Customer Success Story

A comprehensive digital transformation

How Forest Investment Associates moved off aging on-prem servers, out from under a frustrating MSP, and onto a modern Microsoft cloud foundation.

Client
Forest Investment Associates
Sector
Investment Management · Timberland
Scale
2.1M+ acres managed globally
15
servers migrated from on-premises data centers to Azure
Full
operational independence from their previous MSP
Fleet-wide
modern device management with Intune and Autopilot
Ongoing
recurring services partnership for the long term
Overview

Forest Investment Associates is an investment advisor specializing in sustainable timberland investment, managing more than 2.1 million acres globally with an emphasis on sustainable forestry practices and forestland management.

After years of IT challenges, the firm set out to modernize its fully on-premises infrastructure and regain control of its own environment.

The Challenge

Significant infrastructure risk, and an MSP problem

Reliance on a fully on-premises system introduced real risk: server failure and potential operational disruptions. Compounding it, mounting frustrations with their Managed Service Provider had left the organization struggling with operational bottlenecks and wanting internal control over its own IT systems.

Legacy infrastructure
A fully on-premises system carried real risk of server failure and operational disruption.
Gaining autonomy from their MSP
Operational inefficiencies and frustrations with the previous MSP drove the desire for internal control.
Extreme caution around new solutions
Negative experiences with the previous MSP made the firm initially hesitant to migrate to the cloud or adopt new technologies.
Initial Engagement

Trust, built through a security assessment

CloudServus started the relationship with a Cloud Security Assessment evaluating the firm's Microsoft 365 and Azure environments for security and compliance. The findings and recommendations were compiled into a formal report, a clear roadmap for improving their security posture, and the foundation of trust that made the bigger projects possible.

The Solution

A phased, full-stack transformation

Building on that trust, CloudServus led a comprehensive digital transformation:

Full Azure migration
15 servers moved from on-premises data centers to Azure through infrastructure assessment, Azure Migrate deployment, and detailed migration planning that minimized downtime.
Infrastructure modernization
Legacy systems upgraded: a new Azure environment designed, SQL databases migrated, and Azure Data Factory set up for performance and future compatibility.
Intune and Autopilot
Streamlined deployment and management of corporate devices for a geographically dispersed workforce.
Ongoing support
A Recurring Services Agreement providing continuous architectural consultancy, project coordination, and technical leadership.
The Results

Operational independence, security, and scale

The partnership positioned Forest Investment Associates for long-term success:

  • Complete operational independence. The firm gained autonomy from its previous MSP and now manages its IT infrastructure confidently.
  • Flexibility and scalability. The Azure environment lets the firm manage systems efficiently and scale effortlessly as it grows.
  • A stronger security posture. The security assessment drove significant enhancement in security and compliance.
  • A trusted new MSP. The firm moved to a CloudServus MSP partner who resolved the issues that had persisted in the previous relationship.
“CloudServus has been my lifeline. They have fully modernized our Intune environment and provided unparalleled support. The team's competence and dedication have been instrumental in our transition to the cloud and ongoing IT improvements.”
Helen Walters · Director of Technology and Data Analytics, Forest Investment Associates
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