cost allocation tags
- What they are
- Tags (key-value pairs) activated in the Billing console so they appear as columns in AWS Cost Explorer and the AWS Cost and Usage Report.
- The mechanism for showback and chargeback: attributing spend to a team, project, environment, or customer.
- Two types
- AWS-generated — created by AWS, prefixed
aws:(for exampleaws:createdBy). Cannot be edited. - User-defined — created by you (for example
CostCenter,Project,Environment). Must be activated in the Billing console before they show up in reports.
- AWS-generated — created by AWS, prefixed
- Critical caveat
- Tags are not retroactive. Cost data before activation is not re-tagged. Activate early.
- Enforcement
- Tag policies in AWS Organizations standardize allowed keys and values.
- AWS Config rules can flag untagged resources.
- AWS Resource Groups and Tag Editor applies tags in bulk.