Introduction

Effective February 1st, 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) introduced a new charge for public IPv4 addresses. This move has sparked discussions and concerns among users and developers. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the new charges, their implications, and potential solutions for minimizing costs.

Understanding the AWS IPv4 Charges

Previously, AWS offered a limited pool of public IPv4 addresses for free. However, due to the scarcity of these addresses, they are now subject to a $0.005 per hour per IP charge. This applies to both in-use and idle addresses attached to various services like EC2 instances, NAT Gateways, and Load Balancers.

Key Points to Consider

  • AWS Free Tier: Existing and new Free Tier users receive 750 hours of free public IPv4 address usage per month for the first 12 months.
  • BYOIP: Addresses owned by users and brought to AWS using Bring Your Own IP (BYOIP) remain free.
  • Transparency: AWS Cost and Usage Reports and Cost Explorer now display public IPv4 address usage for better cost management.

Impact on Users and Developers

The new charges raise several concerns:

  • Increased Costs: Users with heavy reliance on public IPv4 addresses may experience significant cost increases on virtual private cloud (VPC).
  • Resource Management: More attention is needed to optimize resource usage and minimize idle public IPs.
  • Alternative Solutions: Exploring IPv6 adoption and NAT Gateways for cost-effective alternatives.

Optimizing Costs and Strategies

Here are some strategies to minimize the impact of the new charges:

  • Utilize Private Subnets: Leverage private subnets with NAT Gateways for internal resources, reducing reliance on public IPs.
    Reference: Learn step-by-step guide on how to migrate and save IPv4 cost
  • Utilize VPC Endpoints: With a gateway endpoint, you can access Amazon S3 from your VPC, without requiring an internet gateway or NAT device for your VPC, and with no additional cost.
  • Leverage IPv6: Consider migrating to IPv6, which offers a significantly larger address space and is future-proof.
  • Monitor and Optimize Usage: Regularly monitor public IPv4 address usage and identify areas for optimization.

With this change, AWS has also released new Public IP Insight dashboard which helps you to monitor, analyse and audit your use of public IPv4 addresses. It will be free of cost.

aws public ipv4 charges with Public IPv4 insight dashboard
Source: https://aws.amazon.com/

Conclusion

The introduction of IPv4 charges on AWS requires users and developers to adapt their resource management strategies. By understanding the charges, exploring alternative solutions, and optimizing usage, users can minimize costs and navigate the changing landscape effectively.

References: