Stewart & Co

Stewart & Co Accountants LLP are a long established accountancy firm based in Camberley, Surrey and are well known for their professional, friendly approach and accurate, honest advice to clients across a variety of sectors.

With a reputation for professionalism and a forward thinking approach, Stewart & Co sought to modernise their IT infrastructure to provide a work from anywhere environment to support their growing team and client base.

The firm partnered with Pro Drive IT to lead this transformation, recognising our expertise in delivering secure, scalable cloud solutions tailored to professional services firms. Our proactive support model and deep understanding of the accountancy sector made us the ideal choice to guide Stewart & Co through their cloud migration journey.

“Pro Drive IT’s team went above and beyond to ensure our migration to Azure was seamless. We now have a modern, secure platform that supports our business wherever we work.” – David Evans, Partner, Stewart & Co.

KEY SOLUTIONS

• Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure – to provide cloud based hosting for the market leading Digita Accountancy Suite.
• Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) – allowing staff to work from anywhere with a secure, consistent experience
  Advanced cyber security – 24/7 cyber security coverage to detect threats and protect client data

THE CHALLENGES

Stewart & Co were running a traditional on premise server based IT infrastructure and recognised the need to modernise to provide a flexible and scalable platform to meet the needs of the firm’s growth, and to continue to build on the high levels of service they provide to clients.

As well as approaching the end of its lifespan, the existing system made remote working cumbersome and caused inefficiencies created by managing multiple user logins across systems. Increased workload from growth and acquisitions, coupled with a need to keep pace with the ever increasing cyber security threat drove the need to make a change.

THE APPROACH

Pro Drive IT delivered a comprehensive Microsoft Azure cloud migration project, replacing all legacy servers with modern cloud hosted infrastructure. We built and configured servers in Azure to host the core Digita platform, migrated seven key business applications, and implemented Azure Virtual Desktop for secure remote access.

Legacy file data was archived and made accessible via SharePoint, while computers were reconfigured to simplify user access and remove outdated software. Enhanced security was achieved through the advanced protection provided by Pro Drive’s ‘secure’ cyber security package. The project was delivered in phases with clear milestones and coordination with software suppliers to ensure minimal disruption.

THE RESULTS

• 100% migration success of critical applications and data
• Reduced energy and hardware costs at the Camberley office
• Improved security posture with modern endpoint protection and advanced cloud backup and disaster recovery
• Streamlined user experience with single sign-on across devices and services
• Increased flexibility for staff working remotely or in-office

On completion of the project Stewart & Co now benefit from a cleaner, more secure IT environment that supports their operational needs and future growth, whilst providing the possibilities to further enhance their efficiency through automation and AI.

“The move to Azure has transformed our IT setup. We have a lower overall cost of ownership, improved security, and made life easier for our staff. Pro Drive IT were professional and responsive throughout.” – Gary Robinson, Partner, Stewart & Co.