# Missing Scheduled Shutdown for Non-Production EC2 Instances

Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/missing-scheduled-shutdown-for-non-production-ec2-instances

[Cloud Efficiency Hub](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) 

# Missing Scheduled Shutdown for Non-Production EC2 Instances

## Explanation

Non-production EC2 instances are often provisioned for daytime-only usage but remain running 24/7 out of convenience or oversight. This results in unnecessary compute charges, even if the workload is inactive for 16+ hours per day. AWS supports automated schedules to stop and start instances at predefined times, allowing organizations to retain data and instance configuration without paying for unused runtime. Implementing a shutdown schedule for inactive periods (e.g., nights, weekends) can reduce compute costs by up to 60% in typical non-prod environments.

## Relevant Billing Model

EC2 is billed per second (Linux) or per hour (Windows, older instances) based on:

- Instance type and size

- Uptime duration

- Additional charges for associated resources (e.g., EBS volumes) continue even when the instance is stopped

## Detection

- Identify EC2 instances in dev/test/staging environments using tags or naming conventions

- Analyze instance runtime patterns via CloudWatch metrics or billing data

- Highlight instances with predictable daily usage but continuous uptime

- Determine whether workloads require persistent availability outside working hours

## Remediation

- Implement scheduled shutdowns using AWS Instance Scheduler or EventBridge rules

- Ensure stateful data is retained via attached EBS volumes or AMIs

- Set start/stop windows aligned to working hours (e.g., 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays)

- Review and optimize schedules quarterly to match evolving team usage

## Relevant Documentation

- [AWS Instance Scheduler](https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/instance-scheduler//%22)

- [Stopping and Starting EC2 Instances](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/Stop_Start.html/)

[Submit Feedback](https://hub.pointfive.co/inefficiencies/missing-scheduled-shutdown-for-non-production-ec2-instances)

## At a glance

Reference

CER-0096

Cloud provider

AWS

Service

AWS EC2

Category

[Compute](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/service-category/compute)

Inefficiency type

Inefficient Configuration

## Contributed by

- ### Yulia Perlis

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Source: the public page above. Product screenshots and illustrative interfaces are examples, not live customer data.