Data costs are out of control. What used to be a manageable budget line has ballooned into an endless series of expenses — more storage, more compute, more demand, and suddenly, the costs associated with data are through the roof. Finance has noticed, and so have data leaders. So the question is, where’s all this budget going? And more importantly, what can we do to stop the bleed?.
As the modern data stack continues to expand, we face an increasing need to make data-driven decisions while carefully managing rising data costs. Without clear insights, managing this budget becomes an overwhelmingly complex challenge that most data teams lack the time to tackle.
So, here’s the plan. We need to be proactive, not reactive, with budget forecasting and planning. Let’s dive into a few ways to take back control before the numbers start to blur.
Cost attribution: Getting a Handle on Where Your Dollars Are Going
First things first: we need to understand where every dollar is going. It’s no longer enough to just lump costs under “storage” or “compute” and hope for the best. We need to drill down into the specifics: which data products, pipelines, or processes are racking up the most costs? Cost attribution is a game-changer here. It’s about more than just checking line items; it’s about knowing why we’re spending what we are.
Insight #1: A fundamental element of data budgeting and planning is having the observability to understand the context and ownership of data cost consumption within the organization. The way we tackle this at Seemore Data is by using a centralized dashboard to instantly understand where you stand regarding your data usage and spend.
Real-Time Monitoring: Stop Playing Catch-Up
We need to know what’s happening with our budget in real time, not when it’s too late. Real-time monitoring keeps you ahead of any nasty surprises and lets you course-correct before things spiral out of control.
Insight #2: As data professionals we all have been caught off guard by data cost spikes. At Seemore Data we empower data teams with the visibility to identify the specific departments and users that are consuming data and the cost they are incurring. Alerts ensure that any rapid increase in costs is flagged before it drains your data budget.
Plan for Growth (Because Data’s Not Going Anywhere)
Data volumes are not slowing down, so neither should our budgeting game. As data needs increase, our budgets need to keep pace — but not through guesswork. Instead, we need forecasting that aligns with actual data usage and anticipated growth.
Insight #3: Key to budget planning is understanding which data assets are the most expensive and those whose costs fluctuate the most. Seemore Data helps by using route cause analysis to better understand these costs and take action to bring them under control to allow for more accurate budget planning.
Prioritize Your Spending Based on What Actually Brings ROI
It’s time for some tough love: not all data initiatives are created equal. Some will bring in big ROI, while others just… don’t. So, we need to be picky. High-impact projects should get priority, and Seemore’s recommendations help to pinpoint the data products that add the most value.
Insight #4: There has been a strong shift towards treating data as an asset class, and therefore understanding its ROI. However, understanding data ROI is a complex task for data teams. Seemore Data solves this by enabling data leaders to understand the efficiency of their data operations and the business impact of data projects.
Data Cloud Costs: The Hidden Gremlins in Your Budget
Here’s a quick reality check — cloud costs are tricky. Between storage, compute, and data transfers, these fees can stack up fast, especially if no one’s watching closely. It’s like paying for a rental car you never actually drive. If your data’s living in the cloud, this is where you’ll see some of the heftiest bills.
The fix? Right-sizing resources. From virtual warehouses in Snowflake to compute settings in Databricks, we need to optimize everything. That’s where Seemore steps in, showing you where costs are piling up so you can get those cloud charges under control.
Make a Plan You Can Stick With
To keep a data budget sustainable, we have to think beyond the current quarter. That means planning for long-term success — because costs don’t just magically stay the same. Data budgets that grow with our actual needs keep us from constantly playing catch-up, and Seemore Data’s forecasting tools are built to give us the power to budget not just for today, but for the future.
This approach ensures we don’t just keep the lights on, but scale our data use in ways that are predictable, strategic, and prepared for growth.
The Seemore Solution: Your Data Budget’s Best Friend
Insight 5: Use Seemore Data’s dashboard to truly put data cost observability at the heart of your organization’s data operations.
Here’s where Seemore Data changes the game. It brings transparency, control, and insights to every level of your data budget, putting you in charge rather than the other way around. Here’s what Seemore does for you:
- Cost Attribution and Lineage: You get detailed insights on where every dollar is going. This isn’t just accounting — it’s accountability.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Know immediately when costs spike, not after they’ve hit the roof. With real-time alerts, Seemore keeps you informed and in control.
- Growth-Aligned Forecasting: By aligning forecasts with growth, Seemore helps you plan intelligently, not react frantically.
- Actionable Savings Suggestions: Seemore doesn’t just tell you what you’re spending—it gives recommendations on where you can save. Cut the excess and keep what counts.
- Integration Across Your Stack: From Snowflake to Google Cloud, Seemore works with all your tools to give you a single view. No more piecemeal monitoring; just a cohesive budget overview.
Time to Start Budgeting Smarter (Not Harder)
Managing a data budget isn’t just the data team’s problem anymore; it’s everyone’s responsibility. Every department and every team has a role to play. With Seemore Data, you’re no longer stuck wondering where your budget went—it’s right there, mapped out, optimized, and managed in real time.
If you’re ready to take control of your data spending and stop the budget bleeding, it’s time to make Seemore Data your ally. Let’s ditch the “Where’d all the budget go?” routine and start managing data costs with confidence. Because when it comes to keeping your data from draining your budget, a little visibility goes a long way.
Are you interested in continuing this discussion directly with Guy? You can message him at guy@seemoredata.io to delve deeper into how to improve your data budgeting and forecasting.
