Step 2: Connect AWS Account
Link your AWS account to SaneCost in 6 steps using CloudFormation. Takes about 3 minutes.
Before You Start
Open any channel in your Slack workspace and type the slash command. Slack will show a command picker — select /sanecost, then type connect aws.
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Add Another AWS Account
Tip: Type / first to trigger the command picker, then click on /sanecost from the dropdown. This ensures Slack recognizes it as a slash command.
This opens the AWS CloudFormation console in a new browser tab. If you're signed into multiple AWS accounts, you'll see an account picker — select the account you want to monitor.
Choose your AWS session
You have active sessions. Choose the account you want to monitor:
Important: Make sure you select the correct AWS account. SaneCost will only monitor the account where the CloudFormation stack is deployed.
CloudFormation opens with everything pre-configured. You'll see the stack name, template URL, and parameters — all filled in automatically by SaneCost. You don't need to change anything.
Stack name
Parameters
What do these parameters mean? WorkspaceId links this AWS account to your Slack workspace. SaneCostAccountId is SaneCost's AWS account for cross-account monitoring. EnableWriteActions lets SaneCost stop instances (only with your explicit approval via Slack).
Scroll to the bottom. You'll see a Capabilities section with a checkbox. This is standard CloudFormation — it's confirming that the template will create IAM roles (the read-only monitoring role SaneCost needs).
Check the box, then click Create stack. That's it — the deployment takes about 2-3 minutes.
CloudFormation will show the stack status progressing through CREATE_IN_PROGRESS. When it reaches CREATE_COMPLETE, your account is connected. SaneCost automatically registers the account — no further action needed.
Stack info
Go back to Slack and run the status command to confirm everything is connected:
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SaneCost Connection Status
Connected Accounts: 1
Success! Your AWS account is now connected and SaneCost will begin monitoring it within the next few minutes.
SaneCost is now monitoring your AWS account for idle and underutilized resources.
Next step: Set up your notification channel to receive waste alerts.