FinOps & Cloud glossary
64 terms on managing cloud spend and the FinOps practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FinOps & Cloud glossary?
It is a reference of more than 60 terms used to manage cloud spending, from FOCUS billing data and cost allocation to commitment discounts, rightsizing and cloud governance. Each entry gives a short definition first, then explains what the term means in practice for FinOps and IT financial management.
Who is the FinOps & Cloud glossary for?
FinOps practitioners, cloud engineers and architects, IT finance and procurement teams, and the technology and finance leaders who share responsibility for cloud spending.
How are the terms organized?
Terms are listed A to Z and tagged by category: FinOps fundamentals, visibility and allocation, pricing and commitments, optimization, and strategy and governance. Use the search box or the category filters to narrow the list, or jump straight to a letter.
How does FinOps relate to TBM?
FinOps manages the variable costs of cloud, SaaS and AI with engineering teams in near real time. TBM covers all technology spending and maps it to services and business units. The two work best on a shared cost model. See the TBM & IT Financial Management glossary.
How does FinOps fit into the Enterprise Operating Model?
FinOps sits in the Fund & Optimize part of the Enterprise Operating Model. It ties cloud and AI spending to the products, teams and outcomes it supports, so each cost has an owner and a purpose. Explore cloud cost optimization.