Question #1303
As part of project cost allocation, management requires a detailed report of AWS expenses categorized by service. The data will help distribute costs across different departments based on service usage. A solutions architect must identify the most effective method to obtain this report.
Which solution fulfills these requirements?
Run a query with Amazon Athena to analyze billing data stored in Amazon S3.
Generate a custom report in AWS Cost Explorer with grouping by service.
Download the monthly invoice from the AWS Billing and Cost Management console.
Configure AWS Budgets to track service-specific costs and send alerts via SNS.
Explanation
Answer B is correct because AWS Cost Explorer is specifically designed for analyzing AWS costs. It enables custom reports with grouping by service, which directly meets the requirement to categorize expenses by service for departmental cost allocation.
Option A (Athena/S3) requires manual setup of billing data exports and querying, adding complexity. Option C (monthly invoice) lacks granularity and customization. Option D (Budgets/SNS) focuses on alerts, not detailed reporting. Cost Explorer's built-in grouping and visualization capabilities make it the most efficient solution. Key points: Use AWS Cost Explorer for service-level cost breakdowns; leverage native AWS tools before custom solutions.
Answer
The correct answer is: B