# Suboptimal Architecture Configuration for Lambda Functions

Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/suboptimal-architecture-configuration-for-lambda-functions

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

# Suboptimal Architecture Configuration for Lambda Functions

## Explanation

While many AWS customers have migrated EC2 workloads to Graviton to reduce costs, Lambda functions often remain on the default x86 architecture. AWS Graviton2 (ARM) offers lower pricing and equal or better performance for most supported runtimes - yet adoption remains uneven due to legacy defaults or lack of awareness. Continuing to run eligible Lambda functions on x86 leads to unnecessary spending. The migration requires minimal configuration changes and can be verified through benchmarking and workload testing.

## Relevant Billing Model

Lambda is billed based on:

- Number of invocations

- Duration (per millisecond) multiplied by memory configured

- Architecture - Graviton functions are ~20% cheaper than x86 equivalents

If a function continues to use x86 when it could run on ARM, the result is higher cost for equivalent workload performance.

## Detection

- Review Lambda function configurations to identify functions using x86\_64 architecture

- Cross-reference with supported runtimes to determine Graviton compatibility

- Use AWS Lambda Power Tuning or performance benchmarking to validate migration feasibility

- Look for high-frequency functions with stable workloads that would benefit most from architecture optimization

## Remediation

- Update Lambda function configurations to use ARM/Graviton2 where compatible

- Benchmark function performance and duration to validate equal or improved performance

- For stable, high-throughput functions, consider pairing architecture changes with Compute Savings Plans

- Incorporate architecture selection into CI/CD pipelines to ensure consistency going forward

## Relevant Documentation

- [Choosing Lambda Function Architecture](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/foundation-arch.html)

- [AWS Lambda Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/lambda/pricing/)

[Submit Feedback](https://hub.pointfive.co/inefficiencies/suboptimal-architecture-configuration-for-lambda-functions)

## At a glance

Reference

CER-0127

Cloud provider

AWS

Service

AWS Lambda

Category

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

Inefficiency type

Suboptimal Configuration

## Contributed by

- Shireen Maini 

### Shireen Maini

DevOps Team Lead @ BroadPeak Partners

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shireen-maini/)

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