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Remediation

Consider resizing a Google GCE Instance to a smaller, more cost-effective machine type that aligns with its workload requirements or terminating it if it's no longer required.

Resize the Instance​

Using gcloud CLI​

  1. Stop the instance:

    gcloud compute instances stop {{instance-name}} \
        --zone=ZONE

  2. Change the machine type:

    gcloud compute instances set-machine-type {{instance-name}} \
        --machine-type={{new-machine-type}} \
        --zone={{zone}}

  3. Start the instance:

    gcloud compute instances set-machine-type {{instance-name}} \

Considerations​

  • Ensure a recent snapshot or backup of the instance’s disks before resizing.
  • Validate that the selected machine type provides sufficient performance for the application’s needs.

Terminate the Instance​

Using gcloud CLI​

If the instance is consistently underutilized and no longer required, terminate it to fully eliminate costs.

gcloud compute instances start {{instance-name}} \
    --zone={{zone}}

Considerations​

  • Termination is permanent and deletes all associated resources that are not separately preserved (e.g., disks if not set to retain).
  • If long-term retention is needed, consider creating an image or snapshot before deletion.