Google Cloud Cost Optimization Audit

I run several web servers on Google Cloud Platform and rely solely on Compute Engine custom VM instances. Since migrating, my monthly spend has grown far beyond projections. I need an expert review of the entire setup to uncover exactly where the waste is, benchmark it against best practices, and outline practical steps that bring the bill down without hurting performance or availability.

A successful engagement gives me:
• A clear, numbers-backed report highlighting oversized or idle custom VMs, network-egress surprises, and any missed sustained-use or committed-use discounts.
• Specific recommendations—rightsizing, autoscaling, instance scheduling, possible switch to Spot VMs or predefined machine types—each with estimated savings.
• A concise action plan I can follow (or have you execute later) to implement the changes safely.

You’ll get read-only access to the project, analyze current utilization with tools like Cloud Monitoring, Recommender, and Billing export to BigQuery if needed, then walk me through the findings on a short call. No changes should be applied directly during the audit phase; I first want to understand every suggestion.

If you’ve slashed Compute Engine costs for other clients and can point to real percentages saved, I’m eager to see how low we can drive mine.