FinOps starts with architecture, not accounting

Cloud cost management, or FinOps, should be an architectural requirement from the outset, not an accounting afterthought. Bad design decisions in the cloud environment directly translate to higher bills, making it essential for architects to consider unit economics alongside performance, security, and resilience. Effective cost optimization happens during the design phase through thoughtful choices about service tiers, data retention, and scalability, rather than through reactive cost-cutting measures after deployment.