FinOps Framework 2025 Updates

The updates see changes to the definition of FinOps along with reworded Principles, Domains and Capabilities.  The update also mentions the addition of Scopes to the Framework, check out our webinar where we deep dive into these scopes and what they mean for FinOps Practitioners.   

Cloud+ in FinOps 

The FinOps Foundation have highlighted that we are now in the ‘Era of Cloud+’ which I couldn’t agree more with, but what is Cloud+ in FinOps?  Coming off the back of the State of FinOps 2025, it has become evident that FinOps Practitioners are managing much more than Cloud spend and they are managing additional technology spend such as SaaS, Licensing, Private Cloud and Data Centres.  To support this, Scopes have been added to the Framework.  This will allow FinOps Practitioners to apply FinOps Concepts when managing these types of spend.  The three initial scopes have been defined as Public Cloud, Data Centre and Saas.  Within each scope you can determine which Personas, Domains and Capabilities should be included. 

Below is what FinOps Scope for Licensing looks like. 

(FinOps Framework 2025 – FinOps Foundation) 

Updates to the current Framework 

FinOps Definition 

As it has been highlighted, we are in a Cloud+ Era, it would make sense to change the wording and names of some of the existing Framework and where better to start than the definition of FinOps.  If we believe that FinOps Practitioners are managing additional spend outside of Cloud, then that should be reflected in the definition, this was done subtly with the addition of one word, can we guess what it is?  

FinOps is an operational framework and cultural practice which maximises the business value of cloud and technology, enables timely data-driven decision making, and creates financial accountability through collaboration between engineering, finance and business teams.   

Yes, technology!  If we think back to the State of FinOps survey results, this makes complete sense.   

FinOps Principles 

For the first time since 2019 the FinOps Principles have been updated to reflect Cloud+. 

(FinOps Framework 2025 – FinOps Foundation) 

The update that really stood out for me was ‘FinOps should be enabled centrally.’  I thought the prior wording of ‘A centralised team drive FinOps’ could have been seen as quite restrictive, as if, you need to have a centralised team to deliver FinOps whereas this new wording enhances the bottoms up approach that FinOps is all about.   

FinOps Domains & Capabilities 

The FinOps domains before the 2025 updates were Understand Cloud Usage & Cost, Quantify Business Value, Optimise Cloud Usage & Cost and Manage the FinOps Practice.  To make these less constrained to managing cloud spend, the word cloud was removed from the domains.  Making them read as below: 

The last of the updates is looking at the capabilities within the current framework.  The only capability which still resembled the ‘old ways’ of FinOps managing cloud spend only was Cloud Policy Governance, so what happened?  You guessed it, the capability changed to Policy & Governance. 

Wrapping Up 

The 2025 updates to the FinOps Framework signal a new chapter for Cloud+ and the way FinOps Practitioners work today. These changes to the definition of FinOps, the Principles, Domains, and Capabilities reflect how FinOps is expanding to manage more types of technology cost data.  We're excited to implement these changes when working with customers!