We've introduced the ability to create duplicate instances of the same subscription. This new functionality allows you to manage multiple subscriptions for the same service under different names, making it easier to differentiate between environments like development, production, or testing phases.
Setting up duplicate subscriptions
Creating duplicates of a subscription is a straightforward process:
Navigate to the Subscriptions page where your current services are listed.
Add subscription you wish to duplicate.
If you already have the subscription, you will land on the subscription's page.
Click Add subscription again to create a new instance.
You will be prompted to enter a new name for the duplicate subscription.
Provide a distinctive name that reflects its purpose (e.g., "Google Cloud Dev" or "Google Cloud Prod"). This name will help you easily identify the subscription and manage it separately from the original.
Once renamed, save the changes by clicking Add subscription to create the duplicate subscription.
For a visual guide on how to perform these steps, please check out our video demo included below.
Watch our demo video
Use cases for duplicate subscriptions
This feature can be particularly useful in various scenarios, including:
Environment segregation: Manage different instances such as development, testing, and production separately. This is especially useful in software development and IT operations to ensure environments do not overlap.
Budget tracking: Track spending separately for the same service when used by different departments or projects within your organization.
Client ad spend tracking: Set up separate subscriptions for each client or project to accurately monitor and manage advertising spends and performance.
Access control: Differentiate access rights or administrative controls across various instances of the same subscription, enhancing security and management efficiency.
Let’s clarify with some specific examples related to managing duplicate subscriptions.
Environment segregation
Example: Software development company using AWS
Scenario: A software development company uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host their application. They need to manage different stages of their application lifecycle separately.
Implementation:
AWS Dev: They create a subscription named "AWS Dev" for their development environment where new features are initially implemented and tested by developers.
AWS Test: Another subscription, "AWS Test," is used for the testing environment where integrated features are tested to ensure they work as expected before being moved to production.
AWS Prod: Finally, a subscription named "AWS Prod" is dedicated to the production environment where the live application is hosted for end-users.
Advantages: Each environment (development, testing, production) needs to operate independently to prevent untested code or experimental features from affecting the live user-facing application. This segregation helps maintain stability in the production environment while allowing freedom in development and testing phases.
Budget tracking
Example: Multinational corporation managing Google Cloud Platform (GCP) expenses
Scenario: A multinational corporation operates in multiple regions around the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Each region has specific operational needs and budget allocations for cloud services.
Implementation:
GCP North America: The corporation sets up a subscription for "GCP North America" to manage all cloud computing resources used by their operations in the United States and Canada.
GCP Europe: Another subscription, "GCP Europe," is created to handle the cloud services for operations in European countries.
GCP Asia: A third subscription, "GCP Asia," manages the cloud infrastructure for the Asian markets.
Advantages: By creating separate subscriptions for each geographical region, the corporation can:
Track regional spending: Clearly monitor how much each region spends on cloud services, making it easier to adhere to regional budget limits and allocate resources efficiently.
Analyze cost efficiency: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cloud resource usage in each region. This could involve comparing the spending patterns and the ROI from cloud investments across different areas.
Facilitate budget allocation: Make informed decisions about where to increase or decrease spending based on regional performance and needs. This might include shifting resources from one region to another to optimize overall operational efficiency.
Client ad spend tracking
Example: Digital marketing agency managing Facebook (Meta) ad campaigns
Scenario: A digital marketing agency manages Facebook advertising campaigns for several clients, each with distinct goals, budgets, and performance metrics.
Implementation:
Facebook Ads Client A: The agency creates a subscription named "Facebook Ads Client A" specifically for managing the ad spend tracking for Client A, who focuses on brand awareness campaigns.
Facebook Ads Client B: Another subscription, "Facebook Ads Client B," is dedicated to Client B, who invests heavily in direct response campaigns aimed at increasing sales.
Facebook Ads Client C: A third subscription, "Facebook Ads Client C," is set up for Client C, focusing on engagement and community building through contests and live events.
Advantages: By setting up separate subscriptions for each client's Facebook campaigns, the agency can:
Overview of ad spends across clients: By setting up separate subscriptions for each client, the agency can easily monitor and compare ad spending. This system helps the agency have complete overview of client-wise ad spends, manage payments and receipts in one platform.
Centralized receipt collection: All receipts related to ad payments are collected under the respective client's subscription. This feature simplifies financial record-keeping and aids in the reconciliation of expenses, making it easier for the agency to provide detailed financial reports and ensure transparency with their clients.
Operational efficiency: This structured approach allows the agency to maintain clear oversight over each client's campaigns without overlap, ensuring that budget allocations are accurate and effectively controlled. It also facilitates swift responses to any adjustments needed in campaign strategies or budget re-allocation, enhancing the ability to tailor strategies to client needs and market conditions.
Access control
Example: Educational institution using Google Workspace
Scenario: An educational institution uses Google Workspace for their administrative staff and faculty. They need to control access to resources based on roles.
Implementation:
Google Workspace Admins: They create a subscription for administrative staff with enhanced access to student records, financial information, and administrative tools.
Google Workspace Faculty: Another subscription is set up for faculty members, which restricts access to sensitive administrative functions but includes tools for classroom management, course materials, and communication with students.
Advantages: This setup ensures that each group has access only to the applications and data relevant and necessary for their specific roles. Administrators have broader access to sensitive and critical operational functionalities, while faculty access is tailored to educational and communication tools, enhancing both security and efficiency.
These examples illustrate how environment segregation is about maintaining operational stability and development efficiency across different stages or parts of a system, while access control focuses on security and appropriate data access based on user roles or responsibilities. Both practices, especially when combined, contribute significantly to effective and secure subscription management.
Conclusion
With the ability to create duplicate subscriptions, managing multiple instances of the same service has never been easier. This feature allows for better organization, clearer budget delineation, and enhanced monitoring across different environments or use cases. By setting distinct names and managing them independently, you can tailor your subscription management to fit your specific operational needs.
We hope this new feature will make your subscription management more efficient and tailored to your organizational structure. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to our support team.