AWS Trusted Advisor Enhances NAT Gateway Usage Analysis with Compute Optimizer Integration

Trusted Advisor improved its unused NAT Gateway detection using extended CloudWatch data and Compute Optimizer insights to reduce false positives and aid cost optimization.

By Sofia Reed · Editorial pseudonym · 2026-02-23 · 1 min read

AI-ASSISTED REPORTING · RETROSPECTIVE ARCHIVE

Retrospective edition: 2026-02-23. Source published: 2026-02-23. Added to this archive: 2026-11-03. This briefing was prepared later from the linked announcement; it was not published on this website on the historical edition date.

AWS Trusted Advisor's updated checks analyze CloudWatch metrics over 32 days and confirm NAT Gateway associations with route tables to better distinguish between truly unused and critical backup resources. This enhancement prevents unnecessary removal of essential infrastructure while identifying cost-saving cleanup opportunities.

The checks provide estimated monthly savings and integrate with the Trusted Advisor console and API, helping organizations systematically audit and reduce idle NAT Gateway costs post-migration or decommissioning. Access requires enrollment in Cost Optimization Hub and Compute Optimizer services.

Source & further reading

AWS Trusted Advisor now delivers more accurate unused NAT Gateway checks powered by AWS Compute Optimizer ↗

Source published 2026-02-23. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.