Guest: John Ceccarelli (LinkedIn)
Company: Azul 
Show: Java Reloaded
Topic: Cloud Native

Cloud costs are under a microscope. With IT budgets tightening, enterprises are being asked to do more with less. For organizations running large Java workloads, the question is especially urgent: how do you reduce spend when performance unpredictability forces overprovisioning?

In this clip from Java Reloaded, John Ceccarelli, VP of Product Management at Azul, explains how Platform Prime with Optimizer Hub tackles this challenge—delivering 20% average cloud savings without touching application code.

Three Ways to Save

According to Ceccarelli, Optimizer Hub delivers savings in three main ways:

– Remove stalls and jitters: Azul’s pauseless garbage collectors and runtime tech eliminate 95% of latency outliers. That means JVMs can be pushed harder without holding idle capacity in reserve.
– Faster JIT compilation: Azul’s compiler produces code that runs 40–50% faster than OpenJDK. Each transaction consumes less CPU, allowing more throughput per server.
– Smarter auto-scaling: With confidence in startup performance, teams can finally scale down aggressively instead of keeping servers always-on.

Together, these improvements mean fewer servers, higher utilization, and lower bills—all while improving user experience.

The JVM as a FinOps Tool

Ceccarelli is blunt about the shift in mindset: “People never think of the JVM as a cloud cost optimization tool. But just by swapping it, you can reduce costs significantly—without rehosting, refactoring, or re-architecting.”

He notes that many FinOps teams have already picked the low-hanging fruit, like Spot Instances or storage tiering. Optimizer Hub addresses the next layer, especially for legacy applications lifted into the cloud. And for cloud-native teams, it unlocks further efficiency even after traditional optimizations have been exhausted.

Immediate ROI

When asked about timeline, Ceccarelli didn’t hesitate: ROI is measured in weeks, not years. Migration takes only a short test-and-iterate phase, and once deployed, savings begin immediately. “We love going up against free,” he said. “Because we kick free’s butt when it comes to cost savings.”

Cloud Savings Without Code Changes

For enterprises already squeezed by rising compute bills, the value proposition is hard to ignore. Platform Prime with Optimizer Hub reduces waste, cuts costs, and improves performance—all without requiring developers to rewrite code or slow down delivery.

In an era when cost optimization is a board-level priority, Azul’s pitch is simple: the JVM itself can be a lever for FinOps.