If you manage your customers' cloud, you usually don't charge them exactly what AWS charges you: there's a margin for management, support or the risk of fronting the bill. The problem comes when the customer wants to see what they're spending. Showing them the AWS console shows them your cost, and preparing a report every month with your margin is one more spreadsheet to maintain.
In Simplio you set your markup on each AWS account: a percentage, a fixed monthly fee or both. And for each user you choose whether they see the real cost or what you bill them. Your customer signs in to their panel and sees the same figure that appears on your invoice, on every screen. You and your administrators still see what AWS charges.
How it works
You set the markup on the account
In Access keys, each AWS connection has two fields: a percentage and a fixed fee in euros per month. You can use one, the other or both.
You decide who sees it
For each user you choose whether they see real costs or costs with your markup. Anyone without permission to view costs sees no figures at all. Your company's administrators always see the real cost.
It applies everywhere
Cards, region headers, the Costs screen, storage and summaries: a user with markup sees the same figure everywhere. The fixed fee is added to the account total, not to each object.
Nothing is stored with markup
Amounts are always stored as real figures and the markup is applied when they're shown. If you change the percentage, the change shows up instantly on every screen.
How secure it is
Every change is logged
Setting, changing or removing a markup is recorded in the activity log, with the previous value and the new one.
Viewing costs is a separate permission
You can let a customer manage their machine without showing them any figures, or show them only the one you bill them.
The same task, in AWS and in Simplio
| On your own in AWS | In Simplio | |
|---|---|---|
| Showing a customer what their infrastructure costs | Export the Cost Explorer report, apply your margin in a spreadsheet and send it every month | They see it in their panel, already with your markup, whenever they want |
| Changing your margin | Redo the spreadsheets and reports | One number on the account: it changes on every screen |
| Keeping the customer from seeing your cost | Don't give them access to the AWS console | Choose in their user settings that they see the cost with markup |
Frequently asked questions
Does the markup change what AWS charges me?
No. AWS keeps charging you the same. The markup only changes the figure that the users you choose see in Simplio.
Can a customer see the real cost?
Only if you allow it. For each user you choose whether they see the real cost or the one with your markup, and without permission to view costs they see neither.
Can I set a different markup for each customer?
Yes. The markup goes on each AWS connection, so if each customer has their own account, each one has their own markup.