Cost/Utilization Heat Map

Cost/Utilization Heat Map

Use the Cost/Utilization heat map to visually compare the cost of your assets to their utilizations. The heat map is a depiction of assets. Depending on asset size, the asset ID, cost, and utilization may be listed inside the asset box.

Assets Heatmap

With this map, you can click to select a single asset or multiple assets. This map is particularly useful for identifying assets that have low utilization and high cost (represented by a large box and low utilization number value). A high cost-to-utilization ratio is often a concern to users.

Viewing Utilization and Asset Status

The heat map can be viewed from various perspectives by using the Utilization and Asset Status buttons. Only one button from each set (Utilization or Asset Status) can be applied at any one time.

To change Utilization thresholds:

  1. Click one of the Utilization threshold buttons. Utilization Threshold The heat map refreshes and displays only the assets that fall within the designated threshold.

To apply an Asset Status:

  1. Click one of the Asset Status buttons. Asset Status The heat map refreshes and displays only the assets in the selected Asset Status category.
    A Terminated asset is one that has been decommissioned. Asset status can be Unknown in certain circumstances. For example, when assets have no recognized location (or region), the system displays the message unknown location. Unknown can also mean one the following:

    • Asset status cannot be determined because the data is too far back in history
    • Utilization cannot be determined as a result of using storage as a service

    • Non-geographic locations, like IBM Cloud's IMS region or Azure's Unspecified location

      Other conditions return the message unknown in other parts of Cost and Asset Manager as well. Asset status can be No Creds when data is found based on billing account credentials, but no asset credentials were provided. Refer to "Administration," earlier in this guide.

To return to an all-asset view:

  1. Click the selected Utilization and/or Asset Status button(s) to deselect the option(s). The heat map refreshes and displays all assets.


Viewing Data for a Specific Asset

To view data for a specific asset:

  1. Hover over a block in the heat map to view the following asset data:

    • Provider type and name
    • Cost per usage
    • Utilization percentage

    • Status (on or terminated)

      Note: By default, the heat map initially shows only assets that have both cost and utilization data.

      When viewing the Cost/Utilization graph, note that each box (square) represents one asset. The size of each box represents the cost of that asset. The larger the box, the greater the asset cost.