LinkIt!, a data-driven technology solutions provider for the education industry, was using the Amazon Web Services (AWS) public cloud platform to host its data analytics solution for schools serving Kindergarten through 12th grades (K-12). Over time, LinkIt! saw significant growth, resulting in ballooning, unwieldy AWS bills.
The company called on Cox Business to solve its AWS budget headaches. Cox Business, powered by RapidScale, an AWS Premier Services Partner, performed an AWS Well-Architected Review to optimize the environment for cost efficiency.
About the Client
LinkIt! offers a comprehensive platform for K-12 assessment management, data analytics and intervention support. The New York-based company was founded in 2010 with a mission to create the most effective, affordable solutions for schools and K-12 service providers looking to improve academic outcomes with real-time data capture and sophisticated performance analytics. LinkIt! specializes in helping school districts streamline the collection, management and analysis of student performance data to improve academic achievement, save time and increase overall productivity.
Challenge
To manage its powerful data analytics solution, LinkIt leveraged AWS infrastructure. During LinkIt!’s first few years using AWS as its computing platform, the company’s AWS bills doubled twice. These usage increases were straining the ability of internal staff to keep up with AWS infrastructure management and cloud costs.
LinkIt! needed expert help to understand the intricacies of cloud billing, such as Reserved Instances versus on-demand instances. Reserved Instances provide cost savings of up to 72 percent over on-demand instances, but subscribers pay for the entire term regardless of use.
Solution
Cox Business, powered by RapidScale, initiated an AWS Well-Architected Review to assess LinkIt!’s cloud systems. The AWS Well-Architected Framework helps cloud architects build secure, high-performing, resilient and efficient infrastructure for various applications and workloads. The framework is based on six pillars—operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, cost optimization and sustainability.
Results
Through a combination of eliminating waste, right-sizing and utilizing new features and services, Cox Business cut LinkIt!’s AWS bill by more than 60 percent. LinkIt! continues to enjoy annual revenue growth of 40-50 percent, data usage growth of 60-80 percent and only experiences low double-digit growth on its AWS bill.
After the success of the AWS Well-Architected Review, LinkIt! retained Cox Business, powered by RapidScale, for ongoing AWS Managed Services, which includes 24/7/365 engineering support, patching, monitoring and cost management.
Why does LinkIt! continue to partner with Cox Business? LinkIt! CEO Karen Winter explains: “The relationship with RapidScale allows our team to focus on exceeding customer expectations with the confidence that our infrastructure is running smoothly and efficiently.”
