Akamai Technologies faced surging cloud costs, reaching hundreds of millions due to unchecked workloads and acquisitions. To regain control, they launched Project Cirrus after acquiring Linode, allowing them to optimize their cloud strategy. This initiative reduced public cloud expenses by 40% in the first year, revealing inefficiencies in their previous cloud usage. Akamai emphasized a collaborative effort among finance, procurement, and engineering teams, fostering a culture of accountability to manage resources effectively. Their journey highlights the need for organizations to continuously reassess cloud strategies, ensuring alignment with business outcomes while navigating the complexities of cloud economics.