Patent ID: 7865384

Claim:
Detecting, by a computing system, an initiation of an information technology (IT) action by a user of a computing unit coupled to said computing system; determining, in real time by said computing system and prior to a completion of said IT action, an actual cost to perform said IT action; obtaining, by said computing system, a target cost to perform said IT action; comparing, by said computing system, said actual cost to said target cost; determining, by said computing system, a result of said comparing, wherein said result is said actual cost being greater than said target cost; obtaining, by said computing system, one or more recommended actions, wherein an outcome of performing said one or more recommended actions is a reduction of said actual cost to perform said IT action; sending, in real time by said computing system and prior to said completion of said IT action, a notification to said computing unit wherein said notification includes a description of or a link to said one or more recommended actions, and wherein said notification further includes a cost-reducing link associated with a recommended action of said one or more recommended actions; receiving, by said computing system, a selection of said cost-reducing link; and automatically performing, by said computing system and in response to said receiving said selection, said recommended action, wherein a result of said automatically performing said recommended action is a reduction in said actual cost.