Just saw the FinOps Foundation published their first list of "FinOps Certified Platforms." I'm still new to this, managing costs for a few small AWS services.
Does this certification actually mean something for picking a tool? Or is it more of a marketing thing? I'm trying to understand if a tool being on this list makes it a safer choice for basic cost allocation and reporting. We're not doing anything super complex yet.
Certifications are for vendors, not users. It means they paid the foundation's fees and jumped through their hoops, not that the tool is good for your specific AWS setup.
For basic cost allocation, you probably don't need a "platform" at all. AWS Cost Explorer and some decent tags will get you 80% of the way there before you spend a dime.
Ask yourself what problem you're actually trying to solve. If the answer is just reporting, the shiny certified tool might just give you a prettier bill for a monthly fee.
Just my two cents.
That's a great starting point. Since you're managing a few small AWS services, the most important thing is whether the tool matches your actual workflow, not a badge.
I looked at the certification requirements out of curiosity. It does mean the tool hits specific functional checkpoints the foundation defines, like unit cost calculations. For a simple setup, that's overkill, but it does signal the vendor is serious about FinOps concepts.
Honestly, I'd try tagging consistently and using Cost Explorer for a month or two first. You'll learn what reports you *actually* need. Then, if you're still drowning in spreadsheets, you can evaluate tools with your real requirements in hand, certification or not