Cloud is equally about efficiency like it is for scale

Azure (and cloud in general) can be expensive, but smart choices like selecting the correct performance SKUs and leveraging features like auto-pause on SQL servers can lead to significant savings — potentially millions for a large business. Common mistakes include overprovisioning resources to “be on the safe side” and migrating databases to the cloud with excessive capacity, often due to lack of cost optimization focus. To avoid these pitfalls, regularly measure database efficiency, use auto-pause features in non-production environments, build a culture of cost-efficiency, set budget alerts, and ensure infrastructure as code (IAC) pipelines support different parameters for various environments. Remember, cloud is not just about scaling; it’s about efficiency too.