Science Cloud Financial Operations provides the systems, processes, and analytics needed for NASA projects to monitor cloud usage, manage budgets, ensure spending discipline, and make informed financial decisions about their cloud accounts.
The FinOps environment includes two major tool categories:
- Observation‑based tools: Provide cost tracking, account balances, cost‑driver analysis, inefficiency detection, optimization recommendations, and spending forecasts.
- Controls‑based tools: Deliver alerts, warnings, access restrictions, and safeguards to prevent budget overruns.
The toolkit is being expanded toward a full interactive dashboard offering daily cost views, fine‑grained service‑level breakdowns, AWS optimization insights, and user‑customizable alerts and cost controls.
Monthly Financial Reports
Principal Investigators receive individualized monthly financial reports issued one month in arrears, including obligated funds, detailed service usage, remaining balances, and accurate cost estimates for the just‑completed month.
AWS Cost Estimator Limitations
AWS Cost Explorer provides only estimated pricing. It does not reflect NASA’s enterprise discounts or Enterprise Support costs, and should not be used as a source of true cost accuracy.
Reporting & Support Procedures
- Downloading Manual Reports: The FinOps toolkit enables users to download financial data in report form. Alternative report formats can be requested from the FinOps team.
- Contact Us: Email
support@sciencecloud.nasa.gov.- Use “FinOps Feature” for new capability requests or “FinOps Issue” for problems.
- Include a description, use case, priority level, and any workaround. Submitting an email automatically generates a ticket for centralized communication.