EC2 Remove Idle VPC Endpoints

Amazon VPC Endpoints that remain idle continue to generate hourly charges even when not transferring any data. This Finder/Fixer automatically identifies VPC Interface Endpoints and Gateway Load Balancer Endpoints that have not processed any data for an extended period, then deletes them to eliminate unnecessary costs. By implementing this optimization, you can reduce your VPC endpoint expenses while maintaining all your active connections.

Overview

Problem Statement

VPC Endpoints provide secure, private connectivity between your VPC and supported AWS services without requiring an internet gateway, NAT device, or VPN connection. However, both Interface Endpoints and Gateway Load Balancer Endpoints incur hourly charges regardless of actual usage. These endpoints are often created during development, testing, or as part of services that are later deprecated, but they’re frequently forgotten and left running, continuing to generate costs with no business value.

At approximately $90 per idle endpoint per year, organizations can waste thousands of dollars annually on endpoints that serve no purpose. This is particularly problematic as VPC usage grows more complex and the number of endpoints increases across your AWS environment.

Solution

The EC2 Delete Idle VPC Endpoints Finder/Fixer uses your cost and usage data to identify endpoints that have gone unused for an extended period. Once you approve, CloudFix deletes them and provides a record of each endpoint’s configuration so it can be restored if needed.

Since only endpoints with no data transfer are targeted, and each deletion is fully documented, you can eliminate these costs with confidence that no active services will be affected.

Benefits

By implementing this Finder/Fixer, you can:

• Eliminate unnecessary costs from idle VPC endpoints (~$90/year per endpoint)
• Reduce AWS infrastructure complexity by removing unused resources
• Improve security by minimizing potential attack surfaces
• Maintain detailed documentation for any deleted endpoints
• Implement consistent endpoint lifecycle management across your organization

AWS Services Affected

Amazon EC2

Amazon VPC

How It Works

The finder uses your cost and usage data, read-only, to identify Interface and Gateway Load Balancer Endpoints that have processed no data for an extended period. They appear in your Recommendations for you to approve.

Once approved, the fixer runs as an AWS Systems Manager Automation runbook in your own account. It records each endpoint’s configuration, emails it to you, and then deletes the endpoint. Every execution is logged, and the recorded configuration includes everything needed to recreate the endpoint in the future.

FAQ

What criteria are used to identify idle VPC endpoints?

CloudFix uses your cost and usage data to find endpoints that have processed no data for an extended period. Only endpoints that have been unused long enough to be safely considered idle are flagged.

Which types of VPC endpoints does this Finder/Fixer target?

This Finder/Fixer targets two types of VPC endpoints that incur hourly charges:

• Interface Endpoints: Connect your VPC to supported AWS services and services hosted by AWS PrivateLink
• Gateway Load Balancer Endpoints: Connect your VPC to services hosted by third parties

Gateway Endpoints (for S3 and DynamoDB) are not targeted as they don’t incur charges.

Is it possible to roll back after CloudFix deletes an endpoint?

Yes. Every time this Fixer removes a VPC Endpoint, it sends an email to the address configured during CloudFix onboarding. This email contains all the parameters of the deleted endpoint, including:

• VPC Endpoint Type
• VPC ID
• Service Name
• Policy Document
• Subnet IDs (if applicable)
• Security Group IDs (if applicable)
• Private DNS settings
• Tags

With this information, you can manually recreate the endpoint using the AWS CLI, Console, or API if needed.

How much can I expect to save with this Finder/Fixer?

Removing an idle endpoint eliminates its hourly charge entirely. Each idle endpoint costs about $90 per year ($0.01/hour), so the savings depend on how many idle endpoints you have. Organizations with complex environments often save thousands of dollars annually.

Does this fix require downtime?

No. Since the VPC Endpoints targeted by this Finder/Fixer are not being used (no data has transferred through them for an extended period), deleting them will not cause any service disruption or downtime.

How quickly will I see savings after implementing this fix?

The hourly charges for VPC endpoints stop as soon as they are deleted. You’ll see the impact in your next AWS bill, with full monthly savings realized in the following complete billing cycle.

Related Resources

• Reduce Your AWS Costs Today: Clean Up Your Idle VPC Endpoints
• Remove Idle VPC Endpoints
• AWS PrivateLink concepts

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Ready to start saving on AWS? See how much you could cut from your cloud bill with a free cost optimization assessment, or explore CloudFix automated Finder/Fixers that eliminate waste across 30+ AWS services.

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