Tags aren't used consistently and cost allocation falls apart
Tag Policies (AWS), Azure Policy with required-tags, and GCP Organization Policy with label requirements enforce tagging. An untagged resource then can't deploy.
support/cloud-platforms/tag-policies-azure-policy-org-policysteps: 5
Try this first
- AWS Tag Policies: define tag keys with allowed values. E.g. 'env' must be 'prod', 'staging', or 'dev'. Works org-wide.
- Azure Policy 'Require a tag and its value' at subscription level. Combine with 'Append a tag' for inheritance from resource group.
- GCP has Tag Constraints on Organization Policy since 2023. Require specific tag keys on specific resource types.
- Start in dry-run: log violations, don't block deploys. 2 weeks of measuring, fix what was wrong. Then enforce.
- Build an 'untagged resources' dashboard and review it monthly in your cost meeting. What's visible gets picked up.
When to bring us in
If you have multiple business units with separate tag conventions, a one-time tag-taxonomy session prevents endless rename rounds.
See also
- Everyone logs in with the AWS root accountRoot is for emergencies and billing. Day-to-day work belongs in IAM users or SSO.
- Every developer has AdministratorAccessAdministratorAccess everywhere is convenient now, painful later. Start with role-based policies.
- Everyone has individual IAM users with their own passwordIdentity Center (formerly AWS SSO) links to your IdP and issues temporary credentials per session.
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