Docs Playbook
Network Load Balancer and NAT Waste
Optimize network edge cost for balancers and NAT layers.
Network gateways are often left running after topology or traffic patterns change.
Detection Signals
- Consistently low traffic through LB/NAT endpoints.
- No active backend pools or deprecated routes.
- Cost concentration in underutilized network primitives.
Execution Steps
- Inventory LB/NAT endpoints and backend dependencies.
- Consolidate duplicated gateways where feasible.
- Decommission inactive endpoints with rollback checks.
- Revalidate application reachability and latency.
Provider Differences
| Provider Group | Operational Notes |
|---|---|
| AWS | Idle ALB/NLB and NAT gateway cost. |
| Azure | Underused load balancers in segmented VNets. |
| Tencent/Volcengine | CLB-related baseline spend. |
| DigitalOcean/Vultr | Load balancers with low traffic throughput. |
Share
Pass the cleanup path to the next reviewer
Send the same remediation steps to engineering, finance, or the owner who needs to sign off.
Next Step
Run a focused scan, validate owners, then export evidence for approval and execution.
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