aws cur – Create, query, and delete AWS usage report definitions (Command Examples)

“aws cur” is a command-line interface (CLI) tool provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to manage AWS Cost and Usage Reports (CUR). AWS CUR allows you to track and analyze your AWS resource usage and associated costs. With “aws cur,” you can create, query, and delete AWS usage report definitions, providing valuable insights into your AWS spending and usage patterns.

Here are the key functionalities and features of “aws cur”:

  • Create Usage Report Definitions: Using the “aws cur” command, you can create AWS usage report definitions. These definitions specify the configuration settings for generating cost and usage reports, such as the time range, granularity, and data filters. By creating usage report definitions, you can tailor the reports to your specific requirements and collect the necessary data for analysis.
  • Query Usage Reports: “aws cur” allows you to query the generated AWS usage reports. You can retrieve the reports based on parameters like time range, dimensions, and filters. This enables you to retrieve detailed information about your resource usage and associated costs, which can be valuable for optimizing your AWS spending, identifying cost drivers, and making informed business decisions.
  • Delete Usage Report Definitions: With “aws cur,” you can also delete AWS usage report definitions that are no longer needed. This helps in managing your report configurations and keeping them up-to-date with your evolving requirements. Deleting unused or obsolete report definitions can streamline your report generation process and reduce unnecessary data storage.
  • Automation and Integration: The “aws cur” command-line interface can be integrated into scripts, automation workflows, or third-party tools to automate the generation, querying, and deletion of AWS usage reports. This allows you to incorporate cost and usage reporting into your existing DevOps processes, data pipelines, or analytics workflows, facilitating continuous monitoring and analysis of your AWS spending.
  • Cost Optimization and Budgeting: By leveraging the capabilities of “aws cur,” you can gain insights into your AWS usage patterns, resource allocation, and associated costs. This information can help you optimize your resource utilization, identify cost-saving opportunities, and set up effective cost management strategies. You can also use AWS CUR in conjunction with AWS Budgets to set spending thresholds and receive cost alerts based on your usage reports.
  • Security and Access Control: “aws cur” adheres to AWS security practices and supports AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for controlling access to the AWS CUR service. You can configure IAM policies to grant specific permissions to users or roles, ensuring that only authorized individuals can create, query, or delete AWS usage report definitions.

By utilizing the “aws cur” command-line tool, you can effectively manage and analyze your AWS cost and usage reports. This enables you to gain insights into your AWS spending, optimize costs, and make data-driven decisions to maximize the value of your AWS resources.

aws cur Command Examples

1. Create an AWS cost and usage report definition from a JSON file:

# aws cur put-report-definition --report-definition file://path/to/report_definition.json

2. List usage report definitions defined for the logged in account:

# aws cur describe-report-definitions

3. Delete a usage report definition:

# aws cur --region aws_region delete-report-definition --report-name report
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