Monitoring AWS Billing with CloudWatch Alarms: A Step-by-Step Guide Day 46

Hey fellow learners!

Ever wondered what happens if an AWS service is quietly charging your account, and you're unaware until you see a hefty bill? Well, worry not! Today, let's explore how you can set up a CloudWatch alarm to monitor your AWS billing and receive email notifications when it reaches a certain threshold.

What is Amazon CloudWatch?

Amazon CloudWatch is a powerful AWS service that allows you to monitor your AWS resources and applications in real time. You can collect and track metrics, helping you gain insights into the performance and health of your resources.

What is Amazon SNS?

Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) is a notification service that provides a cost-effective way to deliver messages, especially to mobile users. It enables you to send messages via various protocols, including email.

Task: Create a CloudWatch Alarm for Billing Notifications

Let's dive into the hands-on part. Follow these steps to create a CloudWatch alarm that monitors your billing and sends an email when it reaches $2:

Go to the AWS Management Console and sign in to your AWS account.

Step 2: Open the CloudWatch Console

Navigate to the CloudWatch console by selecting "Services" in the top left corner and choosing "CloudWatch" under "Management & Governance."

Step 3: Access Billing Metrics

Click on "Billing" in the left-hand navigation pane to access the Billing dashboard.

Step 4: Create Alarm

In the Billing dashboard, click on "Create Alarm."

Step 5: Select Metric

Under "Select metric," choose "Total Estimated Charge."

Step 6: Define Conditions

Set the conditions for the alarm, specifying the threshold as "$2" for a particular time period. Click on "Next."

Step 7: Add Actions

Under "Actions," click on "Create a new topic" in the "Send notification to" section. This opens a new tab for Amazon SNS.

Click on "Create topic" in the SNS tab. Fill in details like "Topic name" and "Display name," then click "Create topic."

After creating the topic, click on "Create subscription." Choose the protocol as "Email" and enter your email address. Confirm the subscription.

Step 10: Set Alarm Name and Description

Go back to the CloudWatch tab, set a name and description for your alarm. Click "Next" and review your settings.

Step 11: Create Alarm

Click on "Create Alarm" to finalize the process.

Step 12: Confirm Email Subscription

Check your email inbox for a subscription confirmation email from Amazon SNS. Confirm your subscription to start receiving notifications.

Step 13: Test the Alarm

Test the alarm by incurring some costs in your AWS account or manually setting the threshold lower than the current charges.

Step 14: Delete the Alarm (Optional)

If you want to delete the alarm, go back to the CloudWatch console, select the alarm, and click on "Actions" > "Delete."

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully set up a CloudWatch alarm to monitor your AWS billing and receive email notifications. This proactive approach can help you stay on top of your expenses and avoid unexpected surprises.

Remember, AWS resources may incur charges, so always be cautious while testing. Refer to the AWS documentation for the latest information.

Happy cloud monitoring! 🚀