specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: Envoy Proxy
providerId: envoy-proxy
created: '2026-05-04'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-04, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
  - Open Source
  - Gateways
  - Proxies
  - Service Mesh
description: 'FinOps view of Envoy Proxy: the upstream project is free open-source software, so direct
  software cost is zero. The relevant FinOps surface is the operating cost of running Envoy (compute,
  egress, observability) plus any third-party commercial distribution.'
sources:
  - https://www.envoyproxy.io/
  - https://www.cncf.io/projects/envoy/
notes: No vendor invoice is generated by the Envoy project. This file frames the indirect FinOps surface
  (infrastructure to run Envoy) for completeness; replace with vendor-specific data if Envoy is consumed
  via a commercial distribution.
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: Cloud Native Computing Foundation
serviceCategory: Networking / API Gateway
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Open Source (no direct cost)
  billingFrequency: N/A
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Envoy Proxy
  ServiceCategory: Networking / API Gateway
  ProviderName: Envoy Proxy
  PublisherName: Cloud Native Computing Foundation
  InvoiceIssuerName: N/A (open source)
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: compute_hours
    unit: instance-hour
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - cluster
      - region
      - instance_type
  - name: egress_bytes
    unit: GB
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - cluster
      - region
  - name: telemetry_volume
    unit: GB
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - cluster
      - sink
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Envoy emits Prometheus stats, OpenTelemetry traces, and access logs; route them to your
      observability stack to attribute infrastructure cost to traffic flows.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Tag downstream services and clusters in Envoy's stats/labels so cost of compute and
      egress can be attributed to the consuming team or product.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Tune connection pooling, HTTP/2, compression, and caching at the Envoy layer to reduce
      upstream egress and CPU; right-size Envoy sidecars and gateways.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Platform team owns Envoy fleet cost; charge back compute/egress to consuming teams using
      cluster and route tags.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com