The Story of How itgreen Reduced Infrastructure Design Resources by 70% Through MSP Service
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
SmileShark was an infrastructure partner that helped us focus entirely on our service.
- Lee Ju-sung, Lead, itgreen Product Team
[ š” Key Takeaways ]
1. 70% reduction in infrastructure design resources ā Maximized development productivity
2. Transition to ECS (Fargate) minimizes operational burden and ensures scalability
3. Improved service reliability through standardized security and architecture
itgreen. Co.,Ltd.
Company Name: itgreen. Co., Ltd.
Flagship Service: Returnit
Business Sector: Environment
Date of Establishment: November 3, 2020
Website: https://www.returnit.kr/
itgreen is an eco-friendly startup that helps everyone easily take action for the environment in their daily lives. Through its flagship service, āReturnit,ā the company supports the supply and collection of reusable containers in various settings, including food delivery apps, sports stadiums, festivals, and theme parks.
Furthermore, amid growing interest in ESG management, itgreen is expanding its reusable container circulation system through collaborations with other companies and building an eco-friendly ecosystem.
š As the service grows rapidly, the infrastructure is also beginning to change
The initial service structure of āReturnIt,ā itgreenās flagship service, was relatively simple. It centered on order and return workflows and could be adequately operated using an EC2-based infrastructure.
However, as the service expanded, the situation changed. With the addition of RFID (Radio-Frequency IDentification)-based tracking and inventory management for reusable containers, as well as the launch of washing center operations and a franchise business, the service began to encompass an increasingly broader scope, and naturally, the demands placed on the infrastructure grew accordingly.
The Adoption of MSP: No Longer a āChoice,ā but a 'Necessity'
Amid these changes, itgreen began to consider adopting an MSP. As the number of service domains increased and infrastructure complexity grew, the problem of diminished focus on development became increasingly apparent. Moreover, given the nature of a startup, the structure of handling everything with limited resources was simply unsustainable. With development workflows repeatedly disrupted by infrastructure issues, adopting an MSP was no longer an option but a necessity.
Why I Chose SmileShark
Q. What were your criteria for selecting an MSP partner?
The most important criterion was finding a partner who could quickly understand our situation. Since logistics-based services have different infrastructure requirements than general SaaS, experience in a similar domain was crucial, and we needed a partner that could offer the speed and flexibility suited to a startup. We also took into account that MSPs focused on large enterprises tend to have cumbersome processes and slower response times. Based on these criteria, SmileShark had experience in a similar domain and possessed a fast, flexible service structure tailored to startups, so we naturally came to view them as the ideal partner for itgreen..
Q. What was the deciding factor in choosing the SmileShark M2 service?
The biggest advantage was the operational model where dedicated Account Managers (AMs) and Senior Account Managers (SAs) were assigned. A major benefit was that we didnāt have to explain the context from scratch every time a representative changed; instead, we had staff who understood the service history working with us on an ongoing basis.
Additionally, the flexible, messenger-based communication style and the Zendesk ticketing systemāwhich made it easy to manage request details and resolution historiesāwere also key factors in improving collaboration efficiency.
SmileShark M2 Service: An Infrastructure Overhaul Starting with Onboarding
The first step in our collaboration with SmileShark MSP was to assess and optimize our existing infrastructure. Initially, we focused on sharing our service architecture and operational history to establish a shared understanding of the overall context. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive review and optimization of the entire infrastructure, including the IAM permission structure.
As areas that had previously not been managed systematically were organized, a stable operational foundation was established. Through this process, itgreen utilized SmileSharkās M2 service to move beyond simple operational support and establish a structure capable of systematically managing the entire infrastructure.
Gradual Modernization and Security-Centric Architecture Design
Instead of replacing all systems at once, itgreen opted to gradually improve its infrastructure in line with the characteristics of its services. The approach was to maintain the existing EC2 architecture for the order/return domain, where stability is critical, while applying a more flexible architecture to the inventory domain, which undergoes frequent changes.
Accordingly, Amazon ECS and AWS Fargate were introduced to the inventory domain to transition to a container-based architecture, creating an environment that enables rapid deployment and scaling while reducing the burden of server operations.
Furthermore, security was incorporated into the core architecture rather than as a separate configuration in this deployment. The network was divided into public and private segments, external access was restricted via an ALB, and internal resources were designed to be accessible only through a VPN. The database was also configured using Aurora Serverless to ensure both stability and scalability.
Throughout this process, SmileShark participated as a partner that went beyond simple implementation to design permissions and architecture based on service scenarios. As a result, itgreen was able to establish an infrastructure foundation that offers both stability and flexibility.
"I was very satisfied with the quick response."
Q. What did you find most satisfying about the M2 service?
The consulting and design support provided during the setup of new infrastructure was the most satisfying aspect (New Build Up service).
When designing the inventory system, there were various users and permission structures involved, but the dedicated SmileShark SA helped us break down the cases based on scenarios and worked through them with us. I felt that they didnāt just process requests, but truly understood our service and worked with us from the design phase onward.
In particular, as the format and content of the monthly reports have become more sophisticated recently, the perceived value has increased significantly. The reports have evolved beyond simply summarizing usage to also outlining infrastructure status and areas for improvement, providing information that we can now use as a reference internally.
Q. Is there a particular moment that stands out in your memory?
First, I remember when the AWS region outage occurred in 2025; SmileShark assessed the impact and responded quickly even before itgreen had realized what was happening. Beyond that, I was very satisfied with their rapid response to urgent issues.
<itgreen's Recommended SmileShark M2 Service>
Build Up service is an M2-based deployment service that provides end-to-end support for core infrastructureāincluding VPC, ECS, ALB/NLB, and RDSāfrom initial design through deployment, enabling you to quickly establish a cloud environment optimized for your service. With an architecture tailored to your business characteristics and traffic volume, you can ensure both stability and scalability.
 The āMonthly Reportā is a regular reporting service that analyzes the operational status of a client's AWS resources (such as EC2, RDS, and WAF) each month from the perspectives of cost, performance, and security, and provides detailed AI-based diagnostics and recommendations for improvement. |
Approximately 70% reduction in infrastructure design resources
Improved Development Speed
The most significant change following the adoption of MSP was the allocation of resources to infrastructure. Previously, a great deal of time and energy was required to directly plan and design the infrastructure architecture, but after the adoption, our role shifted to simply reviewing the overall direction. With the partner handling the actual design and implementation, infrastructure design resources were reduced by approximately 70%.
This change had a direct impact on the development teamās workflow. Freed from infrastructure concerns, the development team could focus more on product development, which ultimately led to a tangible improvement in development speed. At the same time, security design conducted in collaboration with experts naturally increased confidence in security and stability, laying the groundwork for operating services in a more stable environment.
Beyond Simple Improvements: A Foundation for Expansion
The ECS-based inventory system built in collaboration with SmileShark went beyond simple improvements to become a foundation for future expansion. A structure was established that allows for the rapid experimentation with new services or features and their transition to the production environment, while the infrastructure burden was significantly reduced even during expansion to multiple business locations.
This experience served as an opportunity to confirm the potential for ECS expansion into the order and return domains, and simultaneously marked a turning point in solidifying the direction for transitioning the entire system to a cloud-native architecture.
For teams considering implementing MSP
Q. What advice would you give to companies in a similar situation?
If youāre operating your infrastructure yourself but lack confidence, or if youāre starting to feel that you want to focus entirely on your services and products, I think thatās a sign you should consider an MSP. At first, we were worried that outsourcing might actually increase communication costs, but in reality, the opposite was true. Once we established a structure where we could delegate tasks, the entire team felt much lighter. I think itās best to make a quick decision the moment you start feeling that burden.
Q. To what kind of teams would you recommend SmileShark MSP?
Iād recommend it to fast-growing startups like us, especially teams where the complexity of their infrastructure is increasing as their service domains expand. It would be particularly effective for teams that lack in-house experts in security or infrastructure design.
Q. Do you have any words of encouragement for rapidly growing companies like itgreen?
To all my comrades fighting fiercely every day amidst uncertaintyākeep up the great work!
itgreen: The Way Forward
itgreen plans to expand its services to more locations and channels in the future. The reusable container service, which began with food delivery apps, sports stadiums, and theme parks, is set to expand into an increasingly diverse range of sectors, and B2B partnerships are also emerging as a key growth driver.
In addition, the company is enhancing its systems based on data such as container tracking, return rates, and operational efficiency, and is preparing to implement automation using AI technology.
The future itgreen envisions is not merely an expansion of services, but the creation of a circular economy ecosystem where anyone can use reusable containers without inconvenience. Underpinning this vision is a stable infrastructure and a partnership with SmileShark to co-design it.
SmileShark M2 Service for Fast-Growing Companies
M2 is an integrated management service that provides not only infrastructure setup and operation but also technical support, cost optimization, and operational reports. Through this service, Itgreen has transformed its infrastructure from something that āneeds to be managedā into an area that can be ātrusted and entrusted,ā creating an environment where the company can focus more on service development and product improvement.
M2 goes beyond simply reducing the burde
n of infrastructure operations; it serves as a foundation that helps rapidly growing organizations focus on what truly matters. If youāre feeling the strain of infrastructure operations as your business grows, instead of trying to solve it on your own, consider designing your infrastructure with the help of experts.
