Aurora Backup Retention Optimization

Opportunity Name:

Aurora Backup Retention Optimization

AWS Resource Type:

Amazon Aurora DB Cluster

Opportunity Description:

This Finder identifies Amazon Aurora DB clusters where extending the backup retention period can reduce billed backup storage costs. By increasing BackupRetentionPeriod, more automated backups fall within Aurora’s free backup storage window.

CloudFix can automatically apply this optimization using a Fixer that updates the cluster configuration via the ModifyDBCluster API. This is a metadata-only change that requires no restart, causes no downtime, and has no performance impact.

Criteria for identifying the opportunity:

The Finder identifies Aurora DB clusters that meet the following criteria:

• The resource is an Aurora DB cluster

• The cluster is not Aurora Serverless v1

• The current BackupRetentionPeriod is less than the recommended retention period

• Extending retention is expected to reduce billed backup storage based on CloudFix’s cost model

The Fixer includes an idempotency check and will only apply the change if the current retention is lower than the recommended value.

Potential savings (range in % on annual basis):

Savings depend on backup usage patterns and how many snapshots can be brought within the free backup storage allowance. While a fixed percentage range is not defined, this optimization reduces billed Aurora backup storage costs.

What happens when the Fixer is executed?

The Fixer performs the following steps:

1. Calls DescribeDBClusters to retrieve the current backup retention period

2. Verifies whether the current retention is below the recommended value

3. Calls ModifyDBCluster to set BackupRetentionPeriod to the recommended value with ApplyImmediately=true

4. Tags the cluster with CloudFix metadata for tracking and auditability:

   • cloudfix:fixerId

   • cloudfix:originalResourceId

   • cloudfix:executionDate

If the cluster is already at or above the target retention, the Fixer skips the modification step.

Is it possible to rollback once CloudFix implements the fixer?

Yes. The change is fully reversible but must be performed manually by updating the backup retention period using the ModifyDBCluster API. The original value is preserved in the finder parameters.

Can CloudFix implement the fix automatically once I accept the recommendation?

Yes.

Does this fix require downtime?

No. This is a metadata-only change applied immediately with no downtime, no restart, and no impact on performance or connections.

Additional Resources:

• AWS Aurora Backups Documentation