Bridging the Gap: FinOps and Engineering with Alon Avartz from PointFive | FinOps X Exclusive

Summary

In the FinOps Nexus podcast, Alan discusses the launch of 05, a platform designed to optimize cloud infrastructure and drive cultural change within engineering teams. The platform aims to bridge the gap between FinOps professionals and engineers, providing tools and context to make informed decisions and automate tasks, fostering a culture of efficient infrastructure management. Alan also shares insights on the FinOps community, the importance of AI in optimization, and the evolving role of FinOps in the cloud era.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Alan's company, 05, has recently emerged from stealth mode, indicating a phase of development where they were working in secrecy to ensure their product was valuable and unique before revealing it to the public.
• 🔍 05 aims to solve the primary problem of optimizing cloud infrastructure and driving cultural change within engineering organizations to make them more accountable and efficient with their cloud usage.
• 🛠️ The platform 05 provides tools to engineers to help them manage and optimize cloud infrastructure, reducing friction between the finance (FinOps) team and the engineering team.
• 🤝 05's approach is to create a cultural revolution in engineering, emphasizing that optimized and efficient infrastructure is a hallmark of good engineering practices.
• 🔄 05's platform seeks to automate tasks and provide accurate recommendations to engineers, reducing false positives that can erode trust.
• 🔗 Alan discusses the importance of trust and alignment within the platform, ensuring that all stakeholders have a single point of view on the status of efficiency and required actions.
• 🗣️ The platform also incorporates feedback from engineers, allowing them to communicate the context or reasons why certain issues may not need to be addressed.
• 🤖 Alan mentions the use of AI and machine learning within 05 for optimization recommendations, but also expresses skepticism about the hype surrounding AI in the FinOps space.
• 🌐 Alan sees FinOps evolving to be more strategic and less tactical, with the day-to-day tactical work being handled by engineers, allowing FinOps to focus on strategic initiatives.
• 📈 The future of FinOps is predicted to involve ambassadors within engineering organizations to foster a more collaborative approach to ongoing efficiency and optimization.
• 💼 For those looking to get into FinOps, Alan recommends engaging with the FinOps Foundation, obtaining certification, and gaining a deep understanding of cloud technologies.

Q & A

What was the reason behind 05 coming out of stealth mode?

05 came out of stealth mode because they had built a valuable and unique product, and after onboarding their first batch of customers who provided positive feedback and ROI within two weeks, they felt it was the right time to make their presence known.

What problem does 05 aim to solve in the finops space?

05 addresses the challenge of optimizing cloud infrastructure usage and driving cultural change within engineering organizations. It aims to reduce friction between finops teams and engineers by providing the latter with the tools and context they need to take action on cloud optimization.

How does 05 bridge the gap between finops and engineering teams?

05 provides a platform that onboards engineers and equips them with the necessary tools and accurate recommendations to optimize cloud infrastructure. It also automates tasks to simplify the process for engineers, making it easier for them to contribute to cost efficiency.

What is the significance of minimizing false positives in 05's approach?

Minimizing false positives is crucial for building trust among engineers. Accurate recommendations prevent confusion and ensure that engineers focus on legitimate optimization opportunities rather than wasting time on irrelevant issues.

How does 05 promote a cultural revolution within engineering regarding cloud optimization?

05 advocates for a shift in perception where efficient infrastructure is seen as a hallmark of good engineering. It aims to establish a culture where engineers are proactive in optimizing their infrastructure, recognizing it as an integral part of their job.

What role does trust play in the relationship between the finops team and the engineering team when using 05's platform?

Trust is essential for ensuring that both teams rely on the platform's insights and take the recommended actions. A single point of view provided by the platform helps align everyone on the status of cloud efficiency and the necessary steps to be taken.

What is unique about the finops community as described by Alan?

The finops community is characterized by its collaborative nature, with members eager to help each other, share experiences, and educate rather than just sell quick fixes. This community spirit fosters a supportive environment for learning and problem-solving.

What is Alan's perspective on the use of AI in finops currently?

Alan acknowledges the potential of AI but notes that its role in revolutionizing finops has not yet been fully realized. He emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's implications and costs to ensure it delivers maximum business value.

What emerging trends does Alan foresee for finops in the near future?

Alan predicts that engineers will become integral parts of the finops process, with finops roles becoming more strategic and collaborative. He also sees a trend towards technological integration, with financial and technological aspects of cloud management becoming closely intertwined.

How does Alan recommend someone new to finops get started and connect with the community?

Alan suggests joining the Finops Foundation's Slack group for networking and learning, pursuing certification, and gaining a deep understanding of a chosen cloud platform's technological aspects to have meaningful conversations with engineers.

What are the future plans for 05 as mentioned by Alan?

05 plans to grow its team and expand its circle of supporters, continuously develop its technically deep platform to provide more capabilities, and stay at the forefront of technological development to help companies achieve cost efficiency.