Cloud optimization has become the new migration in 2026
Companies are entering a new phase of cloud strategy where performance tuning, governance and cost discipline are the priority.
After a decade of migration-led programs, 2025 trends have shown that companies are re-evaluating how effectively their cloud estates operate day to day. Over the next 12 months, companies are expected to prioritize governance and optimization alongside spend management with the goal of improving both performance and policies at scale, says the State of FinOps report. It also highlighted that workload optimization and waste reduction have remained a top priority over the past year with companies ‘doubling down’ to ensure they maximize their investments.
This marks a strategic pivot from getting into the cloud to managing it with precision. This article unpacks why optimization is central to cloud value, and how to get there.
What this article answers:
- Why enterprises are moving beyond cloud migration in 2026.
- What analysts identify as the drivers of efficient cloud operations.
- Why post-migration environments often underperform.
- How Mint supports optimization through FinOps and platform engineering.
- What leaders can prioritize to improve operational maturity.
Why does cloud value matter?
Cloud modernization has broadened its scope from an infrastructure change to building operational clarity. Many companies have already migrated sizeable workloads, but rising bills and inconsistent performance have exposed gaps in governance and engineering maturity. A study by Harness across 700 developers found that 66% believe that around 20% of their cloud infrastructure spend ‘is wasted on underutilized resources’ – 55% find it challenging to understand what they’re spending with their cloud providers.
The emerging view is that real cloud value comes from how environments are managed once migration is complete.
What does optimization look like?
Optimized cloud estates share several operational characteristics. Workloads scale appropriately, monitoring is continuous, and automation governs repetitive tasks. FinOps teams use clear consumption data to understand behavioral patterns as well as cost totals, and overall cloud management becomes consistent and more self-service oriented. This allows teams to reduce variation and operational friction.
This improved structure strengthens decision-making, so companies gain a clearer idea of which applications drive cost, how performance varies over time and the areas that require tighter governance. Data flows more predictably across systems while operational risk decreases as legacy components are retired. With deeper data understanding, companies can improve performance and engagement.
When cloud environments are designed for observability and control, companies move from reactive management to consistent and evidence-led operations.
The Mint cloud optimization solution
Mint has worked across Azure, AWS and Google Cloud, developing expertise that helps companies build cloud environments that are engineered for longevity. Mint assesses workload behavior, operating practices and platform structures to understand where inefficiencies sit and how performance can be improved. This often involves refining key areas such as automation or strengthening governance or aligning platform design to be more in tune with specific business needs.
The goal is to create a cloud environment that allows teams to see how cloud decisions influence cost and resilience, and to establish shared tooling and platform patterns that can be reused across teams. Mint works with you to build a more predictable cloud operating model and to introduce changes that translate into reduced waste, improved agility and clearer operational agility.
Our approach helps companies move from one-time migration projects into ongoing optimization that supports sustainable performance.
