Elastic IP · Finder + automated fixer
EC2 Remove Unused Elastic IP Addresses
RemoveUnused Elastic IP Addresses
Delete idle AWS Elastic IP addresses costing $36/year each. CloudFix identifies unused EIPs across your accounts and releases them to cut costs.
What happens, in order.
Finder · read-only
Finds the opportunity
Scans your connected accounts with a read-only role. It can see resource metadata and usage; it can’t change anything.
You
Approve in Recommendations
It appears in your Recommendations view with what it would save. Approve the resources you choose. Nothing has changed yet.
Fixer
Runs in your account
The fixer runs as an AWS Systems Manager Automation runbook in your AWS account, and acts only on the resources you approved.
Record
Logs the execution
The Systems Manager execution is logged, so every change can be audited.
Finder role
Read-only. It can see resource metadata and usage. It can’t change anything.
Fixer role
A separate, minimal role that acts only on the resources you approved, through AWS Systems Manager.
Saves by
Elastic IP addresses are static IPv4 addresses designed for dynamic cloud computing. They are free to use when attached to a running EC2 instance or network device. To promote efficient use of the static IPs, AWS charges for each EIP that is not in use. To save these costs, we release unused EIPs allocated to your accounts.
CloudFix Finder/Fixer: Delete Idle Elastic IP Addresses
Automatically identify and remove unused Elastic IP addresses to reduce costs and improve security
Overview
Elastic IP addresses (EIPs) are static IPv4 addresses designed for dynamic cloud computing. While they’re free when associated with running EC2 instances, they incur charges when not attached to running instances or when attached to stopped instances. Many organizations accumulate unused Elastic IPs, leading to unnecessary costs and potential security risks.
AWS Services Affected
Benefits
Cost Savings
Eliminate charges for unused Elastic IP addresses that are not associated with running instances.
Security Improvements
Reduce the attack surface by removing unnecessary public IP addresses from your infrastructure.
Resource Management
Better manage your IP address resources by removing unused allocations.
How It Works
This Finder uses your cost and usage data, read-only, to identify Elastic IP addresses that have been unattached for a sustained period and are not still referenced elsewhere, such as in DNS. Each one appears in your Recommendations for you to approve. Upon approval, the Fixer runs as an AWS Systems Manager Automation runbook in your own account and safely releases these unused addresses, and every execution is logged.
Important Considerations
Once an Elastic IP address is released, it cannot be recovered. If you need the address again, you’ll need to allocate a new one. The Finder/Fixer verifies that the IP is truly unused before recommending its removal.
Related Resources
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