Apptio Unveils Next-Generation FinOps Solutions Designed to Redefine How Cloud Leaders Manage and Optimize Investments in the AI Era

Rhea-AI Summary

Apptio (NYSE: IBM) on November 3, 2025 unveiled next‑generation FinOps solutions: Cloudability Governance (public preview today) and Kubecost 3.0 (generally available now). The offerings integrate with HashiCorp Terraform and HashiCorp Cloud Platform to bring cost visibility, policy checks, and cost estimates into infrastructure-as-code workflows. Kubecost 3.0 adds unified cluster resource views, automated container right‑sizing, advanced GPU monitoring via NVIDIA DCGM exporter, and enhanced node group sizing insights. The products target AI-driven cloud spend by providing near real‑time cost visibility, anomaly detection, and AI-powered recommendations to help teams forecast and control cloud investments.

Positive

• Kubecost 3.0 generally available on November 3, 2025
• Cloudability Governance public preview with Terraform/HCP integration
• Advanced GPU monitoring via NVIDIA DCGM exporter

Negative

• Cloudability Governance delivered in public preview, not yet GA

Insights

Cloud FinOps Strategist

Apptio (an IBM company) launched Cloudability Governance and Kubecost 3.0 to tighten cloud cost control for AI workloads.

What it does: The offerings add policy-driven cost checks in engineering workflows via native integration with HashiCorp Terraform and HCP, provide near real-time cost visibility, and surface AI-powered recommendations and Kubernetes-specific savings actions like container right-sizing and GPU monitoring.

Dependencies and risks: Value depends on teams adopting infrastructure-as-code and embedding governance before deploy; effectiveness rests on the accuracy of cost estimates, the quality of billing data, and customers enabling the integrations described.

Concrete monitors and timing: Cloudability Governance is in public preview today and Kubecost 3.0 is generally available now; watch uptake at TBM Conference and KubeCon, customer adoption metrics, and any measured reduction in wasted spend versus baseline over the next 6–12 months. The announcement cites an IDC estimate of $571 billion in AI infrastructure investment by 2026 and notes 55% of surveyed leaders lack adequate technology-spend information.

Key Points

• Backed by the intelligence of the IBM Cloudability platform and integration with Terraform, Cloudability Governance helps FinOps teams and engineers proactively understand cloud cost implications, forecast and comply with internal policies before deploying infrastructure.
• IBM Kubecost 3.0 represents the most comprehensive evolution of Kubecost to-date, delivering capabilities and enhancements to set a new Apptio standard for applying FinOps practices to Kubernetes deployments.
• New Apptio FinOps solutions are purpose-built for AI demand, empowering organizations with end-to-end visibility across cloud environments to derive practitioner efficiencies and actionable insights.

BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Apptio, an IBM company (NYSE: IBM), today unveiled next-generation FinOps solutions from IBM Cloudability and IBM Kubecost designed to enhance visibility and optimize cloud costs across complex, AI-driven environments. 

As enterprises accelerate AI development, IT leaders are under increasing pressure to manage escalating costs effectively. IDC estimates that enterprise investments in AI infrastructure will reach $571 billion globally in 2026. Yet, according to an Apptio study, 55% of business leaders surveyed say they lack the information needed to evaluate technology spend effectively. FinOps provides an operational framework to address these challenges by empowering organizations with real-time visibility, financial accountability and management of cloud costs, maximizing business value and collaboration.

"Generative AI is not only pushing the limits of cloud infrastructure; it's challenging the ability of technology and business leaders to make informed decisions and evaluate tech spend ROI. The AI era is one of information and compute-power overload," said Eugene Khvostov, Chief Product Officer at Apptio. "So, it's imperative for organizations to gain control over their cloud and data estate. That's the first step in harnessing the AI opportunity and exactly what our new FinOps solutions are designed to address – proactive, and predictive cloud cost management." 

Cloudability Governance: Proactive Control Across Multi-Cloud Environments

Infrastructure as Code helps teams scale cloud infrastructure with speed and consistency. But without FinOps alignment, there can be financial blind spots—where teams deploy at speed but may lack insights into the financial impact of their infrastructure decisions.

Backed by Cloudability and now integrated with HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) and Hashicorp Terraform, Cloudability Governance is specifically designed to empower FinOps teams with greater control over cloud infrastructure deployments by automating cost compliance monitoring and applying defined organizational policy – all within the engineering workflow. This includes: 

• Reliably scale infrastructure using infrastructure as code. Centralized state management, secure execution, and team collaboration support consistent, deployments—and can help reduce risk and accelerate delivery across complex cloud environments.
• Enact informed policies for infrastructure provisioning with built-in checks that guide or enforce best practices like ensuring the correct organizational tags are applied. Integrate personalized cost estimates and financial guardrails to help teams make informed, proactive decisions and stay aligned with budgets before deployment.
• Control cloud spend with near real-time visibility into actual cloud costs after deployment and AI-powered recommendations to uncover opportunities to address waste, even ahead of deploying infrastructure. Detect anomalies, track spend against expectations and validate infrastructure decisions based on detailed billing data—helping teams stay accountable and optimize their cloud investments.

"Our customers want accurate, real-time visibility into the cost implications of the infrastructure they manage and deploy with HashiCorp Terraform," said Armon Dadgar, CTO and co-founder of HashiCorp, an IBM company. "With native bi-directional integration between HashiCorp Terraform and Cloudability, engineers gain visibility into infrastructure costs, embedded governance checks, and optimization opportunities directly within their workflows."

Kubecost 3.0: Setting a New Standard for Kubernetes Cost Management  

Kubecost 3.0 represents the most advanced evolution of Kubernetes cost management to date, built to help enterprises tackle the complexities of managing their Kubernetes environments at scale. With this latest version, Kubernetes teams gain access to: 

• Enhanced tools for unified resource management that provide a comprehensive view across clusters, streamlining cost allocation and resource utilization.
• Advanced savings recommendations, enabling precise identification of opportunities to optimize usage and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Comprehensive savings recommendations, featuring automated container right-sizing, advanced GPU monitoring and optimization powered by NVIDIA's DCGM exporter, and enhanced node group sizing insights. These new capabilities were built for teams to quickly identify inefficiencies and take action to address costs across all workloads.
• Enhanced capabilities for scalability and security, helping to ensure that organizations can grow their Kubernetes deployments while prioritizing security and operational control in even the most complex cloud environments.

Cloudability Governance integration with HCP and Terraform Enterprise is available today in public preview. Kubecost 3.0 is generally available now. Apptio will demonstrate the new solutions at the annual TBM Conference and at KubeCon North America (Booth 800), showcasing how organizations can leverage FinOps for strategic business advantage. 

To learn more about Cloudability Governance, Kubecost 3.0, and how Apptio is transforming FinOps for the AI era, visit the Apptio Innovation Hub.

About Apptio, an IBM Company
Apptio, an IBM company, is a leading technology spend and value management software provider. Apptio's AI-powered data insights empower leaders to make smarter financial and operational decisions across Information Technology (IT), multi-cloud FinOps, and digital product development. Apptio's mission is to deliver business value with every technology investment and team. Powered by Apptio's cloud platform, Apptio's SaaS applications help translate technology spend into clear business outcomes and financial ROI. As a pioneer and category leader in Technology Business Management (TBM), FinOps, and Agile Portfolio Management, Apptio works with thousands of customers, partners, and community members worldwide.  

CONTACT: Jas McDonald, Jas.McDonald@ibm.com 

1. According to IDC's Worldwide AI and Generative AI Spending Guide, published in August 2025

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SOURCE Apptio

FAQ

What did Apptio announce on November 3, 2025 for IBM (NYSE: IBM)?

Apptio announced Cloudability Governance in public preview and Kubecost 3.0 as generally available to improve FinOps for AI workloads.

Is Kubecost 3.0 available now for IBM customers and partners?

Yes. Kubecost 3.0 is generally available now with new cost allocation and optimization features.

What integrations does Cloudability Governance support for Terraform workflows?

Cloudability Governance integrates with HashiCorp Terraform and HashiCorp Cloud Platform for bi‑directional cost visibility and policy checks.

How does Kubecost 3.0 help manage GPU costs for AI workloads?

Kubecost 3.0 includes advanced GPU monitoring and optimization powered by NVIDIA's DCGM exporter to identify GPU inefficiencies.

Will Cloudability Governance control costs before infrastructure deployment?

Yes. It provides personalized cost estimates and financial guardrails to enforce or guide policy before deployment.