How We Reduced AWS Costs by 40% Using GraalVM and Serverless Java
Welcome to Associative! As a software development firm headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, we are constantly exploring ways to transform visionary ideas into scalable, cost-effective digital realities.
One of the most common challenges our clients face in the cloud is managing compute costs, especially when running enterprise-grade Java applications. While Java is incredibly powerful and remains a core part of our Back-End expertise (including Spring Boot and Jakarta EE), traditional Java Virtual Machines (JVMs) can be resource-heavy and slow to start in serverless environments.
In this post, we’ll walk you through how we reduced AWS costs by 40% using GraalVM and Serverless Java, and how our team of IT professionals can apply these same optimizations to your cloud infrastructure.
The Challenge: The Cost of Traditional Java on AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda charges based on two primary factors: the amount of memory allocated to the function and the compute duration (execution time) in milliseconds.
When deploying traditional Java applications to AWS Lambda, developers frequently encounter the dreaded “cold start” problem. Because the JVM takes time to initialize and requires a significant memory footprint just to load, serverless Java functions often require higher memory allocations and take longer to execute their initial requests.
The result? Slower user experiences and inflated AWS bills.
The Solution: Serverless Java Powered by GraalVM
To solve this, our Cloud & DevOps experts turned to GraalVM, an advanced JDK with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation capabilities.
Instead of deploying a standard .jar file that requires a JVM to run on the server, we used GraalVM’s Native Image feature. This compiles the Java application directly into a standalone, platform-specific machine code executable.
How GraalVM Transforms Serverless Deployments:
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Instant Startup Times: Because the application is pre-compiled into native machine code, there is no JVM to initialize. Cold start times drop from several seconds to mere milliseconds.
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Drastically Reduced Memory Footprint: Native images only include the classes, methods, and dependencies required at runtime. This allowed us to significantly lower the memory allocated to our AWS Lambda functions.
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Peak Performance from the First Request: Unlike traditional JVMs that require “warm-up” time for the Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler to optimize code, GraalVM native images deliver peak performance immediately.
The Results: A 40% Reduction in AWS Compute Costs
By transitioning our client’s serverless microservices to GraalVM, we achieved a measurable 40% reduction in AWS compute costs.
This saving was realized through two main optimizations:
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Lower Memory Allocation: We successfully reduced the Lambda memory configuration from 1024MB to 256MB without sacrificing performance.
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Shorter Execution Durations: With cold starts effectively eliminated, the average execution duration plummeted, directly reducing the billed milliseconds per request.
Why Choose Associative for Cloud Optimization?
At Associative, our mission is to guide businesses through the complexities of the digital landscape. We operate with unyielding transparency and are officially registered with the Registrar of Firms (ROF), Pune.
When you partner with us for cloud development and cost optimization, you get access to a comprehensive service portfolio and a massive landscape of technologies.
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Expert Cloud Management: We provide expert management of AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, utilizing Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and Jenkins for robust CI/CD pipelines.
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Full-Lifecycle Development: From Cloud CMS solutions and Mobile App Development (Native & Cross-Platform) to AI/ML integrations and Blockchain (Web3) systems.
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Transparent Operations: We operate Monday through Saturday on a strict time-and-materials basis. Invoices are submitted daily, weekly, or on a milestone basis, ensuring you only pay for the work performed.
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Strict Confidentiality: We protect your IP with rigorous NDAs. We do not maintain a public portfolio of client work, and upon project completion, you receive 100% ownership of the source code.
About Associative
Established on February 1, 2021, Associative is an Adobe Silver Solution Partner and an Official Reseller Partner of Strapi. Beyond standard enterprise software, we are at the forefront of R&D with our flagship project, NexusReal: Intelligence Fused Reality, which utilizes Interactive AI Avatars, real-time LLM communication, and Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs).
Ready to optimize your cloud infrastructure? We offer a 7-day complimentary post-launch support period on our projects and flexible engagement models ranging from 3 to 9 hours per day.
Contact Us
We look forward to bringing your vision to life.
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Address: Khandve Complex, Yojana Nagar, Lohegaon – Wagholi Road, Lohegaon, Pune, Maharashtra, India – 411047
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Office Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
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WhatsApp: +91 9028850524
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Email: info@associative.in
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