NAT Gateway overuse

High NAT Gateway data-processing charges that could be reduced with VPC endpoints.

Last updated July 3, 2026

What triggers this finding

NAT Gateway charges of at least $50/month, or VPC/NAT spend representing at least 15% of your total AWS bill (from Cost Explorer).

Typical fix

Create free VPC gateway endpoints for S3 and DynamoDB so traffic to those services bypasses the NAT Gateway. Review which workloads still need NAT for internet access.

Example savings

Parsivex estimates roughly 30% of NAT Gateway data-processing charges are avoidable — often $15–$200+/month.

See also: Severity and savings estimates for how Parsivex calculates figures on your report.

Related articles

Finding type glossary

Plain-English definitions for all 13 Parsivex waste finding types, grouped by AWS category.

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How to review warnings, use dry-run commands, test in non-production, and avoid destructive mistakes — especially with S3 lifecycle scripts.

Severity and savings estimates

How Parsivex prioritizes findings, calculates monthly savings figures, and why estimates are not guarantees.