Sherpa in the Cloud with AWS: A Case Study

Sherpa Delivers Flexibility and Scale with AWS Cloud Integration

As a world-leading visual effects and animation group, this global studio needed a solution that could match their increasing demands for flexibility, scalability, and remote training capabilities. By adopting Sherpa, powered by AWS Cloud, they've been able to access secure, on-demand compute power and scale their workflows to suit the needs of any curriculum – whether students are learning in London, Los Angeles, or Sydney. This robust cloud integration has empowered the academy to stay agile, meet production demands efficiently, and prepare the next generation of talent for the fast-evolving world of VFX production.

How Sherpa’s Integration with AWS Cloud Supports a Global Academy’s Vision

For one of the world’s most celebrated visual effects, animation, and games groups, the training division is the heartbeat of their talent pipeline. With a network of award-winning studios spanning four continents, the company relies on a steady stream of production-ready artists to work on major Hollywood blockbusters and AAA games.

Enterprise-grade infrastructure for a dynamic classroom

To fuel this global pipeline, the group established a dedicated academy. This division identifies potential artists and provides them with intensive, industry-standard training. However, running a global training operation at this scale presents unique challenges. Courses vary significantly in length – typically lasting 4, 8, or 12 weeks – and run concurrently across multiple time zones.

Traditional on-premise infrastructure would require a large capital investment in hardware that might sit idle between courses. It would also demand dedicated IT staff to provision systems for each new intake. The academy needed a solution that put control in the hands of the educators. They required a system that could deliver production-quality infrastructure while remaining simple enough for course coordinators and tutors to manage day-to-day operation, removing IT as a bottleneck.

What is Sherpa on AWS?

Sherpa is a cloud-resource management tool designed from the ground up by Escape Technology. To put it simply, it provides access to a cloud-based creative infrastructure that can expand or contract as required. It includes everything a studio needs (workstations, storage, render nodes, etc.), all accessible securely via a simple dashboard, removing the need for offices filled with hardware.

A Cloud Academy That Grows (and Shrinks) With Demand

With Sherpa on AWS promising the power and flexibility the academy required, the implementation allowed the group to streamline its training pipeline significantly. The platform was used directly by non-technical staff, including course coordinators and tutors. Rather than submitting tickets to IT, these educators could provision the specific workstations and render nodes required for their classes in minutes.

At its peak, Sherpa was managing 650 workstations and thousands of render nodes running on AWS infrastructure across four continents, providing students with access to the same calibre of technology used in the company's production facilities.

The Potential to Scale Up, or Even Down

New levels of power are unlocked through Sherpa on AWS, with access to significant processing power. It's easy to scale up to match the needs of any particular curriculum. If an advanced 12-week course is approaching its final project deadline, a course coordinator can simply add more render nodes using the GUI, paying for them only for as long as needed.

And, of course, what spins up can also be spun down – something the academy has appreciated many times. As one cohort graduates and another begins an introductory 4-week course with lighter needs, the coordinator can scale back the number of active workstations with a few clicks. This brings a new level of efficiency, ensuring they only pay for the resources they actually use.

Key Benefits of Using Sherpa with AWS Cloud

Sherpa, powered by AWS Cloud, offers a range of powerful benefits that make it the ideal solution for VFX studios looking to scale, optimise, and streamline their workflows:

• Dynamic Resource Scaling
  AWS Cloud integration allows you to scale your compute resources up or down as needed, giving your studio the flexibility to meet fluctuating project demands efficiently.
• Cost-Efficiency
  With Sherpa’s pay-as-you-go model, you only pay for the resources you use, optimising your cloud expenditure and helping you manage budgets more effectively across projects.
• Remote Work Capabilities
  Sherpa’s cloud infrastructure provides seamless remote access, empowering teams to work collaboratively from anywhere without compromising performance or productivity.
• Reliability and Seamless Integration
  Backed by the robust performance and reliability of AWS Cloud, Sherpa integrates effortlessly into your existing workflows, offering a secure, dependable infrastructure that minimises downtime and maximises productivity.
• Future-Proof Flexibility
  As a cloud-native solution, Sherpa grows with your business. Whether scaling up for larger projects or adjusting to changing production needs, Sherpa ensures that your studio can keep expanding without being limited by technology.

Start Your Journey with Sherpa and AWS Cloud Today

The flexibility and scalability that Sherpa on AWS Cloud offers are transforming how creative studios operate and train new talent. Ready to explore how Sherpa can empower your team? Reach out to Escape Technology today and discover how Sherpa, powered by AWS Cloud, can help your studio unlock the full potential of the cloud – whether for production or training.

Contact us at sales@escape-technology.com or call 020 7734 8809.

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