Which action belongs to the Inform phase?

• A. Centralize rate optimization ownership
• B. Map spending data to the business
• C. Identify untagged (and untaggable) resources
• D. Define budgets and forecasts

Answer: (B)

In the Inform phase, the goal is to make cloud costs visible and meaningful to the business by translating usage into business terms. Mapping spending data to the business does exactly that: it ties cloud spend to specific products, projects, or units, so stakeholders can see where money is going and how it supports business value. This visibility enables informed decisions and clear cost ownership.

The other activities align with different stages. Centralizing rate optimization ownership is about governance and who leads optimization efforts, not just sharing cost details. Identifying untagged resources focuses on data quality and the ability to allocate costs accurately, a prerequisite for reporting but not the informing action itself. Defining budgets and forecasts is planning and forecasting work, establishing future spend expectations rather than providing current cost visibility.