SK, Naver to launch cloud services for Korean public institutions

South Korea’s leading cloud computing and software services providers are slated to join forces to launch a service for smart working in Korean public institutions.

Five Korean tech firms, SK Broadband Inc., Naver Cloud Corp., AhnLab Inc., TmaxOS Co. and Hancom Inc., announced on Thursday that they signed a strategic partnership agreement to roll out cloud PC services using each company’s expertise.

Specifically, SK Broadband, Naver Cloud will respectively develop cloud PC solutions and cloud infrastructure for the services. AhnLab will optimize cloud security, and TmaxOS and Hancom will create open-source operating systems.    

They will launch customized services for a smart work environment in public institutions, where demand has soared since COVID-19. They will also strengthen Korea’s cloud ecosystem, expand the local market and carry out sales activities.

Through the collaborations, SK Broadband and Naver Cloud will jointly develop and launch a cloud desktop service later this year.

Cloud desktop service is end-user computing where virtual desktops are hosted on cloud-based resources. This enables users to access, update and back up data from anywhere by using any device online.  

The new service provides stronger security than existing virtual private network (VPN)-based access does, and maximizes work efficiency via centralized networks, an official from SK Broadband said.  

SK Broadband and Naver Cloud have been leading the cloud computing industry in Korea. SK Broadband, a major telecommunications company, became the first Korean firm in 2019 to have commercialized cloud PC service using its homegrown technologies.

The company’s cloud services have recently acquired a security function certificate from the National Intelligence Service Security of Korea, proving a high level of data protection.

Naver Cloud boasts the largest cloud-based software product line in Korea, consisting of more than 200 services in 20 categories. The online portal giant Naver Corp.'s cloud unit has supplied its services to some government-run businesses, such as the COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system and online education service for primary and middle school students.

Korea is accelerating public institutions and administrative agencies' cloud transformation, a part of the digital government innovation project.

In July 2021, the government announced that it will prioritize adopting the private cloud over the public cloud for public institutions’ cloud transformation. The government said it will integrate all of its institutions’ information systems into the private cloud by 2025.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.