Inactive GCS Bucket

Service Category

Storage

Cloud Provider

GCP

Service Name

GCP GCS

Inefficiency Type

Unused Resource

Explanation

GCS buckets often persist after applications are retired or data is no longer in active use. Without access activity, these buckets generate storage charges without providing ongoing value. Leaving stale data in Standard storage—designed for frequent access—results in unnecessary cost. If the data must be retained for compliance or future reference, colder tiers offer substantial savings. If it is no longer needed, the data should be deleted.

Relevant Billing Model

GCS charges are based on:

Storage usage (per GB/month), with rates varying by storage class (e.g., Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive)
Data retrieval fees for Nearline, Coldline, and Archive classes
Operation charges for requests like reads, writes, and deletes
Minimum storage durations for colder tiers (e.g., 30 days for Nearline, 90 for Coldline, 365 for Archive)

Buckets accrue charges for all stored data, regardless of access frequency. Even when inactive, the data continues to generate storage and metadata costs.

Detection

Identify GCS buckets that have had no read or write activity over a representative lookback period
Review object access logs and storage metrics to confirm inactivity
Assess whether the bucket is tied to any active workload, automated workflow, or scheduled task
Determine whether the data must be retained for compliance, legal hold, or long-term archival
Check for the presence (or absence) of lifecycle management policies to transition or delete stale data
Coordinate with data owners or teams responsible for the bucket to confirm its relevance and required retention

Remediation

Delete buckets that are no longer needed to eliminate ongoing storage charges. For data that must be retained but is rarely accessed, transition objects to colder storage classes like Nearline, Coldline, or Archive. Enable lifecycle policies to automatically transition or expire inactive data based on age or last access timestamp.

Relevant Documentation

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