FAQ - RDS

Product questions

How can Zesty reduce my RDS costs?

Zesty can reduce your RDS cost in these ways:

• Recommend the optimal number of RDS Reserved Instances (RIs) you should purchase for each region, engine type, and DB class type. The recommendations have exact instructions that you can implement yourself.

• Automate the purchasing for you based on a custom plan with your organization.

How much do RDS services cost?

There is no out of pocket cost.

Recommendations are free. For automation, the Zesty fee is based on savings.

What do I need to provide to get RDS services?

Zesty needs your CUR with 60 days of data. For automation, you’ll also meet with a Zesty RDS expert to discuss your RDS future plan.

How often are the recommendations updated?

Recommendations are updated daily.

Due to delays in the CUR data, it may take 3-4 days from the time an action is taken (such as launching or terminating databases, or purchasing or expiring reserved instances) until the recommendations reflect these changes.

For which cloud providers can I get RDS services?

Currently, Zesty provides RDS services only for AWS.

How accurate are RDS recommendations?

Zesty recommendations are based on historical usage data and industry best practices. While they are highly accurate, they are intended to guide your decision-making process rather than serve as absolute directives.

What savings can I expect by following the RDS recommendations?

Amazon suggests that RIs can save up to 69% over On-Demand rates. Your actual savings are determined based on your specific usage patterns and the types of RIs purchased.

Technical questions

Do Zesty RDS recommendations cover all DB engine types and accounts?

Recommendations won’t be provided for accounts running in China.

How does Zesty determine the number of RDS Reserved Instances that should be purchased?

Zesty's AI-powered RDS recommendation engine forecasts optimal RI purchases by analyzing your historical usage across engine types, DB classes, and regions. It also considers data from similar customers to provide accurate, tailored recommendations.

Can I get RDS recommendations without providing the CUR?

Without the CUR, Zesty cannot provide useful recommendations.

How long after I purchase an RI (or when an RI expires) will that be reflected in Zesty RDS recommendations?

Due to the delay in the CUR data synchronization with AWS, recommendations are updated within 3-4 days of a purchase or an RI expiration.

Is there a minimum amount of historical data required to start generating RDS recommendations?

Yes, the CUR must include at least 60 days of data before Zesty can generate recommendations for RDS. If your CUR has less data, you can backfill with historical data (described in Backfill data into a CUR) or contact Customer Support for other solutions.

Does Zesty need any additional IAM permissions?

For recommendations, all that is needed is access to the CUR.

For automating, a Zesty representative will share how to make the minor adjustments.

How do I provide my AWS Cost and Usage Report (CUR)?

Creating and integrating your CUR is described in https://docs.zesty.co/docs/create-a-legacy-cur

What if I have further questions or need support?

Our support team is happy to assist you! Reach out using our support portal or contact your Zesty account manager.