'

At which step does the system send a notification to the user?

A Step 3

B Step 4

C Step 5

D Step 6

💡 Hint

Check execution_table row 4 under 'Result/Output'

According to variable_tracker, what is the alarm state right after step 2?

A ALARM

B OK

C Created

D Not created

💡 Hint

Look at variable_tracker row 'AlarmState' after Step 2

Concept Snapshot

AWS Free Tier Usage Monitoring:
- Use 'aws ce get-free-tier-usage' to check usage.
- Create CloudWatch alarms with 'put-metric-alarm' to watch usage thresholds.
- Alarms evaluate usage daily and notify via SNS.
- Adjust usage or budget on alerts to avoid charges.
- Monitoring runs continuously until disabled.

Full Transcript

This visual execution shows how to monitor AWS free tier usage. First, you check usage data for a time period using the AWS Cost Explorer command. Then, you create a CloudWatch alarm that watches the usage metric and triggers when usage reaches a set threshold, like 80%. CloudWatch evaluates usage daily and sends notifications through SNS if the alarm triggers. The user can then adjust usage or budget to avoid extra charges. Monitoring continues daily unless alarms or notifications are turned off.

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