SK Telecom (SKT) announced on Sept. 11 that it has launched a solution that can reduce the operating costs of AWS-based clouds used by enterprises by up to 40 percent.
SKT's new solution is an Amazon Web Service (AWS)-based cloud cost optimization solution that supports the migration from Intel/AMD-based servers with relatively high power consumption to ARM-based servers with low-power, high-efficiency CPUs, reducing operating costs by 20 percent to up to 40 percent.
Most of the cloud server market in South Korea is currently built on Intel or AMD CPUs. Since Amazon launched its cloud service in 2021 with Graviton servers, a low-power, high-performance ARM-based CPU, some companies have made the switch, but if you simply change the server, programs may not work or performance may drop sharply, leading to only a few cases of actual conversion.
In addition, even if the conversion is done through expert consulting, it takes a long time due to high costs and manual work, so domestic companies are not choosing it.
SKT has been promoting the transition to Graviton-based servers since 2022 to reduce AWS costs for itself and its ICT family, and has converted more than 17% of its total cloud usage, the highest level in Korea.
In the process, it has acquired a number of experts in Graviton technology to develop its own transition solution, and last month, it was recognized by AWS as the only official partner Software-defined Perimeter (SDP) in Korea. Currently, there are only six companies in the Asia-Pacific region, including SKT, that have been officially certified by AWS as transition solution partners.
With the transition solution developed by SKT, customers can easily make the transition by simply running a test to see if they can proceed, automatically convert some programs (source code) in the app, and receive guidance on the remaining programs that cannot be converted. It also provides a feature that compares the functionality between the pre-transition app and the transitioned app to verify its health.
According to the AWS Global Conference 2022, 48 of AWS' top 50 customers are using Graviton-based servers to reduce cloud operating costs, and global enterprises are rushing to make the transition.
SKT plans to prioritize the transition solution for cost-conscious SMBs and startups. To help SMEs and startups focus on service development by reducing the burden of cloud operating costs, the company will offer a free trial promotion for a limited time until the end of this year.
